Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best
Sentō & Onsen
Don't be shy! Many Japanese would argue that you couldn't possibly understand
their culture without taking a dip, and the blissful relaxation that follows can turn a
sceptic into a convert. Onsen is pure hot spring water - believed to have thera-
peutic powers.
Sentō
are old-school public bathhouses dating from the era when
Tokyo housing didn't have private baths.
Bathing Etiquette
Getting naked with strangers is scary enough, so relax. There's really only one
hard and fast rule you need to remember: wash yourself
before
you get in the bath.
When you enter a bathhouse, put your shoes at a locker at the entrance. Then
pay your admission fee and head to the correct - check the characters on the door
curtains - changing room. Leave your clothes in a locker or basket and enter the
bathing room with just your toiletries and a small hand-towel. Park yourself on a
stool in front of one of the taps and give yourself a thorough wash, making sure to
rinse off all the suds.
That little towel performs a variety of functions: you can use it to wash (but
make sure to give it a good rinse afterwards) or to cover yourself as you walk
around. It is not supposed to touch the water though, so leave it on the side of the
bath or - as many Japanese do - folded on top of your head. Before heading back
to the changing room, use it to wipe yourself down, so as not to drip on the chan-
ging room floor.
Note that many bathhouses refuse entry to persons with tattoos because of their
association with the
yakuza
(Japanese mafia).
