Japanese hot springs
Roten-buro
outdoor
onsen
at Nakanoshima in
Nachikatsuura, Wakayama
A video showcasing the stool and shower used for cleaning off, an inside pool and an outside pool
In Japan,
onsen
(
?泉
)
are
hot springs
and the bathing facilities and
traditional inns
around them. There are approximately 25,000 hot spring sources throughout Japan, and approximately 3,000
onsen
establishments use naturally hot water from these
geothermally
heated springs.
[1]
Onsen
may be either outdoor baths
(
露天風呂 or 野天風呂
,
roten-buro / noten-buro
)
or indoor baths
(
?湯
,
uchiyu
)
. Traditionally,
onsen
were located outdoors, although many inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Nowadays, as most households have their own baths, the number of traditional public baths has decreased,
[2]
but the popularity of sightseeing hot spring towns has increased.
[3]
[
better source needed
]
Baths may be either publicly run by a municipality or privately, often connecting to a lodging establishment such as a hotel,
ryokan
, or
minshuku
.
Indoor
onsen
at
Asamushi Onsen
The presence of an
onsen
is often indicated on signs and maps by the symbol ♨, the
kanji
湯
(
yu
, meaning "hot water"), or the simpler phonetic
hiragana
character ゆ (
yu
).
Definition
[
edit
]
According to the Japanese Hot Springs Act
(
?泉法
,
Onsen H?
)
,
onsen
is defined as "hot water, mineral water, and
water vapor
or other gas (excluding
natural gas
of which the principal component is
hydrocarbon
) gushing from underground".
[4]
The law states that mineralized hot spring water that feeds an
onsen
must be at least 24 °C (75 °F) originating at a depth of at least 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi), and contain specified amounts of minerals such as sulphur, sodium, iron, or magnesium.
[1]
When
onsen
water contains distinctive minerals or chemicals, establishments often display what type of water it is,
[5]
in part because the specific minerals found in the water have been thought to provide health benefits.
[6]
Types include sulfur
onsen
(
硫?泉
,
i?-sen
)
, sodium chloride
onsen
(
ナトリウム泉
,
natoriumu-sen
)
, hydrogen carbonate
onsen
(
炭酸泉
,
tansan-sen
)
, and iron
onsen
(
?泉
,
tetsu-sen
)
.
Mixed bathing
[
edit
]
Guidebook to
Hakone
from 1811
Traditionally, men and women bathed together at both
onsen
and
sent?
communal bathhouses, but gender separation has been enforced at most institutions since the opening of Japan to the West during the
Meiji Restoration
.
Mixed bathing
(
混浴
,
kon'yoku
)
is currently banned in Japanese public baths.
[7]
[8]
[a]
[10]
Depending on the
prefecture
and local ordinances, children seven years old and younger may be exempt from this ban.
[7]
Private
onsen
called "family baths" (
家族風呂
,
kazokuburo
) can be found in many locations throughout Japan. These can be reserved and used for mixed bathing.
[11]
Etiquette
[
edit
]
Baskets
Ensuring cleanliness
[
edit
]
As at a
sent?
at an
onsen
, all guests are expected to wash and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. Bathing stations are equipped with stools, faucets, wooden buckets, and toiletries such as soap and shampoo; nearly all onsen also provide removable shower heads for bathing convenience. Entering the
onsen
while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable.
[b]
Swimsuits
[
edit
]
Guests are not allowed to wear
swimsuits
in the baths and must be completely nude. However, there are some
onsen
that allow both men and women to enter together but require swimsuits. Many of these mixed
onsen
resemble more of a
pool
or
waterpark
than the traditional idea of an
onsen
.
[12]
[13]
[14]
In 2016, The Japan Times reported that guests were not normally allowed to wear swimsuits in the baths. However, some modern
onsen
required their guests to wear a swimming suit in their mixed baths.
[15]
Towel
[
edit
]
Onsen
guests generally bring a small towel with them to use as a wash cloth. The towel can also provide a modicum of
modesty
when walking between the washing area and the baths. Some
onsen
allow one to wear the towel into the baths, while others have posted signs prohibiting this, saying that it makes it harder to clean the bath. It is against the rules to immerse or dip towels in the
onsen
bath water, since this can be considered unclean. People normally set their towels off to the side of the water when enjoying the baths, or place their folded towels on top of their heads.
Tattoos
[
edit
]
By 2015, around half (56%) of
onsen
operators had banned bathers with
tattoos
from using their facilities.
[16]
[17]
[18]
The original reason for the tattoo ban was to keep out
yakuza
and members of other crime gangs who traditionally have elaborate full-body decoration.
[19]
However, tattoo-friendly
onsen
do exist.
[20]
A 2015 study by the Japan National Tourism Organisation found that more than 30% of
onsen
operators at hotels and inns across the country will not turn someone with a tattoo away; another 13% said they would grant access to a tattooed guest under certain conditions, such as having the tattoo covered up.
[16]
Some towns have many tattoo-friendly
onsen
that do not require guests to cover them up. Two such towns are
Kinosaki Onsen
in Hy?go and
Beppu Onsen
in ?ita.
[21]
With the increase in foreign customers due to growing tourism, some
onsen
that previously banned tattoos are loosening their rules to allow guests with small tattoos to enter, provided they cover their tattoos with a patch or sticking plaster.
[16]
[22]
Risks
[
edit
]
Article 18, paragraph 1 of the
Japanese Hot Springs Act
publishes guidance on contraindications and cautions for bathing in hot springs, and drinking their respective waters.
[23]
Although millions of Japanese bathe in
onsen
every year with few noticeable side effects, there are still potential side effects to
onsen
usage, such as aggravating high blood pressure or heart disease.
[24]
Legionella
bacteria have been found in some
onsen
with poor sanitation.
[25]
[26]
For example, 295 people were infected with Legionella and seven died at an
onsen
in
Miyazaki Prefecture
in 2002.
[26]
[27]
[c]
Revelations of poor sanitary practices at some
onsen
have led to improved regulation by hot-spring communities to maintain their reputation.
[28]
There have been reports of
infectious disease
found in hot bodies of water worldwide, such as various
Naegleria
species.
[29]
While studies have found the presence of
Naegleria
in hot spring waters,
Naegleria fowleri
, responsible for numerous fatal cases of
primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
around the world, has not been found to be present in the water at
onsen
.
[29]
Nevertheless, fewer than five cases have been seen historically in Japan, although not conclusively linked to
onsen
exposure.
[30]
Many
onsen
display notices reminding anyone with open cuts, sores, or lesions not to bathe. Additionally, in recent years onsen are increasingly adding
chlorine
to their waters to prevent infection, although many
onsen
purists seek natural, unchlorinated
onsen
that do not recycle their water but instead clean the baths daily.
[28]
These precautions as well as proper
onsen
usage (i.e. not placing the head underwater, washing thoroughly before entering the bath) greatly reduce any overall risk to bathers.
Voyeurism
is reported at some
onsen
. In 2016,
The Japan Times
reported that this was mitigated in some
prefectures of Japan
where nude mixed bathing is not permitted, and that visitors must wear
swimsuits
.
[15]
[31]
[32]
In 2021, several people were arrested in connection with an organized group accused of taking photos of women in open-air baths.
[33]
[34]
Selected
onsen
[
edit
]
Old Tsuru-no-yu Bathhouse in Ny?t? Onsen area, Akita
Winter bathing at Tsuru-no-yu rotten-buro in Ny?t?, Akita
Kurokawa Onsen roten-buro in Kyushu
Japanese macaques
enjoying a
roten-buro
open-air onsen at
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Yumura-onsen's hot-spring resort and forests in
Shin'onsen, Hy?go
D?go Onsen
hot springs (main building) in Matsuyama, Ehime
Ginzan Onsen
in
Obanazawa, Yamagata
Kusatsu Onsen
Onsen tamago
(black egg)
Miyanoshita Onsen
- Akagi, Gunma
- Akayu, Yamagata
- Arima Onsen
,
Kobe
, Hy?go
- Asamushi Onsen
,
Aomori Prefecture
- Aso, Kumamoto
, a famous onsen area alongside
Mount Aso
, an active volcano
- Atami Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Atami
, Shizuoka, major onsen resort town near Tokyo
- Awara Onsen
, Awara,
Fukui Prefecture
- Awazu Onsen
,
Komatsu, Ishikawa
- Beppu Onsen
,
Beppu
, ?ita Prefecture, famous for its multi-coloured springs
- Dake Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Nihonmatsu, Fukushima
- D?go Onsen
,
Ehime Prefecture
- Funaoka Onsen
,
Kyoto
- Gero Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Gero, Gifu
, famous for its free open bath on riverbank of
Hida River
- Geto Onsen
,
Iwate Prefecture
- Ginzan Onsen
, Obanazawa, Yamagata
- Hakone
,
Kanagawa
, famous onsen resort town near Tokyo
- Hanamaki, Iwate
- Hirayu Onsen
[
ja
]
, Takayama, Gifu
- Hokkawa Onsen
[
ja
]
, Shizuoka
- Ibusuki Onsen
,
Kagoshima Prefecture
- Iizaka Onsen
, Fukushima
- Ikaho Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Ikaho
, Gunma
- It?, Shizuoka
- Iwaki Yumoto Onsen
,
Fukushima Prefecture
- Iwamuro, Niigata
, famous for onsen since the
Edo period
- Jigokudani
,
Nagano Prefecture
- J?zankei Onsen
[
ja
]
, Hokkaido
- Kaike Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Yonago
, Tottori
- Kakeyu Onsen
[
ja
]
, Nagano
- Kanzanji Onsen
[
ja
]
, Shizuoka
- Katayamazu Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Kaga, Ishikawa
- Kawayu Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Tanabe, Wakayama
- Kindaichi Onsen
, Iwate
- Kinosaki, Hy?go
- Kinugawa Onsen
, Tochigi
- Kusatsu Onsen
, Gunma Prefecture
- Misasa Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Misasa
,
Tottori Prefecture
- Nagaragawa Onsen
,
Gifu, Gifu
- Nanki-Katsuura Onsen
,
Nachikatsuura, Wakayama
- Nanki-Shirahama Onsen
,
Shirahama
,
Wakayama Prefecture
- Naoshima
,
Kagawa Prefecture
- Naruko
,
Miyagi
- Noboribetsu
, Hokkaido
- Nuruyu Onsen
,
Kumamoto Prefecture
- Ny?t? Onsen
,
Akita Prefecture
- Obama Onsen
,
Nagasaki Prefecture
, the hottest Japanese hot spring (105 °C or 221 °F)
- Onneyu Onsen
[
ja
]
, Hokkaido
- ?fuka Onsen
, Akita
- Ryujin Onsen
,
Tanabe, Wakayama
, one of Japan's famous three beautifying onsen
- Sabakoyu Onsen
,
Fukushima Prefecture
, the oldest community onsen in Japan
- Sakunami Onsen
, Miyagi
- Sawatari
, Gunma Prefecture
- Senami Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Niigata Prefecture
- Shima Onsen
, Gunma Prefecture
- Shimabara, Nagasaki
- Shimobe Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Yamanashi Prefecture
- Shiobara Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Tochigi Prefecture
- Shuzenji Onsen
, Shizuoka Prefecture
- S?unkyo Onsen
[
ja
]
, Hokkaido
- Sukayu Onsen
, Aomori Prefecture
- Sumataky? Onsen
[
ja
]
, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Suwa
, Nagano Prefecture
- Takanoyu Onsen
, Akita Prefecture
- Takaragawa
, Gunma, one of the largest outdoor mixed baths in Japan
- Takarazuka, Hy?go
- Tara, Saga
- T?yako, Hokkaid?
- Tsubame Onsen
[
ja
]
, Niigata - famous for its free open mixed onsen
- Tsuchiyu Onsen
, Fukushima Prefecture
- Tsukioka Onsen, Niigata
[
ja
]
, Niigata Prefecture
- Tsurumaki Onsen
[
ja
]
, Kanagawa
- Unazuki Onsen
, Kurobe,
Toyama Prefecture
- Wakura Onsen
, Nanao,
Ishikawa Prefecture
- Yamanaka Onsen
,
Kaga, Ishikawa
- Yamashiro Onsen
,
Kaga, Ishikawa
- Yubara Onsen
[
ja
]
,
Okayama Prefecture
, one of the largest mixed baths at the foot of Yubara dam
- Yudanaka Onsen
[
ja
]
, Nagano Prefecture
- Yufuin
,
?ita Prefecture
- Yugawara
, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Yumura Onsen
, (
Shin'onsen, Hy?go
)
- Yunogo Onsen
, Okayama Prefecture
- Yunokawa Onsen
, Hokkaido
- Yunomine Onsen
,
Tanabe, Wakayama
, site of the UNESCO World Heritage Tsuboyu bath
- Yuzawa, Niigata
- Za? Onsen
,
Yamagata Prefecture
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
due to varying interpretations of terminology and local ordinances, rare instances of mixed bathing still exist at places like
Tsurunoyu Onsen
where the water is
opaque
.
[9]
- ^
In very isolated onsen, where there is no possibility to use soap before entering in the bath, onsen users are expected to at least rinse their body with the water of the bath before entering it.
- ^
In addition to this case, two people were infected and one died at
Arima Onsen
in 2022. In the same year, Legionella bacteria up to 3,700 times the standard value were detected at an
onsen
in
Fukuoka Prefecture
because the water was changed only twice a year.
[27]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Erikson, August; Masui, Anette (2014).
Sacred Waters: A Guide to Japanese Hot Springs
. Karlstad, Sweden: Votum Forlag AB. p. 88.
ISBN
978-91-87283-33-8
.
- ^
"Public Baths in Japan"
.
www.japan-guide.com
. Retrieved
17 October
2018
.
- ^
"[2018 Edition] 7 Select Onsen Hot Spring Areas Rising in Popularity among Foreign Tourists in Japan"
.
WOW! JAPAN
. Retrieved
17 October
2018
.
- ^
"Hot Spring Act"
(PDF)
. Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan
. Retrieved
18 October
2020
.
- ^
Serbulea, Mihaela; Payyappallimana, Unnikrishnan (2012). "Onsen (hot springs) in Japan?Transforming terrain into healing landscapes".
Health & Place
.
18
(6): 1366?73.
doi
:
10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.06.020
.
PMID
22878276
.
- ^
Tadanori, Matsuda (30 March 2015).
"Soaking up the Benefits: Japan's Hot Springs Tradition"
. Nippon: Your doorway to Japan
. Retrieved
27 August
2020
.
- ^
a
b
厚生??省「公衆浴場における衛生管理理要領等の改正について〔公衆浴場法〕」(生食?1210第1?)(Retrieved June 3 2024)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00tc5492&dataType=1&pageNo=1
- ^
"サウナの男女混浴は法律でどうなってる?公衆浴場法??例を調べてみた"
retrieved June 3 2024
- ^
"Tsurunoyu Onsen"
Retrieved June 3 2024
- ^
?混浴ダメ!?何?から? 10?→7?、?が通知
西日本新聞
Retrieved June 3 2024
- ^
"日?り家族風呂を?喫するなら!知っておくべき混浴に?する?例"
Retrieved June 3 2024
- ^
"?水プ?ルが?しい!西日本の?泉?お風呂テ?マパ?ク15選"
Retrieved June 4 2024
- ^
"5 Swimwear-allowed Onsen Spots near Tokyo"
JW Web Magazine
Retrieved June 4 2024
- ^
"Yunessun"
Retrieved June 4 2024
- ^
a
b
Hadfield, James (10 December 2016).
"Last splash: Immodest Japanese tradition of mixed bathing may be on the verge of extinction"
.
The Japan Times
. Retrieved
6 December
2018
.
- ^
a
b
c
Ryall, Julian (6 November 2015).
"Japanese owners of famous 'onsen' hot springs soften their stance on tattoo ban to appease foreign visitors"
. Archived from
the original
on 17 January 2016.
- ^
Thompson, Ashley (6 November 2012).
"If you need to bring drugs to Japan, sort out the paperwork ? or else"
.
The Japan Times
. Archived from
the original
on 19 July 2015.
- ^
Xeni Jardin (22 December 2009).
"Tattoo in Japan"
. Boing Boing. Archived from
the original
on 24 December 2009.
- ^
Onsen Warnings and Hassles
, July 2019
, retrieved
30 September
2020
- ^
Thompson, Ashley (27 November 2012).
"Ink doesn't always cause a stink at the onsen"
.
The Japan Times
. Archived from
the original
on 19 July 2015.
- ^
"30 Tattoo Friendly Onsen in Japan"
.
- ^
Lund, Evie (17 April 2015).
"Onsen in Nagano will now welcome foreigners with tattoos, as long as they patch 'em up"
. Archived from
the original
on 14 December 2015.
- ^
"The Criteria for the Notification, etc. on Contraindications and Cautions for Bathing and Drinking as specified in Article 18, Paragraph 1 of the Hot Springs Act"
(PDF)
.
Ministry of the Environment: Government of Japan
. Retrieved
28 October
2022
.
- ^
"Hot Spring Treatment|Hot Spring Encyclopedia|ONSEN|BEPPU CITY|"
. City.beppu.oita.jp
. Retrieved
7 December
2010
.
- ^
H. Miyamoto; S. Jitsurong; R. Shiota; K. Maruta; S. Yoshida; E. Yabuuchi (1997).
"Molecular determination of infection source of a sporadic Legionella pneumonia case associated with a hot spring bath"
.
Microbiol. Immunol
.
41
(3): 197?202.
doi
:
10.1111/j.1348-0421.1997.tb01190.x
.
PMID
9130230
.
S2CID
25016946
.
- ^
a
b
Eiko Yabuuchi; Kunio Agata (2004).
"An outbreak of legionellosis in a new facility of hot spring Bath in Hiuga City"
.
Kansenshogaku Zasshi
.
78
(2): 90?98.
doi
:
10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi1970.78.90
.
ISSN
0387-5911
.
PMID
15103899
.
- ^
a
b
"「怖い菌ではないと思っていた」と運??社社長。過去には7名死亡した事例も"
(in Japanese).
Shueisha
. Retrieved
4 March
2023
.
- ^
a
b
"Onsen: know what you're getting into"
.
The Japan Times
.
- ^
a
b
Shinji Izumiyama; Kenji Yagita; Reiko Furushima-Shimogawara; Tokiko Asakura; Tatsuya Karasudani; Takuro End? (July 2003). "Occurrence and Distribution of Naegleria Species in Thermal Waters in Japan".
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
.
50
(s1): 514?5.
doi
:
10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00614.x
.
PMID
14736147
.
S2CID
45052636
.
- ^
Yasuo Sugita; Teruhiko Fujii; Itsurou Hayashi; Takachika Aoki; Toshir? Yokoyama; Minoru Morimatsu; Toshihide Fukuma; Yoshiaki Takamiya (May 1999). "Primary amebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri: An autopsy case in Japan".
Pathology International
.
49
(5): 468?70.
doi
:
10.1046/j.1440-1827.1999.00893.x
.
PMID
10417693
.
S2CID
21576553
.
- ^
"?撮の?態、知っていますか? 10年で倍?/常習化しやすく 被害に遭わないためには…【NEXT特?隊】"
.
Shizuoka Shimbun
(in Japanese). 21 November 2021
. Retrieved
28 October
2022
.
- ^
"<?撮の闇(3)>奪われた日常 被害者、映像流出におびえ"
.
佐賀新聞
(in Japanese). 28 December 2018
. Retrieved
28 October
2022
.
- ^
"?撮のカリスマ”?藤果林容疑者が逮捕 犯行グル?プの一員が明かす“卑劣な手口”「若い女性が集まる連休にはグル?プで“?泉?撮旅”へ
Bunshun Online
(in Japanese) May 1 2022. Retrieved June 3 2024.
- ^
"「?撮のカリスマ」率いるグル?プ16人摘?…男「30年前から1万人は?撮」"
Yomiuri Shimbun
(in Japanese) February 2 2023. Retrieved June 3 2024.
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Hotta, Anne, and Yoko Ishiguro.
A Guide to Japanese Hot Springs
. New York: Kodansha America, 1986.
ISBN
0-87011-720-3
.
- Fujinami, K?ichi.
Hot Springs in Japan
. Tokyo: Board of Tourist Industry,
Japanese Government Railways
; Maruzen Company, Ltd., 1936.
- Neff, Robert.
Japan's Hidden Hot Springs
. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle, 1995.
ISBN
0-8048-1949-1
.
- Seki, Akihiko, and Elizabeth Heilman Brooke.
The Japanese Spa: A Guide to Japan's Finest Ryokan and Onsen
. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2005.
ISBN
0-8048-3671-X
. Reprinted as
Ryokan: Japan's Finest Spas and Inns
, 2007.
ISBN
0-8048-3839-9
.
External links
[
edit
]