Hello there!
As Japan is finally opening up, I am planning another trip to Japan in December. I have been to Japan a few times, but I always avoided Onsens. I love taking a hot bath, but I guess I am a bit too shy and feel like I would to anything wrong without knowing the etiquette.
I did some research the last hour and I feel like I know a lot more about it now and I wanna try it! I am doing a day trip to Mount Takao and want to try out the “Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu”.
The question which concerns me the most right now, should I bring my own towels? Apparently, you can rent some, the page is saying: (Bath towels available for rent for a fee; other items available for purchase.)
Question 1: However, I learned that I need at least two towels, one which stays in the locker room and one which I take with me e.g., to cover my special parts while walking around in the bathing area. Will they provide me with both?
Question 2: Do you have any recommendations for anyone joining and Onsen for the first time?
Thank you.
3 comments
This place in particular will rent you the bath towel, and it sounds like they will sell you the small towel (what they call the face towel). If you don’t want to pay for either of these, bring your own. The little towel I slap on my face or fold up into a little square and put on my head when I’m in the water.
The important thing is to actually get clean before going into the onsen. In that sense you’re not taking a hot bath, you’re just clean and soaking in a giant tub for however long. Sometimes I don’t see people (non-Japanese tourists) actually clean/wash up first, which is kinda gross sounding.
Other than that, there’s really not much to it. I generally like to rotate between the baths and sauna, like I’ll sit in the bath for 15-20 minutes and stare off into space. Then I’ll get into the sauna for 5-10 minutes (where I’ve been the saunas have been quite hot, like 80-85 C+, so can’t really do that long anyway), and then take a cold plunge or pour a bucket of cold water over me (whatever is available). Then do it all over again.
Let’s see if I can help you in any way.
You can bring your own towels, but bath towels can be rented and towels (for inside the bathing area) can be bought at almost any onsen (they cost between 110 and 200 yen).
Just three main rules:
1) Either shower before you go into the big bathing pools, or at least rinse your body down using a bucket (you’ll know it when you see it).
2) Don’t put your towel directly in the bath water.
3) Enjoy, relax and don’t worry too much about covering up.
Oh and a bonus aspect, if you happen to have tattoos, you might want to cover them up. Unless they’re really tiny.
If you have any more questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
I’ve never been there, but at least their website writes you can rent bath towels and buy small face towels. So no need to bring them.
As a side note, I believe the main use of small towels is quickly wiping your body before going back to the dressing room. Don’t make the floor wet.