Comfortable bathing in public?
 

One of the things I found most awkward in Japan was bathing publicly.

It was completely disturbing. Not because I was embarrassed, but because the way I was treated by other, err, bathers.

I was literally yelled at for getting the tatami mat wet, and not properly drying before stepping on in it -- and of course I got some weird stares (being that I'm such an attractive American ;)). People take their public bath houses very seriously in Japan, especially when you're a gaijin.

Another time I was stripped naked by an elderly Japanese woman (the owner of the establishment). She was seriously, 4'6'' or 4'7'', 110 pounds, and had to have been close to 85. My travel-mates were laughing, but she was pretty aggressive. ;) I'm not sure was she was hurrying me up so much, as the place was pretty empty at the time. Maybe I was stinky, lol.

Eventually I found some beautiful places that were actually quite relaxing. I met some really cool people at a bathing house in Kyoto, and it ended up being one of my best travel experiences.


Weird how things work out like that. :vsign:

Anyone else have any input?

-EDIT-
Has anyone tried the electric bath?

i'm still not used to it here.

but like yourself, i had my best japan moment last winter, up in hokkaido at an outside pool watching the snow fall. all i needed was a couple saru bringing me sake and it would have been perfect.

and a fat naked russian dude kept disrupting my moment by parading up and down in my field of view.

When I went on my student exchange to Japan, I had two days of literally doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and touring Onsens in Akita Prefecture, where I was staying.

I found it extremely awkward, but for some reason, it felt completely natural at the same time, all the old Japanese ladies didn't seem to really care that I was there.....when I seriously expected something to happen since I was staying up in the countryside where people aren't used to foreign people. The onsen at summer camp is a different story....

The only thing I didn't really like was the smell. It didn't smell like people relaxing in clean water, it smelled like people bathing in hot, dirty pool water that was sitting there for two weeks with no pool-boy, which in turn caused me to wake up twice in the middle of the night feeling like I was gonna puke my guts out.

That had nothing to do with you being a gaikokujin. It had more to do with you getting the tatami mat wet and not properly drying before stepping on it. Next time read the sign. And yeah, they take it pretty seriously, especially if they're there to relax, want a neat and clean environment (dry tatami), or are elderly. The elderly are serious about EVERYTHING.

Also,
....no. Probably got weird stares cuz you were DOING IT RONG. :D
自分で言うな。

That's pretty hot, man. Did you pay her?

That sounds like instant DEATH. Where did you see one?

Loved it..

I used to take a Public Bath at Coganoi Bay Hotel, Wakayama.

They have a lovely one in the front garden and the last time I enjoyed this was with a lovely lady who I did not know.

She was totally naked, and actually got out of the bath stark naked, and stood talking to me. It felt very good;)

Oz, you're a pimp and I love you. ;)

I'm looking for some decent co-ed onsen...:cool:
Actually I really wanna go to Wakayama, so maybe I'll check this place out!

Thanks man:)

The hotel itself was very nice. try to get a top floor. By memory, we bargauined the price to 12,000YEN a night.. Not cheap but well worth the top comfort.

It has a seperate male and female bath down below, but the small garden bath is fantastic, especially at night..

The JP ladies won't mind a bit, and you may even land one back to your room;)

Wakayama is full of Onsen places..

We mainly used to travel as it was quite short from Kyoto.. You in Osaka have less travel time..

Rent a car and treat yourself..

That Wakayama Bay area gives a nice view and the locals are so friendly..

Treat yourself to this hotel, and pay the extra for the TV adult channels;)

Your'e the king! haha

Forgot to mention I was looking for a co-ed onsen since my galfriend brought it up the other day. She's not freaky or anything, she just wants to relax together (*snicker*). I'll check that place out.

I would rent a car except I'm still terrified of the whole "everything's on the left, and the driver's side is on the right" thing. (From America) I have my international driver's license (gonna switch over to a JP license with everything gets sorted out) but I'm scared to use it. I really would wanna rent a scooter or something :D

..what was this thread about again? ;)

Rent that car and go:)
ToCoo! Travel ---Car Rental Service in Japan---

Oh man they have the new model of the Mazda 3, the one I had back in America... and the fact that I can rent an RX-8 makes me just wanna drop my pants here and now for no reason. I'm THAT excited.

Thanks for the link!

The electric bath (denki furo) is not instant death... It sends out a small current that is completely noticeable, but somehow is supposed to be relaxing.


...

All this talk and you post pictures of the hotel? Where's the picture of the girl? :)

Sheesh...you and girl pictures ;)

Seconded! Pics or it didn't happen!

@ burkhartdesu: An electric current? And it helps you relax? Well then again, this is from the country that has gigantic ex-pro wrestlers get up and slap women full in the face for getting a question wrong on a variety show...

I loved Japanese Onsen and always felt comfortable. Off course people look at you, but i didnt have anybody stare at me (unlike in Korea).
I have only been at one mixed Onsen wich was ok (mostly man).
I have been at over 30 different Onsen and i never felt that i got special treatment because i am a gaijin... My best experience was an Onsen somewhere in Kansai wich was open to the Seaside. Not to far away was a bridge from wich you could see inside the male-side. Sometimes people would walk by and stop for a moment and look, suddenly this guy next to me (maybe 25) gets up and waves at the people on the bridge :D they just ignored him... "we didnt look..." :D

To the car thingy: I have been driving in Australia and Japan (im from germany) and i got used to driving the other way round very fast. Because you are also sitting on the other side it usually is no problem. I think driving a scooter might be more difficult to start with. Id also recommend to rent a small car first (K-Jidosha), just got to you local Toyota rental-car, they have the best prices.

hmm,
I've never really had a problem bathing in public (gym, pools and stuff)
but if people really do stare that much at you I think I'd be extremely uncomfortable with it.
If I step foot in Japan I'll probably just stick to the private shower where no one is staring.

I've never been to an onsen in Japan.
But from what i'm reading it sounds that you have to be fully nude in order to get in.
Is this true?

They sound fun and relaxing. I might go to one when i go to Japan.

Onsen/Sento

Pay the fee and then go to the changing room.
Get fully naked and then go into the cleaning area.
Clean yourself very well.
Enjoy the baths.

What is the problem?

I have a really big cock and I never get stared at when in public baths.
I guess all those years at an all boys school prepared me for bathing in japan!
But seriously, I have never had any issues using public baths here.
Get naked and enjoy the baths, good times!

HAH!!

Haha!!

HahahahahahahahahaHNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!!!

Dear lord, I managed to skip over that the first time reading his post. Thanks for pointing it out.

I need some mindbleach. :\

I travelled through Japan from Hokkaido down to Okinawa and went to countless Onsen/Sento there. Just one foot bath was really natural. The rest has hotel complexes around or they want an entrance fee. But that's Japan: nothing stays natural when discovered.

The rules are absolutely no problem. As the guy with the huge cock said: get undressed, shower, bath. Also a massive penis is not the problem why people would stare at you. The problem is that you are a Gaijin. Something japanese people don't understand and don't want in their country. When I enter the bath tub, people leave and I don't think it's because of my privates because normally you cover them with your towel (in case the towel is big enough). When it comes to foreigners, japanese people are retards. On the ferry back home from Hokkaido I met a group of construction workers that were on their way home from some construction there. They invited us to have some beer with them because they've never seen a Gaijin in reality before. Sometimes they see one on TV when their children watch something but they never saw one live. Can you believe that?

If you can live with that and if your balls don't drag on the ground you should definitely not miss a nice japanese concrete hotel complex onsen. If you give up searching for something natural in Japan and just accept the concrete walls, you should go to Spa World in Osaka. Until October 31st they have some special offer for ¥1000 for a day-pass. They have two theme floors: asia and europe. One for men and one for women. Every month they change which one is for men and which one for women. Don't miss the あかすり there - they'd love to wash your huge hammer!

Stay tuned!

hehe! I must try あかすり Thanks for telling me about that.

I don't think I have been gaijin'd by Japanese yet! I get some looks and the like but nothing I wouldn't get back in London.
I look at them too and they often look back.
In the onsen I feel quite normal and relaxed, my nihongo is not great but a few words help alot, mainly to put the locals at ease. Many young guys like the fashion of using the towel over their bits but my towel stays on my head (not that one silly).

The last onsen I was in, the cleaning staff (female) came into the mens changing area for a scrub. Neither they nor us batted an eyelid or hid behind a towel.

Are all of these onsen require you to be fully nude?
What about if some one wants to go to an onsen with there girlfriend or wife, and enjoy the onsen together? Are there some that are co-ed?

There are a very small number that are, but they`re hard to find and usually are filled with elderly men and women. In general they all require you to be nude.

For a couple/family - there are often private smaller baths which you can rent for an hour or so and enjoy. Some nicer hotels will also offer a private outdoor bath attached to your room for the ultimate in privacy.