Japan Culture : Onsens and Unzen



The Japanese term onsen refers to a hot spring; hot water that comes from deep under the earth in usually volcanically active areas.

The term also extends to bath houses and private hot spas in places such as luxury hotels.

The culture of bathing in onsens is recorded as early as the 6th century in Japan’s cultural history books predating the phenomenon to the date the book was written. So, bathing in onsens is an ancient cultural cornerstone of the Japanese identity.

Originally it was often a phenomenon for people of status such as the emperor and the other elite.

In the modern era more and more onsens have been developed. It is a cultural phenomenon that much of the populace participate in.

The method of bathing is usually to go in completely naked and thus many hot springs offer a male and female spa in separate settings. Although there are many mixed onsens despite some areas having banned the practice.

You need not worry if you are self-conscious as previously mentioned there is the option to have a private onsen in your hotel room.

There are many health benefits to using an onsen. Firstly, it is said that raising our body temperature is good for your health and interestingly science is proving to support such notions. Additionally, each onsen has it’s own mineral qualities. These minerals can be absorbed through the skin and have healing influences on your body.

In fact, up until the Meji Era when the Japanese opened the borders to the west and the rest of the world and western medicine flooded into the land. Onsens were a primary site of healthcare services. And mixed bathing was a common practice.

I have bad news for those with tattoos in most onsens tattooed individuals are banned. This was originally designed to keep the yakuza out of the onsen environment.

Although, with a recent growth in tourism this trend of banning tattooed individuals is showing signs of loosening.

The onsen is an environment to relax not to wash. You are expected to wash thoroughly before engaging in onsen activities. There is strict measure of cleanliness enforced contributing to a comforting and relaxing experience.

For this article we feature the notable onsens of Obama and Unzen. The Unzen-a Makusa national park is the first national park to be created in Japan.

It features an active volcano that even erupted in November of 1990 until 1995 causing some devastation and a small loss of human life.

There is a onsen field that was created by a Buddhist Monk around 1300 years ago.

The place is called Jigoku or Hell in English due to it’s seeming lifeless environment as there is many volcanic chemicals that spit a gaseous fog steam into the air...

If, that sounds a bit intense for you to stay at a volcano resort then why not try Obama the town some distance away that has its own free outdoor onsen foot spa! A much more laid back place with a beautiful coastline and delicious authentic Japanese restaurants.


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