My first time in an Onsen
I don't know how i survived so long without trying an onsen. It is one of the things that is recommended to most tourists. Probably it has something to do that i don't like to be naked in public so much.
But finally i did it. We were in an onsen which was combined with a pool.
So there where three main areas. One for men, one for women and the pool area which was mixed and where you had to wear swimming clothes.
But lets start from the beginning.
Before reaching the cashier we already had to put off our shoes and put them in an locker. At the counter we got informed about the rules, like no tattoos are allowed at that place. We got two towels (one big, one small) and a simple yukata.
Then we separated. My wife to the woman area and i to the mens for changing.
First i had trouble to find my locker. I got a wrist band with a number and the locker with that number i could open then.
I was surprised that there were only a public change room. But apparently it seems to be normal.
After changing i entered the cleaning area for men. There were normal showers but everyone used the more Japanese style cleaning, where you sit on an stool and have a bucket and clean with that. So of course i tried that too.
After that we met in the pool area.
There were pretty strict rules. No swimming, no diving, no nuisance, no couples making out etc... All those rules were displayed with clear signs and in English and Japanese. So it was a very quiet experience, but nice. There were waterstreams for massaging.
In the pool area you could also go outside. There was also an onsen bath with a nice view at a garden. The color of the water was brown. The Finnish sauna we skipped. Instead we tried a steam sauna. Since it was in the mixed area we still wore swim clothes.
Then we separated again to go to the mens and women's onsen areas.
I cleaned myself again and got rid of my swimming clothes. Then i entered the onsen water. It was actually the same water like outside. It had a salty smell and was pretty hot. Good for relaxing but not for to long. There also you could go outside and enter other baths.
Inside i found a sauna and a steam sauna. I tried them both. But couse im not used to it i couldn't stay very long.
Later i cleaned myself again.
One interesting thing was that the other man also uses the cleaning area for toothbrushing and shaving there faces. There was a Vending machine were you could by razors and toothbrushes.
After i was dried and back in my clothes we met in the lobby and went to the restaurant in the upper floor. Most people probably just took a break there couse they wore the yukatas in the restaurant.
So overall it was a very quiet and peaceful experience with a little bit adventure for me. Couse pictures from the inside are forbidden i can only show you one picture of the lobby thanks to my wife.
But finally i did it. We were in an onsen which was combined with a pool.
So there where three main areas. One for men, one for women and the pool area which was mixed and where you had to wear swimming clothes.
But lets start from the beginning.
Before reaching the cashier we already had to put off our shoes and put them in an locker. At the counter we got informed about the rules, like no tattoos are allowed at that place. We got two towels (one big, one small) and a simple yukata.
Then we separated. My wife to the woman area and i to the mens for changing.
First i had trouble to find my locker. I got a wrist band with a number and the locker with that number i could open then.
I was surprised that there were only a public change room. But apparently it seems to be normal.
After changing i entered the cleaning area for men. There were normal showers but everyone used the more Japanese style cleaning, where you sit on an stool and have a bucket and clean with that. So of course i tried that too.
After that we met in the pool area.
There were pretty strict rules. No swimming, no diving, no nuisance, no couples making out etc... All those rules were displayed with clear signs and in English and Japanese. So it was a very quiet experience, but nice. There were waterstreams for massaging.
In the pool area you could also go outside. There was also an onsen bath with a nice view at a garden. The color of the water was brown. The Finnish sauna we skipped. Instead we tried a steam sauna. Since it was in the mixed area we still wore swim clothes.
Then we separated again to go to the mens and women's onsen areas.
I cleaned myself again and got rid of my swimming clothes. Then i entered the onsen water. It was actually the same water like outside. It had a salty smell and was pretty hot. Good for relaxing but not for to long. There also you could go outside and enter other baths.
Inside i found a sauna and a steam sauna. I tried them both. But couse im not used to it i couldn't stay very long.
Later i cleaned myself again.
One interesting thing was that the other man also uses the cleaning area for toothbrushing and shaving there faces. There was a Vending machine were you could by razors and toothbrushes.
After i was dried and back in my clothes we met in the lobby and went to the restaurant in the upper floor. Most people probably just took a break there couse they wore the yukatas in the restaurant.
So overall it was a very quiet and peaceful experience with a little bit adventure for me. Couse pictures from the inside are forbidden i can only show you one picture of the lobby thanks to my wife.
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