What are the rules for hot springs? Introducing Japanese hot spring etiquette and recommended hot springs in winter

8 hot spring rules you must remember

First, we will introduce eight hot spring rules that you should definitely follow. These are all obvious rules, but there are a certain number of people who don't know them. If you don't know any rules, take this opportunity to memorize them and make sure to follow them the next time you go to a hot spring.

Enter the hot spring naked

When entering a hot spring, remove all clothing and enter naked. Overseas, it is common to enter wearing a swimsuit or special clothing, but in Japan, nakedness is the basic rule.

However, there are some exceptions, such as mixed baths where men and women can bathe together, where naked entry is prohibited.

People who are not used to being naked in public places such as hot springs may be a little hesitant, but once you're in a hot spring, you won't notice it at all. Think of it as an experience of Japanese culture, and be sure to come naked.

In principle, the use of smartphones in changing rooms and bathrooms is prohibited.

Some people may say they didn't know this, but as a general rule, using a smartphone in the changing room or bathroom is prohibited. Operating electronic devices with camera functions, including mobile phones and games, is also prohibited.

Since you enter and leave the hot springs naked, even if you are not using a camera, please refrain from doing anything that may make others feel uncomfortable or suspicious. Of course, the use of single-lens reflex cameras and digital cameras is also prohibited.

It is also a good idea to avoid making various calls using your smartphone. When you go to a hot spring, set it to silent mode and put it in your bag or valuables locker.

Wash your body and then soak in the bathtub

Once you enter the public bath, use the hot water you pour over your body before bathing to remove dust and dirt from your body. If your hot spring facility has a washing area, we recommend that you wash your body thoroughly before entering.

This is because bathtubs are for everyone to soak in. If you soak in the bathtub without washing your body, the water may become dirty.

Also, if the temperature of the hot water is high, if you suddenly dip into the water, the sudden temperature difference will cause your blood pressure to rise rapidly, putting a big strain on your body. For your own health, be sure to wash your body before soaking in the bathtub.

Do not put hair or towels in the bathtub

To avoid contaminating the water, please do not put hair or towels in the bathtub. If your hair is soaked, dander and dust will fall into the bathtub, which is not good for hygiene. If you have long hair, tie it with a hair tie or wrap a towel around your head before entering.

Many people use towels to cover important parts of their bodies, but please be sure to remove them before soaking in the bathtub.

Bacteria may also adhere to the towels and stain the bathtub. When soaking in the bathtub, put a towel on your head or place it somewhere out of the bathtub before entering.

don't do laundry

Laundry is prohibited in the public bath. Of course you can use the bathtub, but the washing area is basically a place where you only wash your body, so you should not wash clothes, towels, etc. This behavior makes people around you feel uncomfortable.

The same goes for the sink in the changing room. When entering the public bath, please only bring a towel.

If there is no shampoo or soap in the washing area, you may bring in shampoo, conditioner, body soap, or soap for washing your body. In that case, please be careful about where you put it and enjoy the hot springs.

Be careful not to shower on others

When washing your body in the washroom, be careful not to shower on the people around you. Many people feel uncomfortable when they splash shampoo that someone else has been washing off.

For this reason, when using the shower, make sure that no one is around before washing off.

If it's crowded and there are a lot of people around, it's inevitable that you'll end up with some hot water from the shower. However, it is necessary to take precautions such as weakening the water pressure so that it does not affect the surrounding area as much as possible.

Clean buckets and chairs in the bathroom

After using the tub or chair, be sure to run hot or cold water to wash away the shampoo foam.

However, there is no need to go out of your way to thoroughly wash the buckets and chairs. It is important to leave it in a comfortable condition for the next person to use it.

To do this, take a shower to thoroughly wash off all the suds, and return the tub and chair to their original location. Everything we do is to make sure everyone who visits the hot springs has a pleasant experience.

Wipe yourself before leaving the bathroom

Finally, to avoid getting the changing room soaking wet, wipe your body before leaving the public bath. There is a risk of slipping and falling, especially if your feet are wet.

Similarly, be sure to wring out your towel thoroughly before leaving the public bath. This is to prevent the floor from getting wet with the towel. Whether you've enjoyed the hot springs or are planning to do so, you should aim for a changing room that will make you feel comfortable. It is important for each person to take care of themselves.

Three rules to fully enjoy hot springs

Next, we will introduce three rules for enjoying hot springs to the fullest.

Hot springs are a place where everyone who uses them can relieve their fatigue and relax. Please follow the rules and enter.

Drink alcohol in moderation before bathing

We recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink before bathing, and that you enter the hot springs while not being drunk. If you feel like you've had too much to drink, don't go to the hot spring that day and try it the next day. This is because your blood circulation may be disrupted, causing you to feel sick or risk drowning in the bathtub.

Also, if you are drunk and unsteady on your feet, you may be at risk of slipping and falling.

Alcohol can be a nuisance not only to you, but also to those around you. Before entering a hot spring, limit yourself to one beer or so, and enjoy alcoholic beverages after taking a thorough bath. I'm sure alcohol will taste better after taking a hot spring bath.

When entering with small children, always stay with them. Hot springs are places where there is a high risk of accidents for small children.

Small children always go together

If you are not paying attention, you may drown in the bathtub or slip and fall.

Also, people around you may feel uncomfortable if your child is running around in the bathroom. To ensure that your children can enjoy the hot springs safely and comfortably, please closely monitor them while enjoying the hot springs with them.

A hot spring is a relaxing space that can be enjoyed with many other people. There may be cases where your usual habits come out or you become so happy that you lose sight of your surroundings.

Don't forget that there are people around you

Examples include spitting or spitting in the bathroom, sneezing uncovered, talking loudly with friends, and frolicking in the bathtub.

All of the things mentioned in the examples above can make people around you feel uncomfortable, so be sure to avoid doing them at a hot spring.

One of the great pleasures of hot springs is that while soaking in a hot spring, you will have the opportunity to talk with other people. Let's enjoy the hot springs while being considerate of each other.

Can people with tattoos take a bath? Culture unique to Japan

Japan has a unique culture that prohibits people with tattoos from entering hot springs. This is because in Japan there is a strong image that tattoos are bad.

In the past, people got tattoos to show their identity (like the Vikings in Europe) or as part of their sense of beauty. However, since the Nara period (700s AD), tattoos have been considered a form of punishment. It seems that tattoos were given to criminals to show off their sins.

This punishment was abolished in the Meiji period, and along with it, decorative tattoos were also banned as it was considered barbaric. From then until 1948, tattooing was not legal in Japan.

Due to this historical background, tattoos have developed a negative image in Japan as being anti-social.

Even now, most hot springs have a sign that says, ``People with tattoos are not allowed to bathe.''

On the other hand, it is also true that an increasing number of young Japanese people are starting to get tattoos as a fashion item. Furthermore, there are many cases of foreign tourists with tattoos using hot springs, and the number of domestic hot spring facilities that allow them to bathe is slowly increasing.

However, if by any chance you are refused entry, we recommend giving up and going to another hot spring facility. Remember that Japan has its own way of thinking about tattoos, and try to embrace Japanese culture.

Nagano is recommended for winter hot springs! 3 hot spring towns you should visit at least once

Japan has hot springs all over the country. If you are not sure which hot spring resort to visit, why not try the hot springs in Nagano?

Nagano has one of the highest number of hot springs in Japan. It is especially recommended during the cold winter season, as you can enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot water while looking at the snow. Another appeal of Nagano's hot springs is that the hot spring town has streets that give you a sense of history and many shops that make you want to take a detour.

Nagano Prefecture is also relatively easily accessible from the metropolitan areas of Kanto and Kansai, and you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding along with hot springs. Here we will introduce three hot spring towns in Nagano Prefecture that you should visit at least once, and the facilities where you can take a day trip bath in each hot spring town.

"Yudanaka Shibu Onsenkyo" is located near Jigokudani Monkey Park, which is popular for snow monkeys.

Yudanaka Shibu Onsenkyo is a group of nine hot spring towns located along three rivers in Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture. The location allows easy access to Jigokudani Monkey Park, which is popular for snow monkeys.

It is also close to Shiga Kogen, a ski resort area, so you can enjoy snow activities together. Shibu Onsen is one of the largest hot spring towns in Yudanaka Shibu Onsenkyo.

Shibu Onsen is a hot spring town with a nostalgic atmosphere that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time. The cobblestone streets are lined with inns, restaurants, and souvenir shops, making you feel excited just walking around.

If you are staying at Shibu Onsen, we also recommend the ``Kyuyu Tour''. Please heal the fatigue of your trip while visiting the nine public baths.

Kubanyu Shibuoyu is an outdoor bath that you can take on a day trip.

``Kubanyu Shibuoyu'' is the only outdoor bath in the Kuyu Tour that can be used by non-guests. There is no washing area in the bathroom, only a bathtub. The raw concrete walls and wooden floors create a retro feel.

The hot spring is characterized by ocher-colored cloudy water that contains a lot of iron. You can also enjoy a mist sauna using hot spring heat from the changing room.

Please purchase a day trip bath ticket at the Shibu Onsen Ryokan Association or at the Shibu Onsen parking lot.

``Nozawa Onsen'' where you can enjoy visiting 13 outdoor baths

Nozawa Onsen is famous for its hot springs, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, and where you can enjoy visiting 13 public baths. The outdoor bath, which has been protected by the villagers since the Edo period under a system called "Yu Nakama," is 100% natural hot spring water.

Even though it is an outdoor bath, it is always maintained and kept clean. It is still a hot spring often used by locals, so please enjoy talking with the locals while enjoying the hot springs. It's sure to be a good memory of your trip.

Also, at Nozawa Onsen, don't forget about the ``onsen eggs,'' which are cooked using the heat of the hot springs. Some public baths have pots for making hot spring eggs. Buy some eggs at a shop in the hot spring town and give them a try. The temperature inside the pot is approximately 75℃. Enjoy while being careful about boiling water.

``Sparina'' is a place where you can enjoy hot springs while wearing a swimsuit, which is rare in Japan.

"Sparina" is a day trip hot spring facility located near Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort. There is a large open-air bath that you can enjoy wearing a swimsuit, which is rare in Japan, and an open-air bath with a view of the natural hot spring water.

There are also indoor baths and saunas for men and women, so you can fully enjoy the hot springs of Nozawa Onsen.

Inside the facility, there is a rest room where you can take a nap and a relaxation room with reclining chairs, as well as a restaurant where you can enjoy original menus made with ingredients from Nozawa Onsen Village, so you can relax and enjoy it with your family and friends.

``Omachi Onsenkyo'' is located at the foot of the Northern Alps, close to Kurobe Dam and ski resorts.

Surrounded by white birch and beech forests, the quiet Omachi Onsen Village is located at the foot of the Northern Alps. The source is Kuzu Onsen in Takase Valley, and is used by inns, hotels, and day trip bathing facilities.

This hot spring is also an ideal base for sightseeing in the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in the summer and in the Hakuba area, where many ski resorts are located in the winter. Although it is a relatively small hot spring village, one of its charms is that it is easily accessible, as express buses from the Tokyo area also stop there.

This hot spring village is recommended for people who not only want to go sightseeing but also want to enjoy skiing and snowboarding.

``Yukemuri Yashiki Yakushi no Yu'' is a spacious facility that is great for families.

``Yukemuriyashiki Yakushi no Yu'' is the only day-trip hot spring facility in Omachi Onsenkyo. It is used by many locals as well as tourists after enjoying sightseeing and snow activities. The inn is a large facility that is perfect for families, with 18 baths, a 164 m2 Japanese-style large hall, and a lounge.

It is also attractive that there are facilities that can be used along with the hot springs, such as the ``Onsen Museum'' where you can learn about the history of Omachi Onsenkyo and ``Nagomi'' where you can eat.

The Snow Liner is a convenient way to go from Tokyo to hot springs in Nagano in winter!

There are various rules when entering a hot spring in Japan, but if you follow them properly and enter properly, you should be able to enjoy the hot springs comfortably.

A convenient way to go to the hot springs in Nagano in the winter that we introduced this time is to take the ``Snow Liner'', a direct bus that departs from Tokyo. Since you can choose where to get on and off the Snow Liner, you can travel directly from Tokyo Station, Haneda Airport, or Narita Airport to the Nagano area.

It also operates every day during the winter season from December 15, 2023 to March 29, 2024. The pricing is easy to understand, so it's easy to make reservations.

For more information, please visit the official website in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

Click here to reserve the Snow Liner