Hot Spring Information
Onsen Information Table Explained
Spring Type
This will tell you what type of spring it is, in terms of mineral composition. You can read about the various spring types further below.
Mixed Bath
This will tell you whether the onsen is gender-segregated. “No” means the bath is separated into men-only and women-only sections, “Yes” means it is a non-segregated bathhouse, and “Both” means that there are both segregated and non-segregated baths.
Towels
This will tell you whether the onsen provides towels for drying off. “Yes” means the onsen does provide towels as part of the price of entry, to be returned once you leave. “No” means you will need to bring your own towels. “Available” means that towels are available, either for purchase or rental. Note that this information is specifically for the purpose of those visiting the baths and not staying overnight; many onsen are part of larger hotels or inns, and guests staying in rooms will frequently have towels provided to them that they can bring to the onsen.
Bath Towels
This will tell you whether the onsen provides bath towels/wash rags for cleaning yourself. “Yes” means the onsen provides them as part of the price of entry, to be returned once you leave. “No” means you will need to bring your own. “Available” means that towels are available, either for purchase or rental. As with towels, bath towels may also be provided to those staying in rooms at the onsen.
Soap
Amenities
Indoor Bath / Outdoor Bath / Sauna
Spring Types
Simple (単純泉)
Simple springs can be thought of as a “standard” type of onsen. They may have a mix of minerals, but feature no particularly outstanding properties. This can be beneficial in its own way, however, as it means the water will be very mild on your skin and body, making it a safe choice for people of all ages.
Sulfur (硫黄泉)
You’ll likely smell a sulfur spring well before you see or set foot in it, as their strong odor (akin to rotten eggs) is one of their most recognizable characteristics! Sulfur is one of the most classic types of natural hot spring, and ever since ancient times the water from this type of spring has been said to have a wide variety of beneficial health effects. Most notably, the milky waters of these springs can help with various skin problems such as acne and dermatitis, as well as gynecological problems and diabetes.
Simple Sulfur (単純硫黄泉)
Chloride (塩化物泉)
Hydrogen Carbonate (炭酸水素塩泉)
Hydrogen Carbonate springs are frequently referred to as “Bijo-no-Yu”, or “Beauty Springs,” because the waters in them are typically said to promote smooth, beautiful skin. This is particularly true for springs with a high alkaline content because of their ability to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells.
Carbonated (炭酸泉)
Carbonated springs look a lot like simple ones at first glance. Upon entering one, however, you’ll usually find your skin quickly becoming coated in many fine bubbles! The novelty of this aside, carbonated springs are considered to be highly beneficial for body circulation, leading to improved blood flow and general detoxification, among other effects.
Entering An Onsen
1. No tattoos
2. Everyone is naked!
Unlike in some western bathhouses, people don’t usually wear swimsuits or towels in onsen. The vast majority of onsen in Japan are gender-segregated, so you won’t have to worry about being seen by the opposite sex, but this is certainly something that can take some getting used to if you’ve never bathed around others before. Just remember that people are there to relax and unwind, not stare at each other, and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying onsen.
3. Always wash yourself before entering the bath proper
Like any bathhouse, part of the purpose of an onsen is to clean yourself. Every onsen you go to will have stalls lined with stools and shower hoses that you can use to give yourself a proper wash before getting into the bath. These stalls will typically have body soap and shampoo provided at the bare minimum, but it’s not unusual for people to bring their own bathing supplies. Whether you bring your own supplies or use those provided by the onsen however, remember that the only thing that should be entering the bath is your body! Don’t let your bath towel, for example get into the bath with you; keep it next to you on the rim, or perhaps on your head. It’s also not a bad idea to rinse yourself off again at the shower before heading back into the changing room, once you’re done in the bath.