I’ve recently been getting into long distance running, and something I really enjoy is driving to a new town early on Saturday morning (I live in the country) and doing my long run while exploring a bit.
I’ve just been driving straight home afterwards, but I’d love to stick around and see some of the places I spotted on my run/ just grab some lunch while I’m there.
The only issue is, I am really pale and it’s getting very humid, so by the time I finish running, I’m bright red and dripping. Picture the opposite of Prince Andrew. I would love to stop by an onsen, clean off and freshen up in the bath but I don’t know if its appropriate for me to rock up in that state haha. I could do my best to clean up with a hand-towel, but only a shower is really going to freshen me up.
I stopped by a conbini last Saturday for a drink, and the woman behind the counter looked at me like I was possessed.
TLDR: Would it be appropriate to rock up to an onsen looking sweaty?
EDIT: I’d love to hear from someone who’s actually done exercise and then gone to the Onsen. I think this is obvious, but I’m feeling nervous and embarassed about rocking up sweaty and want to make sure that is okay!
Maybe it’s a really stupid obvious baka question, but I live somewhere with no onsens or I’d of already asked them. It would be great if we could just help each other :'(.
19 comments
1) use the stupid questions thread please
2) you shower before entering the onsen. Nobody cares what you look like.
>but only a shower is really going to freshen me up.
What were you planning to do before entering the bath?
I think we should differentiate taking a shower within an onsen establishment and going into a dipping pool in an onsen establishment.
Of course normal etiquette is everyone takes a shower before dipping. But I guess your question is more of: is it alright for you to walk into the establishment looking sweaty. Am I right?
If that’s the question, there is no rule that you can’t. Of course, maybe try to wipe your sweat as best as you can before approaching the desk, maybe? Regardless, looking really tired and sweaty might get you a weird look, but I don’t think it’s against the rules or etiquette. Technically, a lot of the old guys going into onsen/sentou are there to clean themselves like you. I lot of them brush their teeth, shave their stubble, while taking a shower. So, I don’t think it’s bad that you wanna clean your sweaty self in an onsen.
Haha you’re good, man. It was dumb, but being anxious makes us dumb. Celebrate the dumb. 100% Run Like Hell, then get you an onsen bath.
Pretty common to use sento after running in many areas. As long as you wash thoroughly, no one will care.
In my area, many gyms have an onsen connected to the shower area, so it’s pretty normal to take a bath after working out. There are also sento that people use for daily bathing, and not especially for tourism. So, go for it, you’ll be fine 🙂
Yeah, you’re fine. As another person said, gyms like Konami have baths in them. There’s a sento in my town right across from a futsal pitch complex, so many people go to the bath house after playing. Just wipe the sweat so that you aren’t like, leaving drops of sweat all of the floor of the changing room or anything.
I got to a gym which has a connected onsen. The whole appeal of it is that after working out you go take a shower and bath at the onsen. So I think it’s pretty normal.
I frequently use onsen after hiking, it’s almost like they put the trail head right next to them for just that purpose…
I go hiking with some Japanese friends and we all hit the sento after a day of going through rough terrain. We look pretty dirty too. No problem at all.
Many construction workers do a full day and then go to an onsen cause they’re migrant workers and living out of a hotel. It is not strange to do what you’re saying.
I often do the same after exercising.
Apparently a lot of the palace circuit joggers do this
The onsen procedure includes a preliminary shower, so you are clean before entering the communal bath. You might want to cooldown a bit before entering the premises, just so you aren’t dripping sweat on people as they leave the onsen ’cause that’d be gross.
In terms of sweat and appearance, no problem. I have done the same many a time.
What you want to avoid is going there caked in dirt and dirtying the floor etc. before you enter. Especially if you’re running trails and considering rainy season’s just around the corner. A semi-local place temporarily banned runners after a crowd turned up after a muddy trail race and, well, the rest is history. So go in visibly clean, sweat and that aside, you’ll be fine.
No brainer as well but get some water down you too beforehand!
Post a pic
Of course it’s fine. There are no ‘sweat laws’ (thankfully!). My only issue would be being red hot, showering then getting into red hot water. You really aren’t going to cool down from now to September so will come out still sweating. Like a cold shower in the summer – it never takes, you’re sweating again 5 minutes later.
So do I really have to be naked while being in an
おんせん。It’s something I really wanna try but am very anxious about.
I’m in a sports team and we all use onsen or sento to bathe after a tournament. Literally dozens and dozens of players (not just our team) absolutely dripping in sweat and caked in mud, grass and sand.
It’s also really common for people to use onsen after long hikes or bike rides. At the end of the day they are public bath houses, their primary function is to clean yourself.
Onsen are extremely popular with hikers after, well, hiking.
The state I have been in showing up to some of them, caked in mud, barely able to walk. (even fancy hotels where I felt bad just walking into the lobby)… And the smell that has come off my boots after multiple days in the mountains!
But no one has ever said anything. Staff have always been super friendly and there are plenty of Japanese rolling up in a similar state. The staff are usually impressed to to see the transformation from wild man of the hills back into civilised member of society that their establishments facilitate.
**Some things I do and recommend out of etiquette.**
I often leave my hiking boots out in the sun outside of the actual building, the sun helps de-stink them before I have to put them in my car, and I don’t stink out the shoe storage area for other guests. Same might go for your running shoes.
Assuming you will be taking in a clean change of clothes. I take an extra plastic bag (like a conbini bag) into the changing area. All my sweaty gear, especially socks, pants, and shirt go in that bag when I strip for the bath. The bag then gets tied up and knotted *extremely* tightly so that the stink doesn’t polute the changing room (and your clean clothes which are next to them in the basket). The bag stays knotted until I break the seal to thow my gear in the washer at home…
Andof course wash/shower thoroghly as usual before going anywhere near the actual bath.