Onsen

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Outdoor pool, Naruko

Guidebook to Hakone from 1811

An onsen (温泉, onsen^?) is a Japanese hot spring. Many springs are developed, having an associated outdoor bath (rotenburo 露天風呂 or notenburo 野天風呂) and/or indoor bath. Baths may be either public run by a municipality or private (uchiyu 内湯) often run by a local inn (ryokan 旅館) or B&B (minshuku 民宿).

Onsens are often found out in the countryside, and are a major tourist attraction drawing Japanese couples, families or company groups who want to get away from the hectic life of the city to relax. Japanese often talk of the virtues of 'naked communion' (裸の付き合い, hadaka no tsukiai^?)^[1] for breaking down barriers and getting to know people in the relaxed homey atmosphere of an onsen inn.

Japanese TV often features programs where the hosts visit a local onsen, interview the wife of the owner (okamisan 女将さん), and try out some of the local delicacies.^[2]

Onsen are popular in Korea as well. Oncheon (온천) is the Korean pronunciation of the original Chinese characters.

The presence of an onsen is often indicated on signs and maps by the symbol ♨ or the Chinese character 湯 (meaning hot water). Sometimes the simpler hiragana character ゆ is used, to be understandable to younger children.

1 Onsen Characteristics
2 Onsen etiquette
3 Infections
4 Recent controversy
5 Selected Onsen
6 See also
7 References and Notes
8 External links

[edit] Onsen Characteristics

Outdoor onsen on Nakanoshima Island in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama

Indoor onsen in Oofuka (大深温泉)

Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although a large number of inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Onsen by definition use naturally hot water from geothermally-heated springs. Onsen should be differentiated from sento, indoor public bath houses in the city where the baths are filled with heated tap water. Major onsen resort hotels often feature a wide variety of themed spa baths and artificial waterfalls in the bathing area (utaseyu 打たせ湯).

Onsen water is believed to have healing powers derived from its mineral content. A particular onsen may feature several different baths, each with water with a different mineral composition. The outdoor bath tubs are most often made from Japanese cypress, marble or granite, while indoor tubs may be made with tile, acrylic or stainless steel.

Many bathers come for only an hour or so to soak in the waters. Food also plays an important part in the attraction of a particular inn.^[3] While other services like massages may be offered, the main reason most people visit the onsen is to enjoy the baths.

Traditionally, men and women bathed together at the onsen, as they did at the sento, but single-sex bathing has steadily become the established custom since the opening of Japan to the West during the Meiji period. Mixed-sex bathing persists at some onsen in the rural areas of Japan, which usually also provide the option of separate "women-only" baths or different hours for the two sexes, although young children of either sex may be seen in both the men's and the women's baths.

People often travel to onsen with work colleagues, as the relaxed and open atmosphere helps to break down some of the hierarchical stiffness inherent in Japanese work life. However, most visitors to onsen are not work groups but friends, couples and families.

[edit] Onsen etiquette

[edit] Ensuring Cleanliness

At an onsen, as at a sento, guests are expected to wash their bodies and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. The indoor baths have faucets with removable shower heads and stools to sit on, for showering and shampooing.^[4]

[edit] Swimsuits

Many traditional onsen out in the countryside do not allow swimsuits in the bath, saying that these make it harder to clean. Some modern onsen in larger towns though have more of a waterpark atmosphere, and actively encourage the use of swimsuits, especially in their mixed baths.

[edit] Towels

Onsen guests generally bring a small towel with them to use as a washcloth. The towel can also provide a modicum of modesty when walking between the washing area and the baths. Some onsen allow one to wear the towel into the baths, while others have posted signs prohibiting this, saying that it makes it harder to clean the bath.^[5] In this latter case, people normally set their towels off to the side of the water when enjoying the baths. However, some people place their folded towels on top of their heads.

[edit] Noise

Onsens are generally considered a respite from the hectic pace of life and consequently they are usually fairly quiet. However, sometimes bathers will engage in conversation in this relaxed situation.^[6]

[edit] Infections

Although millions of Japanese bathe in onsen every year with few noticeable side effects, there has been concern that the warm wet conditions lead to the transmission of infections.^[7] Some concerns include:

Athlete's foot fungal infection.
The Naegleria fowler amoeba lives in warm waters and soils worldwide and can be a cause of meningitis.^[8]^[9] Several deaths have been attributed to this amoeba, which enters the brain through the nasal passages.^[10]^[11]

Acanthamoeba also can spread through hot springs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^[12]

Legionella bacteria have been spread through hot springs.^[13]^[14]

There is some suggestion that a bather's toe was infected with herpes simplex virus from a hot spring in Japan.^[15]

There has been some concern that the temperature and mineral composition of natural hot spring water does not represent as much protection from infection as had been thought previously. There are viruses that have been collected from even very extreme environments in hot springs. For example, viruses were found in a hot spring in Pozzuoli, Italy, living in acidic water with a pH of 1.5, and temperatures of 87 to 93°C. These viruses were observed to infect cells in the laboratory.^[16]

[edit] Recent controversy

"Japanese only" sign at Yunohana Onsen

In recent years, there has been some controversy over the exclusion of foreigners (or non-ethnic Japanese) from entering hot springs.^[17] This issue was highlighted in February 2001 when Debito Arudou and two co-plaintiffs sued Yunohana Onsen in Otaru, Hokkaido, for refusing service to customers based on race. Yunohana Onsen lost the lawsuit in November 2002.^[18] See the related discussion in the sentō article.