Ryokan/Hot Spring Bathing

[Mandylion]

Fresh from a two week vacation of herding cats (family) around Japan, I shall begin my dispensing of sage travel advice with the subject of bathing.

There are two schools of thought on the Japanese bath.

School One) A person rinses off a few times and then soaks in the bath for a few minutes. Said person then exits the bath, soaps, shampoos, and so forth before getting back in the tub for a long soak.

School Two) A person skips the initial rinse and soak and goes right to the cleaning bit. Then they soak for a good bit.

If in your travels you are going to be bathing in a communal setting, please, for the love of all that is good and holy - no matter what your friends and guidebooks may say - wash before you get in the tub every poor person to follow you will be entering.

Think of the children!

If you and your family will be the only people using the water, do whatever the heck you want.

Unfortunately at my cheap ryokan, most of the oily, sweaty, dirty sightseers subscribed to School One. Most nights there would be a film of hair, oils and other grime waiting for a tired Mandylion. It was water pollution on a scale Exxon would be proud of. Culture be damned, I don't want to sit in your body oils, thank you very much!!!

My second bit of advice, to follow later, is not to stay at a place called Riverside Takase.

[neko_girl22]

All people I have been to onsens with go with option one. Thankfully I have never experienced the horrible dirty water you mentioned! Maybe it's just a man thing, us women are always clean.... :blush:

I went to a doro onsen last weekend and it was great :-)

[playaa]

EEK! I hope my experience does not follow what yours has been like! :p I will pull the plug and run more water! :emblaugh:

[Brooker]

I was very cowardly while in Japan and never worked up the courage to go to an onsen. I'll be going back to Japan soon and I think I'd like to do it.

I know it's silly, but I have a bad case of the American sickness known as mynakedbodyphobia and feel a little awkward in communal nakedness situations, compounded by the fact that I found many Japanese males are quite curious about the white man's equiptment. You can disagree if you like, but I got the peak out of the corner of the eye from the guy next to me at the urinal in Japan often enough to make me think that my theory is pretty sound.

Anyways, my point.... For those of you who have experienced onsens, please describe the experience. I think knowing the facts will help me to take the plunge.

[Mandylion]

Well, if the ryokan or sento has a filter, things won't be quite as bad as at my cheap-o ryokan (except for the body oil - yuck).

I'm not a big fan of onsen and rotenburo. I get bored too quickly. Plus, once I take out my glasses or contacts, I can't see anything so any great vistas or bathtubs are lost on me.

[mad pierrot]

Sentos....

Anyone have any funny stories about them?

Well, once me and a friend went to a "mixed sex" onsen in Beppu. It was funny, we got in, the other Japanese people took one look, and left!

:blush:

[RockLee]

hahahahaaha Mad Pierrot.....that's funny :p ...why do you think they left ?? :giggle: :blush:

[mad pierrot]

The big fish scared away the little fish?

:bluush: :D :p

[Uncle Frank]

I have a LOT of body hair and used to draw stares &
hear coments about the gaijen monkey/gorilla. It probably didn't help that I would hop around like a monkey, scratching under my arms and grunting like one
to amuse the kids! I was lucky enough to have a local bath just down the street from my apartment.They also had private rooms you could rent which was nice for taking my girl to; boy I remember those baths with fond memories!

Frank

:blush:

[japandan]

I think so :-) nothing beats it, and theres nothing 'boring' about soaking away the pain for 1 hour+ after tearing up the pistes all day :D

[m477]

I absolutely LOVE onsens! My major dilemma though is seaside vs mountain onsen. At a seaside onsen the food is really good, but in the mountains the water is incredible.... anyone know of a place that combines both?

[neko_girl22]

At a seaside onsen the food is really good, but in the mountains the water is incredible.... anyone know of a place that combines both?

I live in Kagoshima-ken, by Kinko bay. In my town., Hayato, we have great onsens and we are by the coast. 40 minutes away are the Kirishima mountains which have a lot of lovely onsens too! In Japanese they call this area "onsen heaven". If I ever go back to NZ, onsens will be one of the things I miss most!

[kirei_na_me]

I think so :-) nothing beats it, and theres nothing 'boring' about soaking away the pain for 1 hour+ after tearing up the pistes all day :D

My husband would agree. His friend owned an outdoor supplies store in Nagano, and when he would visit him, they would spend the whole day skiing and then soak in the onsen. He said there was nothing in the world like it.

[yimija]

My husband would agree. His friend owned an outdoor supplies store in Nagano, and when he would visit him, they would spend the whole day skiing and then soak in the onsen. He said there was nothing in the world like it.

May I add a little "specialty". I have been in a place, where the mineralized water comes out naturally warmer than body temperature.
Nothing extraordinary, of course.
But it was outside. Still nothing to it.
It was in december and snowing like mad that you could not see ten feet in front of you. And that makes it so incredible... WAIT, there is more...
then, since it's snowing, you have a one meter deep fresh snow fall all around the place.
And ?
Well you juste get out of the water, roll your body in the snow for twenty seconds, then get back in the water...

Oh, delights !
And do it again, and again, and again, and again... and so on...

[justin]

I take it if you have tattoos you shouldn't even try to get into these things?

[mad pierrot]

Actually, it depends on the place. Many I've been to will not allow people with tattoos, but a few have. One of my friends has a small tattoo on his back, and he just puts duct-tape over it before he goes in.

[yimija]

I take it if you have tattoos you shouldn't even try to get into these things?

Why n ot ? This has othing to do. The water "in thes things" as you call them is extremely beneficial fpr your body as it helps to cure certain pathological hillness. AS for your skin, it will help keep it lovely and soft.

Dont worry, you can be painted from head to toe, the only problem you might have is... to come out of there clean (because you have to thoroughly wash and shampoo yurself BEFORE you get in.

In some places, they also have those special bath, colder, where are a large amount of little fishes swimming, just waiting for you.... Those bath are specialy recommended for certain skin problems and the fishes will actually come and nibble at your infrectious skins and greatly help to cure whatever skin disease you might have.-
Charming, I've never been there, and I dont know if I would. But it works apparently.

[justin]

Why n ot ? This has othing to do. The water "in thes things" as you call them is extremely beneficial fpr your body as it helps to cure certain pathological hillness. AS for your skin, it will help keep it lovely and soft.

Dont worry, you can be painted from head to toe, the only problem you might have is... to come out of there clean (because you have to thoroughly wash and shampoo yurself BEFORE you get in.

In some places, they also have those special bath, colder, where are a large amount of little fishes swimming, just waiting for you.... Those bath are specialy recommended for certain skin problems and the fishes will actually come and nibble at your infrectious skins and greatly help to cure whatever skin disease you might have.-
Charming, I've never been there, and I dont know if I would. But it works apparently.

You misunderstand me. I know the water cannot hurt my tattoos, but tattoos are frowned upon in Japan. Tattoos are seen as signs of yakuza membership. Many bath houses in Japan won't allow people to use the baths if they have tattoos. I just wanted to know if these places did the same.

[yimija]

You misunderstand me. I know the water cannot hurt my tattoos, but tattoos are frowned upon in Japan. Tattoos are seen as signs of yakuza membership. Many bath houses in Japan won't allow people to use the baths if they have tattoos. I just wanted to know if these places did the same.

Well, ok yes I misunderstood you 'cause I forgot about the yakuza bit. I'm not used to that kind of people....

About the snow part, it was in a thermal / ski resort in Switzerland (but there are many likewise places in European's Alps from France to eastern Austria, through Switzerland and Italy which is called the Alps's Arc) and also in northern most countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway. And of course yakuza "business" has nothing to do in Europe and has no meaning. If you're tattooed, some elderly people will just watch discreetly, without comments and they will not reject you, of course not. But of course, if you are tattooed, it's also somewhere that you want to be distinguished amongst others and also that you want to be looked at by others. So you should expect to draw some attention, but again no rejection.

as for the fishes it's somewhere around the Caspian sea and I believe somewhere in Italy, but I'll have to get some complement of information as my memory is not really up to date on this matter... If I have a minute I'll call one of my friend who is a dermatologist.
see you around

[mad pierrot]

Just last week a friend of mine was asked to leave a sento because he had a tattoo. I know of more than a few places that won't allow people with tattoos, including "Spa World" in Shin-Osaka.

[yimija]

Just last week a friend of mine was asked to leave a sento because he had a tattoo. I know of more than a few places that won't allow people with tattoos, including "Spa World" in Shin-Osaka.

yes, this what was said earlier, in Japan some will refuse it considering it might mean something that is deeply incrusted in the country's customs.

In Europe and other part of the world it will be accepted and it is quiet possible that Japan (some parts) is the sole country in the world that will do it (unless the subject of the tatto is some kind of an insult to one or another community such as pro-hitler tattoo, or bad words or pornographic representation - yes I have seen one of them, quite funny in fact, but very expressive...).
But again it's not a racist discrimination, but rather a local way of traditions and culture.

In many part of the world, if you DO NOT HAVE TATTOO, you are not considered as a man, not even considered as normal... so you see...

[mad pierrot]

Yimija,

No worries! I'm not making any racist comments, nor am I implying anything. I'm just making an observation about bathhouses in Japan. Like it was stated earlier, I've been told by my Japanese friends the reason they ban people with tattoos is to keep out the yakuza. But hey, Yakuzas need to take baths too! :)

[yimija]

Yimija,

No worries! I'm not making any racist comments, nor am I implying anything. I'm just making an observation about bathhouses in Japan. Like it was stated earlier, I've been told by my Japanese friends the reason they ban people with tattoos is to keep out the yakuza. But hey, Yakuzas need to take baths too! :)

Yes, mad Pierrot, I know you were not making racist comments, I got you 5/5.
Est-ce que tu parles fran軋is ? avec un tel peseudo, ce serait normal...
and I agree fully with you, yakuzas are entitled to have bath... maybe a good business would be to open a special onsen for them, and throw out al of them that dont have tattoo...

[mad pierrot]

Gotcha.

No, I don't speak French. I wish I did. My name comes from an anime.
Do you have any tattoos? We should start a thread with pics of member's body art.

[kirei_na_me]

My husband has told me before that if a person with tattoos even came out onto a beach, people would scatter. One of his best friends had tattoos on his forearms...

[yimija]

Gotcha.

No, I don't speak French. I wish I did. My name comes from an anime.
Do you have any tattoos? We should start a thread with pics of member's body art.

sorry no, no tattoos.
scars, yes. but tattos no. ever !

My husband has told me before that if a person with tattoos even came out onto a beach, people would scatter. One of his best friends had tattoos on his forearms...

lovely picture, yes !
I know a lot of people who have tattoo(s) and now lots of woman too, but discreet and really lovely. I'm not attracted...

[Rachel]

Well you just get out of the water, roll your body in the snow for twenty seconds, then get back in the water...

Oh, delights !
And do it again, and again, and again, and again... and so on...
Ohhh.. That sounds like fun, a little masochistic but fun. :cool: :blush:

[dreamer]

Do you have any tattoos? We should start a thread with pics of member's body art.
lol are tatoos this popular? I don't think there'd be much persons willing to post their body arts :-)

[Uncle Frank]

where I have a tattoo of an oil dipstick !!

Frank

:blush: :D :p

[yimija]

Ohhh.. That sounds like fun, a little masochistic but fun. :cool: :blush:

Hi Rachel,
no it's not, absolutely not. Remember, the temperature of the water is ABOVE body temperature. So one pick up the heat. When you go and roll in the snow you dont really feel the cold since your body has ben "slightly overheated". I agree that if you stayed one minute or so (which I wont...) you'd freeze allright.

Then after 20-15 se4conds yuo start to feel "verx slightly" the cold of the snow. Precisely then you go back into the hot water. And you'll experience the wonderful tingling of your skin for aboour 20 seconds. It really feels so good.

Furthermore this is excellent for your skin, will make it softer and activate blood in your veins.

No need to be maso at all. Just an epicurean will do it.

[Keiichi]

I was wondering, since I haven't been in an onsen before, how long does/can one stay in it? It'll probably vary since some are not as hot as others, right? What about during Winter times (say... in 15C-ish temperature)?

[mad pierrot]

Water temperatures vary from onsen to onsen, but I like a nice, lo-o-o-ong hot soak. By the time I get out, my skin is usually pink and my heart is pounding. After that, an ice cold beer tastes like GOD.

:beer:

Jesus Frank, no military tattoos?

:D

[RockLee]

Water temperatures vary from onsen to onsen, but I like a nice, lo-o-o-ong hot soak. By the time I get out, my skin is usually pink and my heart is pounding. After that, an ice cold beer tastes like GOD.


Yeah....when you've been soaking 1 hour in a bathtub with water of nearly 45ｰ....look like a lobster....than a cold drink is REALLY GOOOOOD !!!! :-)

[dreamer]

lol I'd like to see your reaction if someone then came and slap your back :evil:
As for myself I can't stand high temperature water...25-30ｰ's already too hot for me :D

[RockLee]

Ps. Dreamy...*points at your sig* never seen Nightmare on Elm's Street ??? :evil: :rolleyes:

[dreamer]

lol rocky you're off topic :p
Just continue to enjoy your hot bath till I come and slap you hard in your back :evil:
then you'll understand what's a real nightmare :evil:

[yimija]

Water temperatures vary from onsen to onsen, but I like a nice, lo-o-o-ong hot soak. By the time I get out, my skin is usually pink and my heart is pounding. After that, an ice cold beer tastes like GOD.
:beer:
:D

I'm no doctor, but one thing I know alcoho and even beer is the worst thing you can drink comming out of an onsen, Have some water or fruit juices. You should be extremely careful especialy if, as you say, your heart is pounding : THAT IS NOT NORMAL !

[mad pierrot]

I keep myself in decent shape.....

:football:

And I was exaggerating about the pounding heart. No, I don't sit in the water untill I'm dizzy, nor do I consume tons of alcohol afterwards. Yes, onsen and alcohol can be dangerous, especially for people with high blood pressure. In moderation, however, it is perfectly safe. I've even been to an onsen that served sake to guests while they're in the bath.

Of course, I don't advise doing anything health-threatening; anything I say is strictly for entertainment purposes only, and Mad Pierrot cannot be held accountable for any other's actions.

:rolleyes:

[yimija]

And I was exaggerating about the pounding heart. No, I don't sit in the water untill I'm dizzy, nor do I consume tons of alcohol afterwards. Yes, onsen and alcohol can be dangerous, especially for people with high blood pressure. In moderation, however, it is perfectly safe. I've even been to an onsen that served sake to guests while they're in the bath.

Of course, I don't advise doing anything health-threatening; anything I say is strictly for entertainment purposes only, and Mad Pierrot cannot be held accountable for any other's actions.
Now I agree with you, it's more reasonable. I'll try once with sake. So far I only had champagne in the pool...

[mad pierrot]

:romance: ?????

or :beer: ........?


:-)

[yimija]

:romance: ?????
Well, yes, of course, what else ?
I dont go much for beer...
curious, he ???
lol :bluush: :bluush: :wave:

[mdchachi]

Hi Rachel,
no it's not, absolutely not. Remember, the temperature of the water is ABOVE body temperature. So one pick up the heat. When you go and roll in the snow you dont really feel the cold since your body has ben "slightly overheated". I agree that if you stayed one minute or so (which I wont...) you'd freeze allright.

Then after 20-15 se4conds yuo start to feel "verx slightly" the cold of the snow. Precisely then you go back into the hot water. And you'll experience the wonderful tingling of your skin for aboour 20 seconds. It really feels so good.

Furthermore this is excellent for your skin, will make it softer and activate blood in your veins.

No need to be maso at all. Just an epicurean will do it.

It does make you feel alive, 'tis true. I did the same thing in Hokkaido in my young "crazy" days. You can simulate the tingling feeling by putting your hand in ice water for a minute. Then take it out and run hot water over it. Now imagine this feeling on your whole body.

http://www.jref.com/entertainment/gallery/data/511/894hadaka2_jref.jpg

In case you were wondering, I had a towel over my "privates" and didn't actually take a marumie shot like it seems. But I put in the no-looking symbol for added effect. :relief:

[kirei_na_me]

:D Very cute, mdchachi.

Well, I do that to my face when I wash it. I'll wash it with lukewarm water and then rinse it with cold water in order to kind of 'calm' my skin down. It kind of takes my breath away for a second, but it helps my sensitive skin.

[mdchachi]

It's the opposite -- cold and then hot. It's a different feeling -- like pin*****s on the skin.

[yimija]

It does make you feel alive, 'tis true. I did the same thing in Hokkaido in my young "crazy" days. You can simulate the tingling feeling by putting your hand in ice water for a minute. Then take it out and run hot water over it. Now imagine this feeling on your whole body.
In case you were wondering, I had a towel over my "privates" and didn't actually take a marumie shot like it seems. But I put in the no-looking symbol for added effect. :relief:

Yes, don't worry about covering your parts... we have all seen worst than that LOL ! (I hope). But I dont understand why you put your picture twice... ? That good, eh ?
Then you know the tonglng effect of snow and warm water, but I don't see you happily ROLLING in the snow. Thanks for the picture (twice) !

:D Very cute, mdchachi.

Well, I do that to my face when I wash it. I'll wash it with lukewarm water and then rinse it with cold water in order to kind of 'calm' my skin down. It kind of takes my breath away for a second, but it helps my sensitive skin.

Yes Kirei na me, it has to be the other way round, very cold (you can well imagine snow is nowhere lukewarm) first then hot in second. BUT DO NOT do it to your face, I mean do not bury your head in the snow and then in hot water as it is the worst thing you could do for your eyes, they are quiet fragile.

[mdchachi]

Don't worry I rolled in the snow too. But I had to stop and pose for the picture.

I was trying to repost/move the photo the proper gallery area so temporarily there were two. gomen!

[yimija]

Don't worry I rolled in the snow too. But I had to stop and pose for the picture.

I was trying to repost/move the photo the proper gallery area so temporarily there were two. gomen!

LOL, it's ok. But I would have loved to see you roll !!!!!!!! :hey:

[playaa]

BAHAHA@! Very funny.... I shall have some stories maybe soon I plan to go to an onsen

[mad pierrot]

Playaa,

I'll probably be working when you get to Osaka, so I don't think I'll be able to meet you... :( But, if you really want to see an incredibly bizarre "Onsen," you HAVE to check out Spa World in Osaka. Technically, it's a sento, but it's worth going to see. It's in Shin-Sekai, just South of Namba next to Tennoji Park. The building is ENORMOUS! There is a wave pool the top floor of the building, too. One floor is entirely for men, another for women. Each have 4-5 different styles of bath, Arabic, Japanese, etc. Each different style bath area is made up in really tacky ways, like huge sculptures pouring water in the Greek bath, tons of fake bamboo and such in other, big pillars, funny fountains, etc. There is also a massage room, a refreshment room (with beer!), a sauna, outdoor baths, all in the bathing area. There is also a floor with video games and all kinds of places to eat. Hell, you can even spend the night there. Outside of Spa World is a shopping area that looks like it was made by Frank Lloyd Wright on acid, including a rollercoaster which wraps around the entire structure. The whole place has the affect of something out of a dream. Even stranger, this giant monument to consumerism is located near Osaka's biggest homeless population and the yakuza run red light district. So as soon as you leave the immediate surrounds, you're suddenly in a run-down seedy part of town.

All in all, a must see in Osaka.

:p

I love Osaka. Best food in Japan.

[playaa]

Aw Mad Pierrot! :( Maybe I can go to Kyoto first then Osaka? If it would change things? My schedule is made as I go lol, I still have no hotel reservations for after Yokohama. So, its ok ;) Also.. I saw a sign on the Seibu Shinjuku line for Spa World, could only read like 3/4 of it though, so that shows my colors when it comes to the language.

[Rukasu]

Can someone tell me what a sento is?

Could one of you give a detailed discription of what happens from the time you come into the building till the time that you leave? (or a link to a thread)
I sorry for my bad english.

[mdchachi]

Sento is simply a public bath. Here is a non-detailed description:

1) Enter & take off shoes in entrance way & put in shoe locker
2) Pay fee
3) Enter changing area for your gender
4) Take off your clothes & put in locker (or in basket on shelf)
5) Take your small towel, soap and shampoo into the bathing area (at more expensive places these are provided, at typical local places you bring your own).
6) Wash your body while sitting on a stool in front of a water facet. Rinse yourself with small bucket.
7) Go into baths and soak.
8) Do the reverse of (5), (4), (3) and (1)

Some places have a rest area have vending machines w/ beer & other drinks. Some nicer places have food like ramen, etc.

For a detailed description try searching on "japan sento etiquette" or something like that.

[yimija]

8) Do the reverse of (5), (4), (3) and (1)
Just as well, you missed (2) on the way out !!!
Mdchachi, YOU COULD ACTUALLY RUN ONE OF THEM SENTO !!

[Rukasu]

Thanks for the info :cool: