Bathing at a Japanese Hot Spring | Onsen Etiquette | japan-guide.com

In this video, we cover all there is to know about Japanese hot springs, bathing manners and our personal favorite recommended hot spring towns and baths.

- Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:23 What Makes an Onsen?
04:12 How to Bathe?
06:09 How to Take a Bath
09:04 Best Onsen Towns
11:45 Best Baths
12:30 Outro

- Video Credits
Camera: Andrew Marston, Thomas Ronnlund & Charles Sabas
Editing: Charles Sabas
Produced by: Stefan Schauwecker

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[davidsFR]

Important nuance to the video. You MUST take a shower before entering an onsen when showers area are available (which is extremely common) unless specified otherwise. If not available at least rinse your body before entering the onsen. Most time you will find signs (in japanese often) specifying that you are required to take a shower and failing to do so will upset other users and is not great for obvious hygiene reasons (especially with onsen that do not have always running new water). I prefer to let you know as signs do not always have obvious symbols for foreigners to understand, especially in rural area.

[idrissugiarto]

I knew this guide was a real deal when it mentioned dai ichi takimotokan. Its hard to imagine an onsen like that even existed in this planet. It was like the size of a department store, except everyone were naked 😂

[MarcelaChandía]

I love onsen!!! I had the privilege to experience them in Nikko, in the hotel rotenburo. It was snowing! The combination of snow from above and the hot water below erased all pains, stress and preoccupations!! Never have I been so relaxed in my life ♨

[wavelength]

I love the cheeky and adorable animations!! Great work on the video.

[dragonborne]

Taking a soothing and rejuvenating onsen bath is an exceptional method to unwind and de-stress, particularly in our fast-paced and demanding world.

I stayed 4 days in Kinosaki Onsen at the Nishimuraya Honkan, that was the highlight of my 30 day stay in Japan 2023!

[FlexxenRandomPlaces]

I know it's not the actual point of the video, but seeing Sam besides Raina and Matt was so nostalgic! Feels like 2019 😆

[swissfoodie]

I love to enjoy onsen when in Japan. I have been so several onsen places mentionned in the video. And I also like the hotels with a public bath, which is not a real onsen, but is still a very warm bath with some minerals. Like most of the Dormy Inns, who also often have an outdoor bath. They are very affordable, and of course not as special as a lovely ryokan with a real onsen. But still, I enjoy them a lot.

[FlexxenRandomPlaces]

I may add my two onsen favorites, both located in Teshikaga, Hokkaido.

First, Kawayuonsen, an actual onsen town just east of Lake Kussharo. The sulfur smell in the streets should have warned me that the water could be a little acidic.. Well, safe to say, without much japanese skills, at some point while soaking in the hot water, I made the mistake of touching my eyes with my watery hands. Later I learned, that the pH value of that water was 1.4 and a standard large nail will fully dissolve in about a week time. Besides, the bath was truly amazing, especially during winter!

As for my number two, it is Kotan Onsen right at Lake Kussharo. It is free of entry and you are requested to wear clothes, as it is a mixed gender bath. It is outside and overlooks Lake Kussharo, which is especially incredible during the height of winter, where the lake fully freezes, besides a few spots at its shore where hot springs fuel the lake, thawing it in the process. Every hour a person will come and check the water temperature, but if it gets too hot (in winter), just stand up, sit on one of the larger rocks outside, or go for a quick snow walk. The -10°C will cool you down quickly 😆

[venjSG]

hope you also make video about tattoo-friendly onsen towns or onsen places.

[meg-k-waldren]

This was so cool. Onsens are great. So many.

[fariszhr]

Please we need more 'small how to' like this!
Next: how to take (permission) street photo or drone in Japan 🤔

[teratikkoanan]

Kinosaki onsen provide not only onsen but fresh seafood.

[mariowalter]

What onsen is shown at 2:19? We plan actually a trip to Japan

[JeshuaGuy-wcuy]

which of the ones you shared in this video are tattoo friendly with or without tattoo patches?

[ThatOneSceneDude]

1:06 guess I'm drinking a few beers lol

[Gemueseknolle]

I know almost any onsen in Japan by sight, but what is the one shown at 00:41?

[lawrencebautista]

Are there still konyoku onsens in Japan where both men and women bathe together? From what I read, these are now dwindling and they require swimsuits or coverings for both genders, but there are others that only the females are required to have coverings but the males still bathe fully naked.

[MeongOyenBar]

Is both towels you must bring it yourself or provided by Onsen place?

[bluezikylez]

0:53 anyone know this place view bridge top red? i cant search anywhere, thank you