Onsen fees Onsen entrance fees range anywhere between JPY 200-2,000, but some of the good ones fall between JPY 400-800. You can bring your own bath towel, though some onsens provide towels or let you rent one.
Day-use onsens are open to the public. Make a reservation or just show up and take a dip and relax in the waters. The admission fee depends on the size and quality of service provided; it can cost between JPY 300 to 2000 (about $3 to $20).
Almost all onsen require an entrance fee; prices can range from 200 to 2,000 yen (usually between 400 and 800 yen). Sento are usually cheaper, while super-sento tend to be more expensive because of the greater number of facilities.
Each establishment has its own pricing system, but generally, you can expect private onsen costs to run between 1500 to 3000 yen per hour. However, at some special onsen in Beppu, the onsen can be as cheap as the price of a coffee, such as at Sabo Takasaki, or even free at secret onsen, such as Hebin Yu.
Onsen time varies from person to person– some people can spend up to an hour soaking in the hot water, others feel that a quick 10-minute dip is more than enough. Don't feel under pressure to stay in the onsen too long, or you could do yourself more harm than good.
For those opting for tampons, make sure that the string is not clearly visible and change it as soon as you leave the onsen. Wash yourself well and refrain from using another tampon right away — give yourself enough time to cool down first.
Onsen etiquette
Take a shower to cleanse yourself before bathing. Most onsens provide soap and shampoo for you to use. If not, you have to buy some. It's best not to eat before bathing in the onsen, but you need to drink a lot of water before and after your onsen bath.
The Japanese have perfected the art of onsen, or hot spring baths, for centuries. Traditionally, men and women would bathe together in the same facility, but these days the baths are segregated by gender. Today, konyoku (mixed-gender onsen) are hard to find, with places like Tokyo having bans on such establishments.
No, you must be naked inside the baths. Baths are usually sex-segregated because of this. Some onsens have a joint area where both men and women can enjoy soaking together. These areas are generally more like spas; sometimes, swimsuits are worn in this context.
submerge your face or head, it is considered unclean. yell or speak loudly, onsen are for relaxing. run, the stone floors are usually slippery when wet. swim or splash around in the bath, no matter how tempting.
Avoid bathing in an onsen in the following cases. If you have chronic bronchitis and fever or difficulty in breathing. If you have stable angina and chest pain becomes frequent. Bathing may cause serious problems with dehydration or thrombosis.
SHARE. Going to an onsen—a natural hot spring—is a must-see and must-do when visiting Japan. The onsen waters are some of the most relaxing and healing in the world.
As a daytripper or overnight guest, you can rent a private onsen room. Some of their rooms have beds, which is perfect for those who want to sleep on one.
Australian onsens
At Dinner Plain in the Hotham precinct, the Onsen Retreat & Spa bills itself as Australia's first indoor-outdoor alpine retreat and spa.
5. Don't take a shower after you have finished bathing. Medicinal components in the water will get washed off in the shower, and their effects will be reduced. If your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, please do rinse yourself off with fresh water.
Although swimsuits are allowed in a select few onsen, this is very rare. In most onsen, you take off all your clothes in the dressing room. Clothing and garments that are worn outside are considered sullied and should never be brought into an onsen. Nudity is a must for taking an onsen.
Wash Before Entering the Onsen, Don't Wash in the Onsen
It's customary, polite and hygienic to wash your hair and body before entering the onsen water. This keeps it clean for everyone. Nobody wants to sit in someone else's dirty bathwater.
In general, it is acceptable for men to shave in the shower area of the onsen, and razors are even provided. For women, it is not generally acceptable to shave in the onsen as this is seen as an activity that should be done privately. Japan is still a bit behind the times in gender equality.
This prejudice is most clear in public bathing facilities, where tattoos are generally still forbidden, although there is no official ban on them. Even foreign tourists, who are clearly not involved in Japanese organized crime, can be turned away for their tattoos.
Mixed-bathing was banned in Tokyo around the turn of the 19th century and has remained so ever since. Still, there are a few found outside of the city in the central region of Kanto that make for a perfect day trip to Gunma or Tochigi.
It's good manners to avoid using onsens during menstruation, particularly on heavy flow days, even when using a tampon. Onsens, like pools in Japan, do not use powerful disinfectants, so it's not very sanitary for anyone involved.
While there are obvious similarities between the two – they're both communal hot-water baths and visitors must adhere to certain rules of etiquette – there is one significant difference: onsen are filled with natural volcanic spring water, known for its rich and healing mineral content, while sento simply use heated ...
This is a snapshot of things to remember not to do in the onsen bath: Don't put your small towel or hair in the onsen bath water. Don't use your phone or camera in public onsen.
Additionally, spending time in the onsen is the perfect way to loosen up your muscles before your massage, so it is as effective as possible in promoting relaxation. You should plan to spend no more than an hour in the onsen.
Take breaks when you need to by resting on the edge out of the heat of the water and if the onsen is especially hot, don't push yourself. Many people report feeling dizzy or nauseous after their first few times after going to an onsen, and this is usually because of dehydration or overheating from staying in too long.