Okay the official definition of an onsen according to the internet is: noun
1. (in Japan) a hot spring, or a resort that has developed around a hot spring.
My definition is: a place where people get naked, awkwardly try not to look at each other’s bits and sit in warm water.
I was very nervous about the onsen experience coming over here. When B told me about them (and that he had done it!) I was very surprised, he’s a pretty private kinda guy so I couldn’t imagine him getting his junk out in front of a bunch of guys. Actually, I can’t imagine him taking his shirt off to swim….let alone the rest! Haha. He informed me “when in Japan….”
Anyway, so first step is you go find an onsen. We are in a tourist area so they are generally attached to a hotel. The one we have been frequenting is the niseko Weiss hotel one which is pretty sweet and the driver from or accommodation does a pick up/drop off there every night.
You have to pay to go in – anywhere between 600-1000¥ for a tourist one. We have been paying half price which is 385¥ each. The first thing you see is the boy girl split which is pretty firm. There are mixed onsens (and private couples ones) but they aren’t as common and I’ve yet to see one.
After you go through the little door you take off your shoes. This is pretty important, as with most places in Japan.
This is the last photo I could take with my camera for obvious reasons. You go into the little change room and put all your stuff in a basket or pigeon hole. I mean all of it. You strip all the way down!
Then you go through to a wash area. Both onsens I’ve been to here have the wash area next to the bath. So you sit at a little chair and use the shower hose and provided soap to wash ALL OF YOU. I am pretty sure you are meant to each your hair but I’ve noticed a lot of westerners don’t so I just wait and see what other people in there are like….if it is all japanese ladies I wash my hair. Which is a pain because they only have 2 hair dryers so my bath time becomes limited. When you’re 100% clean you can go in the bath 🙂 this is a photo of the indoor one we have been using (pretty sure this is the ladies side based on the angle):
There’s a cool bath (37C) a warmer bath (42C) and then a small foot bath. There’s also a steam room. Most onsens have an outdoor pool which is hotter than the indoor ones and out in the snow. This is definitely the female side as B tells me the male side has no view:
I sat out in this one for 30mins on my own tonight. Just lovely.
So my first onsen experience was a bit scary but now I’m used to it. I actually enjoy it! The biggest issue I’ve had is my tattoo on my right shoulder which is a big no no in Japan (only yakuza have tattoos). We have found a way around it though….I just loop my towel over my shoulder and make sure when I sit down and put the towel on the rocks, my back is always to the rocks and away from angry Japanese ladies.
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