Page 348 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

346  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
ONSEN

Japan is peppered with geothermal springs, concoctions. A visit to an onsen is an antidote
known as onsen. Communal bathing in these to the hectic pace of urban life, a chance to
has been a custom for cen turies, as a religious recuperate after sightseeing or business, and
ritual (from the Shinto emphasis on purifica- an insight into a soothing and compan-
tion), health cure, or just for plea sure. Many ionable side of Japan. Hot springs are even
spa baths tap into natural volcanic activity, used by animals: Jigoku dani Onsen near
taming the thermal waters; some are artificially Nagano, for example, is popular with wild
heated and enhanced with therapeutic herbal monkeys, who sit in the pools to keep warm.

resorts have been perhaps at night, when mixed
developed so that bathing is more acceptable.
between baths guests Occasion ally people in outdoor
may wander around the pools (rotenburo) wear
town in their yukata swimsuits, but mostly everyone
(lightweight kimonos) is naked. Nonetheless, the
or dine on local fare, atmosphere is not sleazy, and
often excellent. Other visitors need have no qualms.
onsen hotels are in If you’re staying overnight,
isolated hamlets change into the yukata provided
in spec tacular settings. in your room; either way, when
At some onsen hotels you reach the baths, leave all
An onsen in Noboribetsu and public bathhouses clothes and possessions in the
it is possible to stay for changing room. As with any
Types of Onsen just a few hours rather than Japanese bath, wash and rinse
The variety of onsen is over night. Fees can be very yourself thoroughly at the
phenomenal. They come reason able for these short visits showers and taps provided
in every format: natural and – from ¥300 to ¥2,000. For outside the bath and take great
man-made; indoors and out- details of individual onsen, care not to get any soap or
doors; as small as a bath and consult a TIC or local tourist shampoo in the bath itself.
as large as a swimming pool; office, or A Guide to Japanese The small towel provided can
lobster-hot and lukewarm; Hot Springs by Anne Hotta and be used as a washcloth, draped
milky and clear; sulfurously Yoko Ishiguro. English may not across strategic parts of your
foul-smelling and sweetly be spoken at onsen hotels and body, placed on your head
earthy. Certain chemical local tourist offices; try to have while in the pool (said to
com positions in the waters are a Japanese-speaker help you prevent fainting), or used to dry
said to help different ailments, book accommodations. yourself when you emerge.
such as arthritis, hypertension, Keep all jewelry well away
and skin problems. Onsen Etiquette from steam, as the minerals can
Outdoor baths are generally tarnish metal. Pregnant women,
rustic, made of wood or stone, Etiquette at onsen is similar babies and young children, and
and often by a river or the sea. to that for communal anyone with high blood pressure
Some are in caves, under baths in ryokan (see p301). Pools should not enter the hottest
jungle canopies, or behind are usually single-sex; women baths without consulting a
waterfalls, or take the form of rarely use mixed pools, except doctor first.
thermal mud or sand baths.
Many onsen are in the moun-
tains: after hiking, a dip in an
outdoor pool in deep snow
with a mountain view is per-
haps the ultimate onsen
expe rience. Exotic indoor
onsen include baths in
cable cars.
Many onsen operate as hotels,
with meals and onsen facilities
all included in the room price
per person.
Stay ing overnight allows you
to sample the pleasures of
night time bathing. Entire onsen A steaming sand bath in southern Kyushu

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