In Japan,onsen (温泉;pronounced[oɰ̃seɴ]) arehot springs and the bathing facilities andtraditional inns around them. There are approximately 25,000 hot spring sources throughout Japan, and approximately 3,000onsen establishments use naturally hot water from thesegeothermally 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 (内湯,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 number and popularity of hot spring resort towns (温泉街,onsen-gai) have increased since the end ofSecond World War.[3] Baths may be either publicly run by a municipality or privately, often connecting to a lodging establishment such as a hotel,ryokan, orminshuku.
The presence of anonsen is often indicated on signs and maps by the symbol ♨, thekanji湯 (yu, meaning "hot water"), or the simpler phonetichiragana character ゆ (yu).
According to the Japanese Hot Springs Act (温泉法,Onsen Hō),onsen is defined as "hot water, mineral water, andwater vapor or other gas (excludingnatural gas of which the principal component ishydrocarbon) gushing from underground".[4] The law states that mineralized hot spring water that feeds anonsen must be at least 25 °C (77 °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]Even if it does not meet this definition, if the spring water is suitable for bathing, it is considered a "hot spring" in most cases. However, in that case, there are restrictions on the health benefits that the owner of the spring can claim.
Whenonsen 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 sulfuronsen (硫黄泉,iō-sen), sodium chlorideonsen (ナトリウム泉,natoriumu-sen), hydrogen carbonateonsen (炭酸泉,tansan-sen), and irononsen (鉄泉,tetsu-sen).
Exactly when humans first began bathing inonsen in Japan is unknown, but historical records show it has a history of at least about 1,300 years.[7][8] Many of the earliest records ofonsen bathing documentJapanese Emperors or members of theimperial family staying atonsen for long periods of time. At the time,onsen were thought to be sacred and to have healing properties.[9] It is now believed those who traveled toonsen in these early records were seeking cures to disease or other ailments by bathing in theonsen water.[8] This ancient practice of bathing inonsen to cure illnesses, often for long periods such as a week, is referred to astōji (湯治).[10] Some of the oldestonsen in Japan are considered to beDogo Onsen inEhime Prefecture,Shirahama Onsen inWakayama Prefecture, andArima Onsen inHyogo Prefecture.[7]
Until around theEdo period,onsen had close religious ties toBuddhism withtemples often being built nearonsen sources.[8][9] During the Edo period, however,onsen began to gain popularity among the general population thanks in part to depictions of the hot springs inukiyo-e.[8][9] It is also during this period that the use ofonsen shifted from being primarily for religious and healing reasons to being used for bathing for cleanliness and socializing.[11][12]
In modern times, traveling to hot spring resort towns (温泉街,onsen-gai) is a popular form ofdomestic tourism in Japan.[3] During thebubble economy of the 1980s, there was a "onsen boom."[3] Although the number of overnight guests at hot spring resorts has decreased slightly since the boom, travel to suchonsen towns as a relaxing getaway is still popular among Japanese people.[3][12]
Traditionally, men and women bathed together at bothonsen andsentō communal bathhouses, but gender separation has been enforced at most institutions since the opening of Japan to the West during theMeiji Restoration.
Mixed bathing (混浴,kon'yoku) is currently banned in Japanese public baths.[13][14][a][16] Depending on theprefecture and local ordinances, children seven years old and younger may be exempt from this ban.[13]
Privateonsen 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.[17]
In theJapanese language,"Onna" (女/おんな) meansWoman and"Otoko" (男/おとこ) meansMan. The charactersゆ and湯 (pronounced yu) stands forHot water, but also for aBathing orOnsen. Generally, there is a separation calledNoren (暖簾/のれん)[18] curtains.
Onsen are a location where considerable offense can be caused if the proper social etiquette is not observed. The general procedure and expected etiquette closely resemble those used at asento certain hours where outsiders may purchase day passes to enter. Standalone onsen open to the public also exist. Onsen are considered more of a special experience than the sento, which is used for common bathing. Due to their integrated location within a hotel, an entry attendant is rare and bathers will usually wear the hotel-providedyukata and indoor slippers to walk from their rooms to the onsen. Towels are provided to guests at the entry, and shower stations and vanities are fully stocked with toiletries and conveniences for bather's use, instead of guests being required to bring their own or purchase such items separately. Guests should not take wet towels or toiletries back with them or hoard the complimentary items. While it is common after a bath in the sento to quickly re-shower before leaving, many onsen bathers skip this second shower to keep the minerals from the hot spring on their skin. Onsen within ryokan or hotels are generally kept open 24 hrs a day, or only closed for a brief daily cleaning period, to allow guests to freely bathe in the middle of the night if the whim takes them. Popular, private, or specialized baths may require reservations or additional fees.
As at asentō, at anonsen, all guests are expected to wash and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. Bathing stations are equipped with stools, faucets, rinsing basins, and complimentary toiletries such as soap and shampoo; nearly all onsen also provide removable shower heads for rinsing convenience. Entering theonsen while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable.[b]
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.
Guests are not allowed to wearswimsuits in the baths or showers and must be completely nude.
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 mixedonsen resemble more of apool orwaterpark than the traditional idea of anonsen.[19][20][21][22]
Onsen guests generally have a small towel with them to use as a drying cloth, since re-entering the changing area while dripping wet is a faux-pas. The towel can also provide a modicum ofmodesty when walking between the washing area and the baths by holding it loosely in front of your genitals. Though many TV shows depict characters wearing a towel in the bath, this is a television invention used for actor modesty and wearing towels into the bath is forbidden. It is against the rules to immerse or dip towels in theonsen bath water, since this is 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 to keep them out of the water.[citation needed]
By 2015, around half (56%) ofonsen operators had banned bathers withtattoos from using their facilities.[23][24][25] The original reason for the tattoo ban was to keep outyakuza and members of other crime gangs who traditionally have elaborate full-body decoration.[26] In 2016, theJapan Tourism Agency urgedonsen operators to allow foreign customers with tattoos to use theonsen on a conditional basis in order to accommodate the increasing number of foreign tourists.[27] On the other hand,onsen operators wanted foreign customers to enjoy theonsen, but were concerned that allowing foreign customers with tattoos to use theonsen would prevent them from keepingyakuza out of theonsen.[28][29]
However, tattoo-friendlyonsen do exist.[30] A 2015 study by the Japan National Tourism Organisation found that more than 30% ofonsen 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.[23] Some towns have many tattoo-friendlyonsen that do not require guests to cover them up. Two such towns areKinosaki Onsen in Hyōgo andBeppu Onsen in Ōita.[31]
With the increase in foreign customers due to growing tourism, someonsen 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.[23][32]
There are various health benefits attributed to bathing inonsen.[33][34][35]Onsen are particularly renowned for their relaxing andtherapeutic effects.[35] These effects are due to properties such as the temperature, pressure, and mineral composition of the water.[36]
A 2014 study conducted inBeppu, a city famous for itsonsen, found that regular bathing inonsen has various health benefits such as loweringblood pressure, improvingcirculation and cardiovascular health, reducing chronic pain and fatigue, and lowering the rate ofdepression.[34] A survey conducted inAtami, another city famous for itsonsen, found that individuals withonsen in their homes were less likely to take blood pressure medication than those withoutonsen.[33]
There are various types ofonsen includingcarbonated springs,iron-containing springs,acidic springs, strong-smellingsulfur springs, among others.[33] Each type ofonsen is believed to have unique benefits. Carbonated springs, for example, are believed to lead to smooth skin.[33]Onsen facilities often advertise various health and beauty benefits they claim their water to provide.[37][38]
Water at someonsen facilities is drinkable.[39][40][41]Onsen water should only be consumed if it is confirmed to be safe to drink by the prefecture.[40] The water should be obtained from a designated drinking source that is separate from the water which is bathed in.[40] The often mineral-richonsen water is believed to have benefits such as treatingiron-deficiency anemia orconstipation.[39][41]
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.[42] Although millions of Japanese bathe inonsen every year with few noticeable side effects, there are still potential side effects toonsen usage, such as aggravating high blood pressure or heart disease.[43]
Legionella bacteria have been found in someonsen with poor sanitation.[44][45] For example, 295 people were infected with Legionella and seven died at anonsen inMiyazaki Prefecture in 2002.[45][46][c] Revelations of poor sanitary practices at someonsen have led to improved regulation by hot-spring communities to maintain their reputation.[47]
There have been reports ofinfectious disease found in hot bodies of water worldwide, such as variousNaegleria species.[48] While studies have found the presence ofNaegleria in hot spring waters,Naegleria fowleri, responsible for numerous fatal cases ofprimary amoebic meningoencephalitis around the world, has not been found to be present in the water atonsen.[48] Nevertheless, fewer than five cases have been seen historically in Japan, although not conclusively linked toonsen exposure.[49]
Manyonsen display notices reminding anyone with open cuts, sores, or lesions not to bathe. Additionally, in recent years onsen have been increasingly addingchlorine to their waters to prevent infection, although manyonsen purists seek natural, unchlorinatedonsen that do not recycle their water but instead clean the baths daily.[47] These precautions as well as properonsen 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 someonsen. In 2016,The Japan Times reported that this was mitigated in someprefectures of Japan where nude mixed bathing is not permitted, and that visitors must wearswimsuits.[22][50][51] In 2021, several people were arrested in connection with an organized group accused of taking photos of women in open-air baths.[52][53]
In addition to typicallarge public baths (大浴場,daiyokujō) andoutdoor baths (露天風呂,roten-buro)), there are various other methods of experiencingonsen that can be found at various facilities throughout Japan. Examples include:
Saunas are also sometimes located atonsen bathing facilities. A relatively cold bath called mizu-buro (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 anonsen facility is sometimes referred to as totonou (ととのう) and is believed to be refreshing and to have health benefits.[57][58]
 | This sectionmay containunverified orindiscriminate information inembedded lists. Please helpclean up the lists by removing items or incorporating them into the text of the article.(February 2019) |
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
