Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 12 april 2019
Bathe naked with strangers? Welcome to a Japanese bathhouse

By LINDA LOMBARDI clothes in a locker. This part
Associated Press should feel familiar to any-
TOKYO (AP) — Japan is one who's been to a gym.
proud of its bathing tradi- —Leave the big towel in
tions. For many Westerners, the locker but take the
though, the fact that these small one with you. Use it for
traditions involve being na- washing and/or to dry your-
ked with strangers is awk- self a bit after your bath
ward at best, even though so you don't drip onto the
men and women bathe changing room floor.
separately. —The bathroom has indi-
On my first trip I tried to wrig- vidual washing stations. The
gle out of a friend's offer to station may already have a
take me to an onsen, or hot stool, or you can take one
springs resort. I suggested a and a wash basin from a
different town that had an stack. The basin is the tra-
attraction I wanted to see, ditional way to wash and
and thought I was off the rinse yourself, but now there
hook. are also hand sprayers.
I should have done my re- —Wash thoroughly. The
search better: That town bath is just for soaking; since
was famous for its onsen as the water there is shared,
well. you're expected to be
It turned out for the best, clean first. Be careful not to
though, because I've be- splash your neighbors.
come a fan. Nothing is This undated photo provided by Stéphanie Crohin shows traditional baths and murals in Kasuga —Tie up long hair. You don't
more relaxing after a tiring onsen, or hot spring bath, in Matsuzaka, Mie prefecture, Japan. want it to dangle into the
day of sightseeing than a Associated Press shared bath.
long soak, and you can re- Now you're ready to soak!
assure yourself that you're natural spring water. acting like it's normal, you These may be an easy way At this point you'll still be
experiencing authentic For the outsider, though, will quickly get comfort- in for the first-timer, but if carrying your small towel,
culture at the same time. the facilities will look much able. "For some people it is you want to experience which brings up another
Two terms are basic when the same and more impor- a big challenge to be na- authentic local culture, rule: never put your towel
talking about Japanese tant, so are the traditions ked in front of others, but make sure you try a sento into the bath. If you've seen
baths: onsen and sento. and etiquette. genders are separate, and too. Just follow the rules so Japanese bathing on TV,
An onsen has natural hot Stephanie Crohin is au- everybody just doesn't look you'll fit in. At a typical bath people will usually be cov-
spring water. A sento, usu- thor of a book in Japa- and doesn't care," she says. here's the routine: ered with towels, but that
ally translated as public nese about sento. For the "It is the ideal place to for- —Leave your shoes in an is only for filming. The most
bath, typically uses regular past three years, she has get about complexes!" outside locker. traditional thing to do with
water, traditionally heated been the official volunteer Although you won't have —Pay the fee. If you the small towel is fold it and
by burning wood. Tall chim- ambassador for the To- much trouble finding a haven't brought your own rest it on your head while
neys for the smoke are one kyo Sento Association. She sento in a city like Tokyo, soap and shampoo, you you're bathing.
visual symbol of the city has visited over 700 sento their numbers are in fact can buy small bottles and Finally, sento and onsen
sento. across Japan and her book declining. Last year, she rent towels. You'll be giv- have traditionally prohib-
The distinction is noted be- and Instagram feed reveal says, 40 sento closed in To- en one large towel and a ited tattoos, which are as-
cause various spring waters the beauty of their interiors, kyo. Fifty years ago, there small one. sociated with organized
are supposed to have dif- where photography is usu- were around 2,700 sento —Go through the entrance crime. These restrictions are
ferent health benefits. On- ally prohibited, including in the city, but now there for your gender. (You might loosening. Sento are usu-
sen are commonly found many traditional painted are around 560, with 2,500 want to memorize the ally fine with them, but su-
at hotels and resorts out- murals and immaculate across the country. characters for "man" and per sento and onsen resorts
side the city, but there are tilework. One reason sento are clos- "woman" in advance.) may not be, so check in
about 45 sento in Tokyo, She reassures first-timers ing is that many of their —In the changing room, advance.q
for example, that do have that with everyone else customers are elderly. Now undress and put your
that every home has its
own bath, younger people
often never cultivated the
habit. Some sento are try-
ing new strategies to at-
tract customers, including
presenting exhibits and
events such as concerts
and developing English in-
formation to attract tourists.
Another innovation: "super
sento," more like day spas
with additional facilities
and entertainment. One
in Tokyo, Oedo Onsen Mo-
This undated photo provided by Stéphanie Crohin shows bath nogatari, is basically a hot This undated photo provided by Stéphanie Crohin shows a
and mural at Mikoku-yu onsen, or hot spring bath, in Sumida bath theme park with a re- changing room in Unsuisen sento, or public bath, in Tokyo, Ja-
ward, Tokyo, Japan. created Edo period town- pan.
Associated Press scape. Associated Press