“Onsen” (hot springs) and Relaxation Culture in Japan
“Onsen” (hot springs) are very familiar to the Japanese people.
Japan is home to approximately 10% of the world's active volcanoes and is blessed with volcanic hot springs. In this article, we will introduce you to the world-class Japanese culture of onsen in an easy-to-understand manner.
■ History of Onsen (Hot Springs)
Many people may think of hot springs when they think of Japan, but how many hot springs actually exist in Japan?
Currently, there are 3,000 hot spring resorts in Japan, and it is said that there are about 27,000 source areas (places where hot spring water gushes out of the ground).
Japan's topography is situated on a volcanic belt, and about 7% of the world's active volcanoes are concentrated in Japan.
Some of the rain and snow that falls near volcanoes seeps underground and becomes groundwater. This groundwater is heated by the heat of the magma beneath the volcano, which can reach temperatures of over 1,000 degrees Celsius, and gushes out to form hot springs.
There are various theories about the origin of hot springs, and it is not clearly known, but there were already descriptions of hot springs in a book written in the Nara period (710-794), about 1,300 years ago.
In Japan, there has long been a concept of “toji,” or a hot-spring cure, in which bathing in hot springs speeds recovery from illness or injury.
As there is a long history of hot spring cures in Europe, including ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, hot springs were like a panacea for people in an era when medical treatment was not well developed.
In Japan, hot-spring cures were introduced around the 7th century, mainly by the royal family, and then gradually spread to people of all ranks.
It is also said that when Zen Buddhism spread in Japan, the culture of hot-spring cure was spread by Zen monks who traveled back and forth across Japan.
After the Edo period (1603-1867), more and more people began to casually enjoy hot springs not only for the purpose of therapeutic bathing, but also as a place for socializing.
Today, many people visit hot springs to relax and forget about everyday life.
■ Japan, a world-class hot spring resort
Japan, with its abundant hot spring resources, has more than 27,000 sources. In the ranking of total number of sources by prefecture,
Oita Prefecture: 4,445
Kagoshima Prefecture ... 2,755
Shizuoka Prefecture ... 2,252
Oita Prefecture is by far the largest prefecture in Japan, far ahead of Kagoshima Prefecture, which is in second place. In addition, the total volume of hot spring water gushing out of Japan's hot springs, including both natural and powered, is more than 2.5 million liters per minute. Thanks to this bounty of hot spring resources, Japan is said to be one of the world's leading hot spring nations.
There are more than 20,000 onsen facilities, including lodging facilities and public bathhouses, and all of Japan's 47 prefectures have onsen and lodging facilities. Onsen are a natural part of Japanese people's lives, but once again, we are surrounded by so many onsen when expressed in numbers.
■ Onsen as Japanese Culture
Onsen, which have been enjoyed since ancient times, not only purify the body, but also developed as a culture along with the rich sensibilities of the Japanese people. How did the Japanese love of onsen take root?
Japanese have loved hot springs since ancient times
There are numerous relics and documents that show the relationship between the Japanese people and hot springs. As early as 6,000 years ago, traces of the use of hot springs were found in ruins from the Jomon Period.
There are also numerous references to hot springs in historical books.
The term “onsen” was first used in the “Fudoki” (Records of the History of Japan), and from that time to the present, many people have been healed by onsen to recover from physical ailments or to warm their bodies. Onsen were appreciated for their warm water that gushed out naturally, and were revered as something sacred that could cure illness and injury.
Enjoying the atmosphere of hot springs through travel and sightseeing
Many areas around the source have been developed as tourist destinations throughout the region, and the Japanese way to enjoy hot springs is not only to bathe in the hot springs, but also to savor the scenery and travel atmosphere of the hot spring inns and towns.
In addition to the open-air and indoor baths, one can experience much of the local area through trips to onsen resorts, such as the famous landmarks and the unique local cuisine.
To Onsen for Touji (hot spring cures) and recreation
Touji,” or curing illness by bathing in hot springs, has been popular since ancient times. With the advent of the Showa period (1926-1989), transportation became more and more convenient, making it easier to visit hot spring resorts. This led to an increase in the number of people going to hot spring resorts not only for a hot spring cure, but also for recreation.
As the economy boomed during the period of rapid economic growth, the number of visitors and groups increased, and lodging facilities also grew. Hot spring resort areas also developed, transforming themselves from therapeutic baths into hot spring tourist destinations.
■ Recommended way to bathe in hot springs (how to enter)
This is an example of an effective way to bathe and enjoy hot springs, please take a look at it!
1. drink plenty of water before taking a bath. By keeping yourself well hydrated, you can enhance the sweating effect of bathing in onsen.
2. soak yourself in the onsen after pouring the hot spring water over your body. This not only washes away dirt from the surface of the body, but also allows the body to become accustomed to the hot spring water.
3.Instead of suddenly soaking your entire body in the bathtub, enjoy the onsen by taking a half-body bath first. Onsen are often very hot, but a sudden increase in temperature can be hard on the body, so warm yourself slowly by first taking a half-body bath.
4.When getting out of the onsen, do not shower or otherwise rinse your body (arigayu). When you soak in a hot spring bath, the ingredients of the hot spring adhere to the surface of your body. By going back to the onsen, the effects of the onsen will continue to be felt.
5. take a break and relax after the onsen. After the onsen, take a drink to replenish your fluids and relax. The relaxation of the body and mind after the onsen will maximize the body's ability to recover from the effects of the onsen.
■ Onsen Manners and Rules
To avoid any problems when entering an onsen for the first time in Japan, it is important to check basic onsen etiquette and rules.
Recently, more and more places have written explanations with illustrations and in multiple languages such as English and Chinese so that foreign visitors can feel at ease.
1. Always “kakeyu” before getting into the hot spring to cleanse your body.
2. If you have long hair, tie it up in a bun on top of your head to prevent it from getting into the bath.
3. Do not put towels in the bath.
4. Swimming or talking loudly in the bath will disturb others.
5. Wipe yourself thoroughly with a towel when you leave the bath.
6. Be careful not to drink too much alcohol before taking a bath, as you may fall ill.
7. Do not use cell phones or cameras in the changing rooms or bathrooms.
8. Do not dye your hair or wash your clothes in the bathroom.
These are the basic rules, but some places have their own rules.
If the tattoo is small, it can be covered with an adhesive bandage, but if it is on your back, arms, or other prominent parts of your body, you may be refused.
If you cannot enter a public hot spring, choose an accommodation that has a private hot spring.
■ The 10 most popular hot spring resorts in Japan
Japan is home to a wide variety of hot spring resorts, from well-known and famous ones to lesser-known hidden gems. Each hot spring has different qualities, and there are many different ways to enjoy them, from the color, aroma, and benefits of the hot springs themselves to the scenery, townscapes, and local specialties.
Here are 10 popular hot spring resorts that you should definitely visit when you travel to Japan.
Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan and has the largest amount of natural hot spring water in Japan.
The famous “yumomi” method was invented to lower the temperature of the hot spring water to a temperature that would allow bathing without diluting its benefits, and by cooling the water in a wriggling motion, it also softens the water!
Visitors can enjoy strolling the streets lined with souvenir stores and restaurants in yukata while feeling the atmosphere of the hot spring town centering on Yubatake.
Gero Onsen
Gero Onsen has a thousand-year history and has been called “one of the three best springs” in Japan.
It is also known as “Bijin-no-yu” (hot water of beauty) because of its smooth and silky texture, and footbaths are scattered throughout the hot spring resort area, making it easy to enjoy a stroll around town.
Dogo Onsen
It is the oldest hot spring in Japan, and is said to have been visited by Prince Shotoku and Hirobumi Ito, and was even depicted in Soseki Natsume's novel “Bo-chan”.
It is a charming town where visitors can enjoy not only the hot spring baths, but also strolls in the atmospheric streets and architecture that evoke a sense of history.
Beppu Onsen
A hot spring resort with easy access to transportation that stretches around JR Beppu Station and into the downtown area. While many hotels offer one-day bathing, there are also public hot springs where locals gather.
Beppu Onsen is also explained in this article. Please take a look!
Beppu: representative hot spring resort in Japan
Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen in Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, is lined with retro hot springs that give a sense of Taisho-romance. In addition to enjoying the hot spring water, which was used as a therapeutic bath in ancient times, we recommend taking a stroll through the hot spring town, which is full of emotion, to feel as if you have stepped back in time.
Arima Onsen
Close to Osaka and Kobe, it is popular as a backwater resort in the Keihanshin region. It is a famous hot spring resort, one of the three oldest in Japan, mentioned in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan).
Noboribetsu Onsen
A hot spring resort in Hokkaido with many springs. The Hell Valley, where the hot springs are located, is a place where the smoke is rising from the hot springs. the Hell Festival in late August is a lively festival of demons in which the Great King Emma appears in the hot spring resort accompanied by red and blue demons.
Ibusuki Onsen
This hot spring resort in Kagoshima Prefecture is famous for its natural sand baths, which use sand heated by hot springs flowing underground toward the coast. The spring is characterized by its sodium chloride spring water, which has a high heat-retaining effect.
Ibusuki Onsen is also explained in this article. Please take a look!
Ibusuki Onsen : Beautiful hot spring resort with sand baths
Hakone-Yumoto Onsen
Hakone-Yumoto Onsen can be visited in an hour and a half from Tokyo. It is called the gateway to Hakone and is the oldest of the Hakone hot spring resorts. It is also an attractive place to enjoy a day trip.
Kinosaki Onsen
Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture has a history of over 1,400 years. It is said that by making seven trips to the seven Kinosaki hot springs, a person will gain 49 times of faith, be spared from suffering throughout his or her life, and be blessed with seven blessings.
The hot springs introduced here are just a few of the famous hot spring resorts in Japan. There are many more famous hot spring resorts in Japan, so please check them out.
■ Experience Japanese Onsen Culture
Since ancient times, the Japanese people have developed a unique onsen culture by utilizing the natural blessings of hot springs for health maintenance and as a tourist destination. Onsen are now very popular among foreign tourists as a way to experience the Japanese flavor.
The aroma, color, ingredients, and effects of onsen vary from place to place, and the depth of the onsen is one of its most appealing features. We invite you to visit any of the hot springs located throughout Japan to experience the differences!
There are also several articles about famous hot springs in the Kyushu region. Please take a look!
