The Japanese love bathing
Japanese baths and hot springs are unique in that people do not clean themselves inside the bath. There are, however, some important points to remember about using a Japanese bath. First, you should be naked; please do not wear swimsuit in the bath. Once you have entered a bathing area, rinse your self with water before entering the bath. Then, enter the bath and soak for a while to warm your self slowly. While bathing, Japanese people inadvertently say, “Gokuraku-gokuraku” because they become so relaxed, in their hearts and souls, that they feel as if they were in heaven. The Japanese go to hot springs not only to clean themselves, but also to soothe their fatigue at the end of the day.
Here, we explain how to use a large common bath at hotels, inns and such as well as dos and don’ts while you are there.
Take a hand towel and a bath towel from your guest rooms with you. Place your rooms key and valuables in a locker in the changing rooms or leave them with the front desk.
Remove your slippers before entering the changing rooms, then take off all your clothes in the changing rooms and place them into a basket or a coin-operated locker. Since nobody will steal your clothes from the basket, please feel at ease.
Take only a hand towel with you and enter the bathing rooms. Rinse your self with water in the wash place.
Enter the bath tub. Do not put soap or the towel into the bath tub.
When you wash your self with soap, do it in the wash area and not in the bathtub.
“Gokuraku-gokuraku” = “Gokuraku” means heaven. “Gokuraku-gokuraku” is an expression of bliss or comfort that makes you feel as if you were in heaven.
Let’s speak Japanese at Onsen. Here are some phrases and words that are useful in Onsen:
Onsen wa dokodesuka? (Where is the hot spring?) Iiyudana (This is comfortably hot water.) Taoru, Basu Taoru (Towel, bath towel) Sekken (Soap) Shanpuu (Shampoo) Rotemburo (Open-air bath) Sauna (Sauna)
Rotemburo
