October 9, 2007

Hello Community Members,

It's October, and finally the summer heat has begun to let up here in Kyushu, although the northern areas of Japan have probably been having cooler evenings and afternoons for some time now.

Some people claim that autumn is the best season in Japan. The leaves slowly changing colour, the milder temperatures, the tasty variety of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables are all good reasons to support this opinion. There are also some interesting terms of endearment for the season, such as:

These terms are clear evidence of the special place that autumn holds in the hearts of the Japanese people. I think autumn is also the best season to try out the quintessential Japanese experience: Onsen. Onsen (温泉), or Japanese hot springs, are a great way to relax and soak away your troubles. Japan is one of the most geologically active places on Earth, and as a consolation for the volcanoes and earthquakes that beset the islands, the country is blessed with thousands of onsen, often found in luxurious natural settings.

Is It Good For You?

There are more than 3,000 onsen across Japan. The feel of the water is subtly different from place to place because of the unique mineral content in each area's water. Japanese people love onsen not only for the relaxing bathing experience, but for the medicinal properties the water gives.

In days of old, people with various diseases would make long pilgrimages to certain onsen to seek cures for their ailments. On the walls of most onsen, you can still find lists of the health problems aided by that particular bath, but I doubt most modern Japanese people give it much thought. The typical post-onsen sensation is 疲れが取れる (tsukare ga toreru, it takes away the fatigue) and 肌がつるつるになる (hada ga tsurutsuru ni naru, my skin gets silky smooth).

I've never heard anyone mention that the bath cured one of their health problems, but that's probably because I've never asked. "Did it cure your acne problem?" or "How was your athlete's foot after the bath?" do not polite inquiries make. Although in my investigation of small talk in Japan, I've found that one good question to ask someone after they mention that they went to a hot spring is, "How was the food?"

How To Enjoy an Onsen

The food is a major reason for wide variation in prices between onsen. But unless you are a real Japanese gourmet, I doubt you'll be able to tell the difference between the different food menus. It's all usually good, so choose one of the cheaper food courses!

With the price of the bath alone only 500 yen (less than $5), most people drive to a famous hot-spring town in the country and pay just the entry price of several baths that are supplied by local Japanese inns (旅館, ryokan). Then, after making the bathing rounds from inn to inn, the well-watered customers drive home at the end of the day.

But to really enjoy yourself—and get the full onsen experience—you've got to reserve a room and stay the night at the inn.

Onsen Dos and Don'ts

Onsen come with certain rules of etiquette, so please take care:

1. You normally wash yourself with soap first, rinse, and then enter the bath. There are usually some showers and shampoo and soap supplied.
2. No bathing suits. If you're a guy, casually carrying your minuscule towel in a strategically placed manner (think gym class!) will help you feel more comfortable with all the nudity and exposure. If you're a girl, a similar technique is essential at the start, but a deft drop-towel, skip-in and dip-under action at the end provides adequate cover (think skinny dipping!).
3. Don't take your towel into the tub itself—set it to the side. And remember where you left it. You'll need it again when you want to come out.
4. Don't splash or dive into the bath.

Japanese people are so conservative and reserved about so many things in life, it is quite a surprise to discover that nude public bathing is a Japanese social norm. I've been in the country a while now, and I still cannot quite bring myself to stroll around in the buff as nonchalantly as most guys do around here.

But autumn season is here so my suggestion is: try it all! Play some sports, then after that go for an onsen to work off the muscle aches. Follow that up with an onsen-style feast, and, for your second dip try an outside bath (露天風呂, roten-buro), where you can enjoy the art of nature. Finally, curl up with a good book in your 旅館 room!

Support Tips

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Thanks, everyone, for helping make JOI a great online Japanese school! I hope you're having fun learning Japanese online.

If you have other questions, be sure to check out the FAQs, or if you don't find an answer there, write me at support@japonin.com.

Regards,
 
Moses
JOI Support