The Onsen ...

Onsen (according to Wikipedia) ...

An onsen (温泉, onsen) is a Japanese hot spring. A volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth. Onsen were traditionally used as public bathing places and today play a central role in directing Japanese domestic tourism.

Onsen come in many types and shapes including outdoor (露天風呂) and indoor (野天風呂,) baths. Baths may be either public run by a municipality or private (内湯,) often run as part of a hotel, traditional inn (旅館,) or Bed and Breakfast (民宿,).

Onsens are a central feature of Japanese tourism often found out in the countryside, and are a major tourist attraction drawing Japanese couples, families or company groups who want to get away from the hectic life of the city to relax. Japanese often talk of the virtues of "naked communion" (裸の付き合い,) for breaking down barriers and getting to know people in the relaxed homey atmosphere of an onsen inn.

Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although a large number of inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Onsen by definition use naturally hot water from geothermally-heated springs.

Onsen water is believed to have healing powers derived from its mineral content. A particular onsen may feature several different baths, each with water with a different mineral composition. The outdoor bath tubs are most often made from Japanese cypress, marble or granite, while indoor tubs may be made with tile, acrylic or stainless steel.

Many bathers come for only an hour or so to soak in the waters. While other services like massages may be offered, the main reason most people visit the onsen is to enjoy the baths.

Traditionally, men and women bathed together at the onsen, but single-sex bathing has steadily become the established custom since the opening of Japan to the West. Mixed-sex bathing persists at some onsen in the rural areas of Japan, which usually also provide the option of separate "women-only" baths or different hours for the two sexes, although young children of either sex may be seen in both the men's and the women's baths.

People often travel to onsen with work colleagues, as the relaxed and open atmosphere helps to break down some of the hierarchical stiffness inherent in Japanese work life. However, most visitors to onsen are not work groups but friends, couples and families.

With work colleagues. Can you just imagine a Freeburg get away to a onsen to bathe together?

So anyway, Naoko invited Amanda and I to go to an onsen with her, her three daughters, a teacher from the school we work at, and her daughter. So all 8 of us made plans to go to the onsen and bathe together. When in Rome ...

So what do we bring? Amanda and I were kind of freaking out and had no idea what to expect. Naoko said no swimsuits were necessary, just a washcloth and any bathing supplies. I packed a rather small bag and we went to experience this firsthand. The place was really, really nice. Like a nice spa back home

Obviously cameras are not allowed, but they do have a website. Granted it's in Japanese, but you can look at the pictures and click around & get the gist of it.

Click here to check it out.

What's your initial reaction? Definitely different from back home, huh?

much love
-tara-
xoxo