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Japan's Natural Hot Springs

The instability of Japan's earth crust and its potential for disaster, earthquakes and tsunamis is ironically responsible for one of its natural treasures: the numerous natural hot springs throughout the land. Many of these hot springs are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty and are therefore a "must visit" for tourists traveling to Japan.

Apart from their main use in Japanese baths, the country's natural hot springs also provide an important source of domestic energy for heating and cooking as well as for generating geothermal electricity.

According to the 1948 Hot Spring Law, a hot spring cannot be called a hot spring unless it meets the following criteria: "hot water, mineral water, water vapor and other gases (except natural gas containing hydrocarbons as the main element) that issue from the ground with a temperature in excess of 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) or contain more than a predescribed amount of designated substances" (Hot Spring Law, 1948).

Japanese Baths: Origins

The Japanese ritual of bathing in hot springs has aristocratic origins that date back to the Heian Period. During the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century, the popularity of Japanese baths spread to Japanese warlords who bathed in the thermal hot springs to heal their battle wounds. By the beginning of the Edo Period (1603-1867), the practice of bathing in hot springs was commonplace among agricultural workers and fishermen who gathered at their local hot springs to unwind and socialize at the end of a hard day's work.

Did you know that ...
Dogo hot springs in Ehima prefecture, formerly Iyo province, was allegedly the site of the first Japanese hot spring baths used by ancient emperors for therapeutic purposes?

Japanese Bath Houses

The Japanese word for a bath-house is onsen. Facilities at onsen range from very basic to luxury spa-style treatments.

No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to a traditional bath-house, as hot spring bathing is part of the very fabric of Japanese society. The bathing process, according to Japanese perception cleanses and purifies the body and soul.

At a limited number of hot springs, medical treatment is available for a wide range of chronic conditions including rheumatism, neuralgia, intestinal and liver disorders, hypertension, and even gout. Hot spring treatments have also been shown to aid post-operative recovery and to heal external injuries.

The segregation of the sexes at Japanese baths is a relatively recent phenomenon. However, mixed bathing facilities are still available at a few hot spring baths, particularly in and around Tohoku, Northern Honshu.

Japanese Baths: A Step-by-Step Guide to Japanese Bath (Onsen) Etiquette

First, remove your shoes at the entrance, or genkan, to the Japanese baths. Place your footwear in the cabinet provided.
Take off all your clothes in the bath-house locker room. The only items you should take into the bath-room are soap, shampoo and a large towel.
On entering the bath-room, sit on one of the low stools positioned well away from the bath.
Use the scoop, bucket or shower provided to wash thoroughly.
Make sure that you rinse away all traces of soap and lather. This is very important! Under no circumstances should you allow any trace of soap to get into the actual bath water.
Leave your large towel at a distance from the bath. Most Japanese baths will provide a small "modesty" bath towel to cover your essentials!
Always immerse yourself slowly into Japanese baths. This process should not be hurried.
Japanese bath etiquette requires that you keep your head above water at all times.
In Japanese baths, it is common practice to get in and out of the baths several times.
Last but not least, never consume alcohol before using Japanese baths.

Traveler's Tip:
If Japanese baths offer a choice of temperatures, you are advised to try the cooler bath first. Temperatures at Japanese baths generally range between 108°F (42°C) and 118°F (48°C).

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