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In Japan, are 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. (2025). 9789187283338, Votum Forlag AB. ISBN 9789187283338
Onsen may be either roten-buro / noten-buro or uchiyu. Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although many inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Nowadays, as most households have their baths, the number of traditional public baths has decreased, but the number and popularity of onsen-gai have increased since the end of Second World War. Baths may be either publicly run by a municipality or privately, often connecting to a lodging establishment such as a hotel, ryokan, or minshuku. ]]
The presence of an onsen is often indicated on signs and maps by the symbol ♨, the kanji ( yu, meaning "hot water"), or the simpler phonetic hiragana character ゆ ( yu).
When onsen water contains distinctive minerals or chemicals, establishments often display what type of water it is, in part because the specific minerals found in the water have been thought to provide health benefits. Types include iō-sen, natoriumu-sen, tansan-sen, and tetsu-sen.
Until around the Edo period, onsen had close religious ties to Buddhism with temples often being built near onsen sources. During the Edo period, however, onsen began to gain popularity among the general population thanks in part to depictions of the hot springs in ukiyo-e. It is also during this period that the use of onsen shifted from being primarily for religious and healing reasons to being used for bathing for cleanliness and socializing.
In modern times, traveling to onsen-gai is a popular form of domestic tourism in Japan. During the bubble economy of the 1980s, there was a " onsen boom." Although the number of overnight guests at hot spring resorts has decreased slightly since the boom, travel to such onsen towns as a relaxing getaway is still popular among Japanese people.
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/ref> "サウナの男女混浴は法律でどうなってる？公衆浴場法・条例を調べてみた" retrieved June 3 2024｢混浴ダメ！｣何歳から？ 10歳→7歳、国が通知 西日本新聞 Retrieved June 3 2024 Depending on the prefecture and local ordinances, children seven years old and younger may be exempt from this ban.
Private onsen called kazokuburo can be found in many locations throughout Japan. These can be reserved and used for mixed bathing. "日帰り家族風呂を満喫するなら！知っておくべき混浴に関する条例" Retrieved June 3 2024
In the Japanese language, 3="Onna" means Woman and 3="Otoko" means Man. The characters and (pronounced yu) stands for Hot water, but also for a Bathing or Onsen. Generally, there is a separation called 暖簾/のれん curtains.
One's hair should never touch the bath water and should be worn up.
Even though onsen can be a luxury experience and environment, guests are still expected to clean up after themselves by staying tidy and rinsing off their shower area for the next guest.
The only time swimsuits are allowed and required are in specific modern pools which allow both men and women to use them together, but many of these mixed onsen resemble more of a swimming pool or Water park than the traditional idea of an onsen. "温水プールが楽しい！西日本の温泉・お風呂テーマパーク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
However, tattoo-friendly onsen do exist. 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. Some towns have many tattoo-friendly onsen that do not require guests to cover them up. Two such towns are Kinosaki Onsen in Hyōgo and Beppu Onsen in Ōita.
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.
A 2014 study conducted in Beppu, a city famous for its onsen, found that regular bathing in onsen has various health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving circulation and cardiovascular health, reducing chronic pain and fatigue, and lowering the rate of depression. A survey conducted in Atami, another city famous for its onsen, found that individuals with onsen in their homes were less likely to take blood pressure medication than those without onsen.
There are various types of onsen including Carbonated water springs, iron-containing springs, Acid springs, strong-smelling sulfur springs, among others. Each type of onsen is believed to have unique benefits. Carbonated springs, for example, are believed to lead to smooth skin. Onsen facilities often advertise various health and beauty benefits they claim their water to provide.
Water at some onsen facilities is drinkable. Onsen water should only be consumed if it is confirmed to be safe to drink by the prefecture. The water should be obtained from a designated drinking source that is separate from the water which is bathed in. The often mineral-rich onsen water is believed to have benefits such as treating iron-deficiency anemia or constipation.
Legionella bacteria have been found in some onsen with poor sanitation. For example, 295 people were infected with Legionella and seven died at an onsen in Miyazaki Prefecture in 2002. Revelations of poor sanitary practices at some onsen have led to improved regulation by hot-spring communities to maintain their reputation.
There have been reports of Thermophile found in hot bodies of water worldwide, such as various Naegleria species. While studies have found the presence of Naegleria in hot spring waters, Naegleria fowleri, responsible for numerous fatal cases of Naegleriasis around the world, has not been found to be present in the water at onsen. Nevertheless, fewer than five cases have been seen historically in Japan, although not conclusively linked to onsen exposure.
Many onsen display notices reminding anyone with open cuts, sores, or lesions not to bathe. Additionally, in recent years onsen have been 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. 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 . In 2021, several people were arrested in connection with an organized group accused of taking photos of women in open-air baths. "盗撮のカリスマ"斎藤果林容疑者が逮捕 犯行グループの一員が明かす"卑劣な手口"「若い女性が集まる連休にはグループで"温泉盗撮旅"へ Bunshun Online (in Japanese) May 1 2022. Retrieved June 3 2024. "「盗撮のカリスマ」率いるグループ16人摘発...男「30年前から1万人は盗撮」" Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese) February 2 2023. Retrieved June 3 2024.
Benefits
There are various health benefits attributed to bathing in onsen. Onsen are particularly renowned for their relaxing and therapeutic effects. These effects are due to properties such as the temperature, pressure, and mineral composition of the water.
Risks
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. 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.
Bathing methods
In addition to typical daiyokujō and roten-buro), there are various other methods of experiencing onsen that can be found at various facilities throughout Japan. Examples include:
Sauna are also sometimes located at onsen bathing facilities. A relatively cold bath called 水風呂 is often located directly outside a facility's sauna to allow users to quickly cool down. The cycle of entering hot baths, saunas, and cold baths at an onsen facility is sometimes referred to as ととのう and is believed to be refreshing and to have health benefits.
Selected onsen
[[File:Tsurunoyu Hotspring in Akita Pref Japan 001.JPG|thumb|Old Tsuru-no-yu Bathhouse in Nyūtō Onsen area, Akita]]
See also
Notes
Further reading
External links
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