Must have information for foreigners who want to enjoy Tokyo! Manners to know when visiting hot springs and public bath houses in Japan
１ The charm of hot springs and public bath houses in Japan
Many foreigners visiting Tokyo from abroad make it a priority to take time out and "enjoy Japanese hot springs" in addition to sightseeing. There are lots of hot springs locations in Japan and you may want to make time to visit one. You may even want to go to your favorite hot springs after sightseeing in Tokyo to refresh your mind and body from the stress of the crowded streets.
Japanese people are known all over the world as people who love to bathe, and it goes without saying that hot springs are very popular outside of Tokyo. There are lots of famous places throughout Japan, but there are also hot springs facilities and public bath houses in Tokyo. There are lots of places all over the world that do not have bathtubs, but foreigners often take advantage of using a bathtub while in Japan. Hotels and even lodge type hotels in Japan all have bathtubs. The culture of bathing is deep rooted in Japanese culture because the Japanese love to bathe.
When visiting a hot springs, even if you spend just a little time in the bath, your body will feel refreshed and warm from the core. You can get relief from fatigue and depending on the quality of the hot spring, it will also be effective for rheumatism, stiff shoulders and back pain, and that is why Japanese people have loved and cherished hot springs since ancient times. However, while visiting the hot springs, people can get quite annoyed and feel uneasy when someone does not follow the proper rules.
Foreigners who plan to use hot springs facilities should understand and know the basic manners of how to conduct themselves when visiting so as to be able to enjoy without offending anyone.
２ Basics manner when using Japanese hot springs and public bath houses
These are the basic rules and manners we want foreigners to know about and to abide by when using hot springs or public bath houses in Japan.
・Dressing room
In the dressing room, use of your smartphone is prohibited, so please be sure to turn it off. Also, instead of taking off your clothes in the restroom, you will prepare to bath in the dressing room. Strip naked and store your clothes, underwear etc. in either the locker or basket provided. Depending on the location, there may be a locker with a key for storing valuables.
・Towels
At some hot springs facilities, you are allowed to wear a swimsuit or towel, but basically you cannot take a bath with a bath towel wrapped around your body, so if you are too embarrassed to bath naked, use a small towel to hide your private area. That being said, you should not submerge the towel in the bathtub when you get in.
・Hair
When preparing for your bath in the dressing room, tie your hair up so that it does not touch your shoulders or wear a shower cap. Some people will wrap a towel around their head but it is not recommended as the towel can easily come loose and fall off.
Hair in general is very unsanitary because it contains lots of invisible bacteria and viruses, as well as dandruff which can spread easily. Even when taking a bath after washing your hair, it is considered good manners to keep your hair from touching the water while in the bathtub. It is also a considered a violation of manners to rinse your head or wash your face under the water spout where the water is coming into the bathtub.
・Sit down when showering
It can be a very unpleasant sensation to feel the splash of water coming off of the person showering next to you. For foreigners, showers are mainly used standing up, but you will notice that there are lots of showers lined up next to one another that are sometimes not separated by a partition, so it is considered good manners to sit down and shower so as to avoid splashing the person next to you.
・Do not rub your face or body while in the bathtub
You should not rub your face and body while in the hot springs. There shouldn't be a problem if it is a private bath used with family but in a public facility with lots of people using it, you may run the risk of spreading or getting an infection. It may look like a very pleasant thing to do, but it is smart to consider the possibility of germs entering from even a small wound, so just immerse yourself without rubbing your body.
・Return what you use to its original location
If you move a bag, chair, shampoo, rinse, etc., it is good manners to return it to its original position. Since the equipment is placed in a favorable position according to the facility, it is important to return everything the place you found it.
By the way, it is not proper manners to leave your personal items at a shower.
３ Knowledge to be proud of as a foreigner！Manners when using hot springs
These are some of the things that even Japanese people don't know about when using hot springs.
・Pre bathing hot water rinse
There is a dedicated corner where you can pre-warm your body before getting into a hot spring bath. This corner is used so that people can prepare their body for the heat of the hot springs before getting in. For foreigners who are not accustomed to bathing in a bathtub normally, the sudden emergence into a hot bath can sometimes be dangerous. By dousing your body with the hot water at the pre-bathing corner, your body will be pre-warmed and ready for the heat of the hot spring.
Pour the hot water over your body slowly starting from your feet to prepare. Then pour over your head and body. This is a corner for pre-bathing after you have showered and before getting into the hot spring.
There are also lots of cold water baths that can be used to tighten pores opened by hot water, but the sweat from hot springs should be washed away with a shower or pre- bathing hot water before getting into the bath.
・Use the sauna after wiping yourself down
This sauna is very popular with foreigners, but if you go into the sauna right after bathing without wiping yourself down, the area where you sit will be soaked, making it very unpleasant for the person using your area after you are done.
Not only the sauna, but also when returning to the dressing room. Make sure to wipe yourself down so the next person using your area can do so comfortably.
４ Recommended for foreigners! Japanese hot springs culture
・Drink milk after bathing ?!
Enjoying a cold drink after a hot bath is refreshing, but Japanese people have a culture of drinking milk or coffee milk after a hot bath at a hot spring. This is recommended for foreigners who want to enjoy authentic Japanese culture.
・Play ping-pong while at a hot spring ?!
A number of Japanese hot springs facilities have a ping-pong table to use after bathing. Enjoying a hot bath after working up a sweat by playing ping-pong or enjoying a game after bathing is the best part of enjoying the hot springs.
５ In Conclusion
In this edition, for those who are planning on visiting Japan and for those who love Japan, we have introduced you to some of the details and important manners we think you should know about with regards to hot springs and public bath houses in Tokyo. Hot springs and public bath houses are not places that only one person can use, but are used by lots of other people. In addition to the manners introduced in this article, please enjoy the Japanese hot springs culture while understanding and following the other basic manners like no littering, no loitering and avoid being loud or obnoxious. By referring to the contents introduced in this article, we hope you will be able to enjoy the wonderful culture of hot springs in Japan while following the proper manners and relieving yourself of the stress and fatigue of your travels in Tokyo.
