Why Japanese Hot Springs (Onsen) are GREAT!
Activity > Not area specific > Culture
In English they are called "Hot Springs", in Japanese "Onsen". In recent decades Japan has become very popular with tourists. Yes, Americans have always had a fascination with Japan but recently it has become a hot destination. Trips to Japan have become much cheaper and Japan has started catering to tourist. Tourists to Japan hit all the hot destinations... Tokyo, Kyoto... maybe a castle or two. BUT, one of the most over-looked "must do" destinations are rarely visited by "Tourists". Foreigners in Japan know the secret though... Japanese Hot Springs ("Onsen" in Japanese) are one of the BEST places to visit!
Sure castles are awesome, 500 year old temples are beautiful and memorizing, the food in Japan is unbelievable but... the Onsen... is heaven:) There are literally thousands of Onsen scattered about Japan from the southern island of Kyushu to the northern island of Hokkaido just waiting for you to take a dip.
"Hot Springs" in America can mean... a variety of things. From a rock ring, mud bottom along side some river in the forest to a decent hotel and a decent Hot Springs resort (such as Mt. Princeton Resort in Colorado). However... "Hot Springs" in Japan takes on a whole new meaning. The Japanese really know how to do Hot Springs! Beautiful wooden Japanese Inns ("Ryokan" in Japanese), delicious meal "sets", and Hot Springs so clean and aesthitcally pleasing they will take your breath away and relax you to a point you have never experienced.
The video below is a video I made about the differences between American and Japanese Hot Springs... sorry, it is in Japanese.
Kinugawa Onsen in Japan
The Japanese Inn (Ryokan)
A Ryokan... quaint Japanese Inn along side a river, creek or stream. Usually quite old, usually made out of wood (the good ones) and blend perfectly in with the surroundings. Upon arrival you are greeted by the hostess(s) who always greet you with a smile and respectful bow. Your bags disappear (and magically appear in your room later) while you are politely guided to your room, no tip needed... all service in Japan is done just to cater to their customers and the service is impeccable.
Your "Zen" like room (not cluttered) is spotless and green tea awaits on the table along with a fresh Yukata (Japanese robe). You slip out of your uncomfortable clothes into the Yukata and head down to the Hot Springs...
Japanese Onsen "Set" Dinner
The Tranquility
Leave you smartphone back in Tokyo, no, really... just forget it. Don't spend useless time tapping on electronic pixels created by someone else when the real deal, real life, your life is in front of your eyes. Other "people" and distractions can wait, they really can. With your Yukata on, stroll the creaky wooden floors of the Onsen... take note of the architecture, the wood, the interesting paintings, Bonzai and furniture. Plop yourself down in a comfortable chair looking out the window onto and over the river that meanders passed the Ryokan. Do you see the deep green forest across the river... thick and almost jungle like, overflowing foliage created by heavy rain during June.
To your left you see an old fashioned bridge made out of rope and wood of course. At that moment you happen to see two Japanese women in Yukata's crossing the bridge... wearing their outside slipper/thongs... seemingly tip-toeing across the bridge so daintily. If you weren't dreaming you would think you had slipped into the past a couple hundred years, the feeling you experience is one not even a movie could duplicate. You take a deep breath... it's so quite, except for the sound of the river and it cascades from right to left over the rocks and down the canyon. You close your eyes... so peaceful... and... your out....
The beautiful Onsen (Hot Springs) in Japan
The Bath
After wandering about the old creaky halls of the Ryokan, you finally see some "Noren" (the half, short curtain) in front of a door. To the right is red, to the left blue. Yes ... yes... we all know you want to enter the "red" and play "stupid foreigner" (and actually that is a good plan:) but... please be polite and enter the "blue" Noren door (if your a man! If your a woman, red).
You step through the door onto Tatami mats and with one pull of your Yukata belt your naked. Place the Yukata in a basket and pass through a second door into the bath. The door enters into a shower area where you are to make yourself shiny clean from head to toe, Japanese etiquette. Take your time... clean up good and then turn around... and smile... as you see what awaits.
A rock garden... an umbrella... steaming, hot, inviting bath. You step forward and grab the hand-rail that leads into the bath, dip your toe in... "AAaaa... so hot... feels so good..." take a step, another... and another and let your body collapse into the warmth.
