Onsen, Sento, Ofuro
Whether
you’re flying to Japan on business, stopping for just
one night, and staying in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, or any other
Japanese city, or if you’re traveling for a longer time,
staying in a hotel, ryokan, hostel, or with friends,
you will
at some point encounter the joys and challenges of the Japanese bath.
Bathing is a quintessential experience, like eating sushi, drinking sake, or slurping down hot ramen noodles. In other words, it’s not to be missed no matter how short your stay.
Japan is widely regarded as a very fastidious nation, perhaps nowhere more so than when it comes to the bathroom (as our article about toilets and washletts indicates). The act of cleaning oneself is a ritual that goes beyond mere hygiene. It’s all about relaxing, and soaking away the day’s worries.
Of course the hygiene part is pretty important too. And the cardinal rule for bathing is to wash before you bath. Whether you’re in a public bath house (Sento), and local hot spring (Onsen) or at someone’s house (Ofuro) washing and scrubbing first is very important.
In almost all Japanese baths, the tub is separate from the washing area. You’re expected to sit and shower and scrub first, then rinse, before climbing into the tub. This tradition dates back many years, and as bath water is still shared in houses, Sentos, and Onsens, it makes good sense.
If you stay in an Onsen hotel or visit a Sento public bath, you’ll also notice very quickly that nudity is no big deal and people here are quite comfortable in their own skin. While men and women are usually but not always segregated in public baths, men shower and bath next to other men, as do women. The only privacy comes from a small onsen towel everyone usually carries with them.
But don't let a lack of modesty prevent you from enjoying a Japanese bath. We're all naked under our clothes, after all. And while different bathing habits can take some getting used to, and take some visitors out of their comfort zone, the experience is undeniably worth it.
Onsens, sentos, and ofuros are an essential part of the Japanese experience, and a great way to glimpse into a communal aspect of life that has, thankfully, persisted for centuries.
But above all else, onsen, sentos, and ofuros are a fantastic way to refresh and rejuvenate yourself, in any season. If you find yourself in Japan for any length of time, a public bath is usually only a short walk or cab ride away in almost every city and town. And if you're not sure, just ask: most people are very enthusiastic about sharing their public baths and onsens with visitors.
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