I’m curious to hear where OMAAT readers stand on this…
In this post:
Onsens in Japan typically require nudity
Onsens are one of the many joys of visiting Japan. For those not familiar, onsens are essentially bathhouses with water that comes from hot springs.
These are often found in hotels, and can come in different forms. In some cases, you might have a private onsen in your room (essentially a large bathtub or hot tub, but with spring water), while in other cases, the hotel has a shared onsen that you can visit during certain hours.
Traditionally and culturally, nudity is required in onsens. Why? Well, it’s considered a part of the cultural experience. If I’m understanding the logic currently, the idea is that nudity promotes communal equality, as everyone is essentially “equal” when naked (which is ironic, because, well… never mind).
Anyway, this brings me to the meat of this post, if you will. Western hotel brands often water down aspects of culture, to make them more palatable to foreigners. In the United States, we’re generally super prude-ish about nudity. In some cultures it’s totally normal and not stigmatized, while in the United States, it’s the opposite. How does this impact the onsen experience?
Does anyone defy hotel nudity policies?
Story time (no, not in that way). I remember the first time I visited a hotel onsen in Japan, and I followed the rules. I got in the onsen, and a few minutes later, someone recognized me. I always appreciate when blog readers say hi, though I must say, this was a scenario I hadn’t played out in my head.
It was a totally pleasant and innocent interaction, but ever since, I’ve kind of thought twice about getting in onsens naked.
That brings me to my question — to the more prude(ish) among us, what’s your approach to hotel onsens when nudity is required? Do you not use them? Do you get over it? Do you wear a bathing suit?
I find it funny, because typically the nudity requirement is just written on a sign somewhere, and there’s no one actively enforcing it (it’s not like there’s something walking around telling people to take their pants off).
At hotels geared at western guests, I’m surprised that these policies actually exist. For example, at the Park Hyatt Niseko, there’s a sign saying that tattoos in the onsen are totally fine, while nudity is still required (tattoos are taboo, and traditionally, would need to be covered in an onsen).
Fortunately this was mostly a non-issue for our visit to Japan. We had a private onsen in our room, which we could use however we wanted. But it got me thinking as to whether these policies are enforced in any way, and to what extent people defy the rules.
Bottom line
Onsens are absolutely lovely, though if you’re a bit of a prude (or just American), the nudity requirement can take some getting used to. When it comes to onsens, it’s funny to me how western hotels compromise on the tattoo tradition, but not the nudity tradition.
But all of this has me wondering — do people actually consistently follow the nudity requirement in hotel onsens, or is it an unenforced rule?
In the traditional Japanese onsen, the water comes from natural hot springs and nothing is added, as the water is circulated over. Thus the idea for guests to onsens to bathe before entering the onsen and get naked is so that they do not bring in foreign particles or dirt into the onsen water. That is also the reason why you may bring a small towel (to wipe sweat off your face) but it is not supposed to touch the onsen water.
I never got what problem americans have with nudity. And I love the onsens just like the saunas here in Europe. I hate American saunas where you have to wear bathwear that burns into your flesh.
Japan is a:
1. Naked-in-onsen kind of country
2. (Strictly) Rule-following kind of country
3. Communal kind of society
On all 3 counts, you should be naked. If you don't wish to be naked, do not go to a public one. Either indulge however you like in a private one, or just don't go. Your own cultures customs and laws do not extend into the borders of another country.
Americans are so prudish about nudity and sexuality. While at the same time it’s an overly sexualised society where sex is used to market and sell everything. It’s like a country full of 13 year-olds (who elected a 10 year-old for a President…twice).
I was told off by a staff member for having a swimsuit on and asked to get naked in the onsen at the Andaz Tokyo. And was the only one in there. I didn’t mind, and I don’t recall seeing a sign either.
How would you feel about someone swimming nude in the pool at hotel in the US? That’s how the Japanese feel about you wearing a bathing suit to an Onsen.
This is such an ugly American post.
Disrespectful of local tradition or customs.
If you go to the Onsen, don’t make a big deal if everyone sees your Johnson.
I go to the Pullman Fontana Stuttgart Vaihingen for work periodically and their Spa/ pool is nude. Their place, their rules. Good Breakfast. The out of town cops stay there for the Canstatter Volksfest. Its weird.
I tend to think the important issue is whether the rules are enforced. Recently in Finland (where culturally entry into the sauna is supposed to naked and single sex) and the rules were not enforced! I went into this hotel sauna in Rovenemi and found both male and female occupants all wearing bathing suits. Not what I was expecting!!
When in Rome...
It also reminds me that I've wanted to research why (some) tattoos are taboo in Japan; especially since tattoos seem to be rising in popularity.
Oh my gosh, Ben, there is an onsen in Okinawa near the main airport - it’s a part of a hotel and the name escapes me but you’ll find it if you want (don’t need to be a hotel guest). Regardless of your “take” on them, it is INCREDIBLE for one reason in particular. You have a runway view!
I stood naked in shoulder deep water for about an hour watching planes take off…...
Oh my gosh, Ben, there is an onsen in Okinawa near the main airport - it’s a part of a hotel and the name escapes me but you’ll find it if you want (don’t need to be a hotel guest). Regardless of your “take” on them, it is INCREDIBLE for one reason in particular. You have a runway view!
I stood naked in shoulder deep water for about an hour watching planes take off… even better, it’s mixed use between commercial and military so the fighter jets really made it cool.
Honestly as an avgeek and Japan enthusiast you should go.
(I wouldn’t go just for this but next time you’re there which I’m sure you will be one day).
The cool stuff is from US bases not JSDF.
The more tension with China, the cooler stuff you'll see there.
But yes, this is one of the few onsens in Okinawa. But for avgeek, I'd recommend the pricey one near HND.
Stayed at the Hilton Niseko with a friend and used the onsen, which were separated by sex. My buddy and I were the only two foreigners in the onsen (probably 40 Japanese in it at the time). Got quick looks being very tall by even western standards but that was it. Everyone was naked ...it would have been extremely awkward to have trunks on.
It's a Japanese cultural tradition. Their culture, their rules. If you don't like it, don't go. Would Americans be ok with changing the rules of baseball to accommodate tourists?
By the way many onsen are changing rules to accommodate the Chinese tourists. In the waterpark like areas swimsuits are required. Mainly because its mixed gender. But also in some of the normal baths. Some of the larger resort style ryokans are allowing people to...
It's a Japanese cultural tradition. Their culture, their rules. If you don't like it, don't go. Would Americans be ok with changing the rules of baseball to accommodate tourists?
By the way many onsen are changing rules to accommodate the Chinese tourists. In the waterpark like areas swimsuits are required. Mainly because its mixed gender. But also in some of the normal baths. Some of the larger resort style ryokans are allowing people to purchase those disposable dress things.
And I stayed at the Amanemu about 8 years ago and the onsen is swimsuits. And it was dumb. It was going to a hot swimming pool. Not an onsen.
Straw man argument, neither the author of the piece nor any of the commenters are advocating changing the rules
I’ve never understood why Americans are such prudes and are skittish about the human body.
In the group, we all travel extensively. And we understand the need to respect local cultures and traditions.
If someone doesn’t want to be naked, don’t visit an onsen.
It’s really that simple.
I did the Japanese hot spring when I visited a friend in Japan. The music was relaxing meditation and I kept my eyes where they belong lol. My friends wife goes everyday. Hmmm Anywho.
Tattoos are not taboo in Japan. Tattoos are traditionally something yakuza got and so banning tattoos was a way of keeping them out of their onsen. I have also never heard that nudity was a way of promoting equality.
@Ben
You need to get some business connections to Finland, you would enjoy the sauna part of business relations. When I had a team in Helsinki, I did have to go through the sauna rituals. It is a bit a rite of passage for you to be accepted as a foreign manager in Finland.
And you should review the sauna in the Finnair lounge in Helsinki. I look forward to that.
I totally forgot about the sauna culture over there . Finland still on the bucket list. Along with some black licorice and a HJK Helsinki game. And 10 cups of coffee Finland has the worlds highest coffee consumption
If everyone is essentially “equal” when naked, then it would stand to reason that onsens should all be co-ed.
Unfortunately, many Japanese men cannot even behave themselves around women when fully clothed. See the upskirt cellphone camera scandal.
They are.... throughout Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Poland, and parts of Scandinavia....
My take? I don't have a "take". Pretty much the epitome of privilege and exclusivity to come along and think "yeah, this is the way onsens have worked for centuries, but my values mean I know better than this."
What if I told you most public saunas in Germany are both nude and co-ed?
He never wrote "I know better"... feeble-minded reply
Japanese people will get really upset (even if they don’t say anything) if you wear any fabric into the onsen or any shared bath unless explicitly allowed.
The official reason for this is that they reuse the water (a fact sone people don’t realize) and have really strict sanitation standards regarding this and don’t want any contaminants in the water.
The other thing in Japan is that people like to follow rules when in...
Japanese people will get really upset (even if they don’t say anything) if you wear any fabric into the onsen or any shared bath unless explicitly allowed.
The official reason for this is that they reuse the water (a fact sone people don’t realize) and have really strict sanitation standards regarding this and don’t want any contaminants in the water.
The other thing in Japan is that people like to follow rules when in public and don’t appreciate it when people deviate from established norms. They like the idea of foreigners appreciating their onsens and baths, but they aren’t happy if you don’t want to go along with the program and make on everyone feel awkward.
In a small western chain hotel shared bath at best no one will say anything if you wear a suit in, but it would surely make all the Japanese people feel uncomfortable and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone did say something to you or report it to the manager.
I’m gay and my gay Japanese friends are especially squirmish about being naked in public. Every time we go to the onsen they religiously use the small towel to cover themselves carefully removing it just as they get in the water. It always struck me as a funny behavior seeing how everyone else seems very comfy just letting everything hang out, but it seems to be an effective way of keeping their private parts private.
One thing I noticed at the Japanese Onsen's - is that most people using them have little body hair. Japanese are hairless, and the American's and European's using also had little body hair. You won't see a Moslim man in the Onsen's as they are forbidden to be naked with another man. In Dubai they all wear bathing suits.
Refusing to be participating in a country's culture when you're the visitor is somewhat rude in my opinion.
It's like not acting like a brash loud uneducated but extremely confident person when you visit the US.
You just do what locals do, and I tend to think most Japanese people would be fine for you not to visit at all if you feel so strongly about it.
The Onsens in Japan are same sex. Do I hi to the men’s and my wife goes to the women’s. No problem at all. A very natural setting. As an American you are in your own bubble as most Japanese, even in Tokyo, don’t speak English.
The Onsen is one of the most wonderful things about Japan.
We were in Slovenia at a thermal bath hotel and the sauna was nude and both sexes. No one seemed in any way to have a problem.
After returning from Japan a few weeks ago - I enjoyed on the separate times the Onsen's at the Villa Fontaine hotel at HND. Very large - can have 50 or more people in the facility at once (nude). Mandatory naked.
My view - issue is sanitation. To be blunt: you are required to throughly wash yourself - that means your private parts (everywhere) and bottom (hole). Bathing suits could have urine or feces...
After returning from Japan a few weeks ago - I enjoyed on the separate times the Onsen's at the Villa Fontaine hotel at HND. Very large - can have 50 or more people in the facility at once (nude). Mandatory naked.
My view - issue is sanitation. To be blunt: you are required to throughly wash yourself - that means your private parts (everywhere) and bottom (hole). Bathing suits could have urine or feces on it. The HND hotel has 40 washing stations - everyone cleans at them. Either respect the sanitation or don't go if you are shy.
Was also at the Hilton and in a smaller Onsen - a couple of American's ignored the sign and went in with bathing suits and did not shower before.
First time i visited an onsen without knowing the requirement for nudity, my friend and I walked in with our swimwear on and managed to get about 10-15 meters in before being told to go take our swimwear off...
Have been many times since and enjoy the cultural experience.
Some of these comments are super weird. Regardless of how you feel about Japanese bathing culture, foreigners have no business gatekeeping it.
As an American your behavior abroad will display your level of manners and class. When are aware of local customs and your surroundings and act accordingly it shows.
It really is simple - if you (not you Ben, but in general) are uncomfortable with being in the nude at the onsen, DON'T GO TO THE ONSEN. No one is forcing you, and you are free to do whatever else activity you are comfortable with!
I've told people off before for having bad etiquette in the onsen, some don't shower before getting in, but I have never seen someone not be in the...
It really is simple - if you (not you Ben, but in general) are uncomfortable with being in the nude at the onsen, DON'T GO TO THE ONSEN. No one is forcing you, and you are free to do whatever else activity you are comfortable with!
I've told people off before for having bad etiquette in the onsen, some don't shower before getting in, but I have never seen someone not be in the nude at the onsen. When everyone is naked and someone is the only one NOT, it's actually even weirder.
Ah, so you're the naked man I observed shouting at strangers in the onsen. Thank you for your service, Mike!
I don't mind nudity at all, since everyone else does. If not, you will definitely stand out. Being uncomfortable is why my husband usually doesn't go to onsens. I think he is missing out on one of the best experiences in Japan, but I don't force anybody who doesn't feel comfortable to go to public baths.
When the Hotel Kamp in Helsinki opened it had a co-ed sauna where in line with local custom there was no swimwear (but towels could be placed however one wanted)
After a year someone from Starwood had presumably interfered so there were signs saying to wear swimwear.
Which was generally ignored!
It makes sense to me for saunas/steam rooms etc to be nude if single-sex and swimsuits if mixed.
What I don't understand is mixed nude (Germany) or segregated swimsuits (America)
I suppose one could say that is a heterosexual-biased approach
It also had two conference saunas for private hire for business.
Recently used the impressive basement Onsen at Hilton Narita. The facility was popular among locals so the huge sauna had a dozen local middle-aged men in it. Posted rules included required nudity and "no eyeglasses in sauna". My paratner defied this rule and his coated, laminated fancy glasses were destroyed by the very extreme heat, easily the hottest sauna I've experienced.
I'm inclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt, in any posted...
Recently used the impressive basement Onsen at Hilton Narita. The facility was popular among locals so the huge sauna had a dozen local middle-aged men in it. Posted rules included required nudity and "no eyeglasses in sauna". My paratner defied this rule and his coated, laminated fancy glasses were destroyed by the very extreme heat, easily the hottest sauna I've experienced.
I'm inclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt, in any posted rules. If they say strip, I'll strip.
I'm pleasantly suprised at the trend in the replies to Ben's question. Vast majority seem to be anti-prude or at leaast "when in Rome" compliant with the local custom. I feel sorry that public recognition makes Ben uncomfortable being naked in an Onsen. If I encountered him, I'd still acknowledge him and express gratitude, since that's my primary feeling about him as a person. The courtesy thereafter (as in any celeb encounter, IMHO) is to leave first, expecially knowing he's a strong introvert.
You could always bring a tenugui (a light rectangular towel) inside to cover the front, as many locals do. Just make sure it won’t be soaked into the bath water.
I don't see a problem. If you don't want to get naked with others - don't go to places where it is the local custom. You travel to experience other cultures. Why travel if you want to apply your own standards to those of other countries.
100% agree - if you’re uncomfortable with it, don’t go or book a private onsen, or a room with one.
As an aside, the requirements around tattoos seem to be loosening - we weren’t refused anywhere on our last trip.
Just get in there and enjoy it!
There were a few people with tattoos at the Villa Fontaine - a couple were fully covered with them.
I recall that individuals with tattoos are not usually even admitted to onsen facilities because tattoos in Japan normally identify those individuals having them as gang (yakuza) members.
Well first this is not a gay bathhouse
I enjoy the Onsen at the HND Villa Fountaine. Jet lag-wise I wake up early and last time I was able to watch the sun come up standing at the east facing wooden fence in the outside portion. As a tall guy I could see over the fence. After several minutes I turned to leave and every other guy was standing there watching the sun rise. Cool!
Were people confusing onsens with gay bathhouses?
I bet the female readers have a very different take on this. My wife fell in love with the experience at the first time. I don’t like very hot water and I prefer showers to baths, so the nudity aspect was on top of that. It helped that my son and I were alone, each time we onsened, but overall this was not my cup of tea. We were offered private onsen time in a high end ryokan, so I recommend that to those who have some issues with the nudity.
Don't really have a problem with it except my son is quite a show-er, and sadly, puts me to shame when we go to K-spas
Western hotel brands do enforce it. Years ago, my father and I went to the onsen at the Park Hyatt Tokyo wearing our bathing suits. A minute later, one of the staff chased after us telling us we had to be naked... so we promptly left. Crazy that he actually looked to check...
This is a simple one...you follow the rules or you don't do the activity. Nobody is being forced to go to an Onsen.
You should absolutely follow those rules.
If you go to a sauna in germany (or better put german cultural area (Germany/Austria/Switzerland/South Tyrol/parts of Alsace), people will definitely tell you to get naked or leave as it’s considered unhygienic to enter a sauna with clothes on.
And it’s also to prevent a situation where it makes people uncomfortable if they are naked and others are not.
Saunas and spas in Germany have these rules as...
You should absolutely follow those rules.
If you go to a sauna in germany (or better put german cultural area (Germany/Austria/Switzerland/South Tyrol/parts of Alsace), people will definitely tell you to get naked or leave as it’s considered unhygienic to enter a sauna with clothes on.
And it’s also to prevent a situation where it makes people uncomfortable if they are naked and others are not.
Saunas and spas in Germany have these rules as it’s part of the spa culture and it has been like that for hundreds of years. And if I am correct it’s mostly the same for eastern europe and northern europe, although some of these countries have gender separated saunas which is not the case in Germany.
I don’t know about Japan, but if these are the rules there as well than visitors to Japan should stick to them.
Austria was very strict about this, Dolomites not so much. There is nothing weird about coed naked saunas. Just relax and keep to oneself.
Half of California hot springs are that way..
I would never imagined liking it and was quite nervous the first time, but it's actually very nice and chill. Do as the locals do or don't go.
Locals aren't staying in bland American chain hotels in Japan.
I don't personally do public nudity; which I can assure you is a great relief to the public; but I agree that "when in Rome...".
I dunno everybody's naked at the sauna at my local Y
"the idea is that nudity promotes communal equality, as everyone is essentially “equal” when naked (which is ironic, because, well… never mind)."
Thanks for you witty humor, @Ben. It's much appreciated amid all the crazy stuff going around non-stop :)
And he starts the next sentence with:
“Anyway, this brings me to the meat”
Never been to Japan before. But in Europe in most countries its normal to be nude in the Sauna. And I really enjoy it.
It's a little funny how tetchy some are in the comments about this.
- Author of the piece clearly had an odd encounter the first time he went nude at an onsen
- Now he wants to know how people from cultures that stigmatize public nudity navigate onsens
- Some commenters see this as their golden opportunity to scold both the author for his innocent question and to signal their own virtue
Personally I've never...
It's a little funny how tetchy some are in the comments about this.
- Author of the piece clearly had an odd encounter the first time he went nude at an onsen
- Now he wants to know how people from cultures that stigmatize public nudity navigate onsens
- Some commenters see this as their golden opportunity to scold both the author for his innocent question and to signal their own virtue
Personally I've never had a problem conforming to the nudity requirement (I'm from a nordic country), and I don't talk to anyone in the onsen, clothed or otherwise. This attraction some have to adopting a hall monitor persona really is off putting and strange.
Great comments on a very interesting subject.
I'm happy to follow local customs and go naked in onsens and steam rooms. I actually prefer it as it's far more comfortable and enjoyable. Except in Germany, as I cannot and will not be naked in mixed gender situations. But I know that's my personal hang-up and my solution is to simply not use steam rooms and saunas in Germany and Austria.
I must profess that...
Great comments on a very interesting subject.
I'm happy to follow local customs and go naked in onsens and steam rooms. I actually prefer it as it's far more comfortable and enjoyable. Except in Germany, as I cannot and will not be naked in mixed gender situations. But I know that's my personal hang-up and my solution is to simply not use steam rooms and saunas in Germany and Austria.
I must profess that I am actually *very* self-conscious being nude in Europe, which is ironic considering how nonchalant many Europeans are about nudity. But I just feel awkward being circumcised and naked in countries where circumcision isn't the norm. Once again, I know this is my personal hang-up.
Since you brought the circumcision item up - I find in American - uncut men are more self-conscious. Not an issue in Japan. Most young men are uncut, and many older Japanese are cut. But I found that many of the younger Japanese pulled their foreskin back. Ben is both American and German - not sure of his situation and his self-consciousness.
I'm not allowed to visit most public onsen due to my tattoos so I try to book ryokan with a private onsen when I can. With this, nudity is not a problem.
Also on that sign: no photography in the onset area ;-)
I have been to a number of onsens in Japan and Taiwan (and Korean bath house or K-Spa in Korea and in the US) and all of them required to be nude (gender segregated), except one in Taiwan I saw was co-ed and required bathing suit. I have never seen anyone not nude in a nude-required onsens or K-Spa. People should follow the rules, period!
First and foremost it's about respecting the culture and societal norms; if you don't want to do it don't participate in a way that's not respectable (e.g. with a bathing suit). Last year at the Park Hyatt Niseko I saw someone in that same onset with swim trunks on, saddens me to see disrespectful travelers aloof. Or perhaps just ignorant.
With that said, my 'prude' score is pretty high, but so is my respect for local customs. The latter wins here.
As a person who was born in and grew up in Japan, I would say there’s no one enforcing the nudity rule at an onsen. But personally I have never seen a person wearing pants at an onsen. Things may be different at onsens popular among foreigners. In our culture, no body cares being naked in an onsen because you only see the same sex. We wash our body and hair first and then go...
As a person who was born in and grew up in Japan, I would say there’s no one enforcing the nudity rule at an onsen. But personally I have never seen a person wearing pants at an onsen. Things may be different at onsens popular among foreigners. In our culture, no body cares being naked in an onsen because you only see the same sex. We wash our body and hair first and then go bathe. In this order, you can keep the hot spring water clean. You don’t want to soak your maybe-dirty pants or towels into a bath. This is the courtesy.
And please don't mix the term onsen when it's a sento. They are not interchangeable.
I was just in Japan and the hotel had a nice onsen. Nudity required. I had no issue with it. But saw one American in a swimsuit. Thought he looked really stupid. Reality is these are not gay bathhouses, think most people keep to themselves and aren’t “looking” and are respectful.
Being American, I was nervous the first time I went into an onsen. Just a different experience from a different culture. Doesn't bother me at all now though, and I enjoy the onsens so much that I try to stay at as many as I can each time I'm in Japan.
Still a little annoyed that neither my brother nor my mother tried it out on our last trip, we were the only guests...
Being American, I was nervous the first time I went into an onsen. Just a different experience from a different culture. Doesn't bother me at all now though, and I enjoy the onsens so much that I try to stay at as many as I can each time I'm in Japan.
Still a little annoyed that neither my brother nor my mother tried it out on our last trip, we were the only guests in the entire hotel so my mother would have had the women's bath all to herself, and of course my brother and I could take turns in the men's.
I think in general rules aren't "enforced" so much in Japan, since people (Japanese at least) generally follow them as a cultural norm.
Personally, I'm way too self-conscious. If it's required, I won't go. I don't even like going to a hotel swimming pool if others are there.
Exactly. My observation is that the Japanese do as I do, generally shun the offending party silently and avoid confrontation if at all possible.
When in Japan do as the Japanese do.
Another reason is cleanliness. They don't want any textiles or fabric in the water. You're expected to shower before entering. I'm completely fine with it. K-spas are like this too.
We noticed a nude beach near our hotel in Spain a few years ago. A few days later we decided to go there and join the nude sunbathers. We are both used to being naked in the gym locker room and spa area. Once you get over it, it’s really nice to swim in the sea with no clothes. Nobody there gives a crap.
It’s not just a cultural thing. The onsen water is static and (if a real onsen) contains minerals that are highly beneficial. Wearing a bathing suit will introduce chemicals from the fabric and detergent. Pls don’t do this. It’s beyond rude. It’s actually unacceptable. Please bathe properly before using the onsen and make sure to wash all the soap off.
If you want you can cover ‘yourself’ with the small washcloth as you move...
It’s not just a cultural thing. The onsen water is static and (if a real onsen) contains minerals that are highly beneficial. Wearing a bathing suit will introduce chemicals from the fabric and detergent. Pls don’t do this. It’s beyond rude. It’s actually unacceptable. Please bathe properly before using the onsen and make sure to wash all the soap off.
If you want you can cover ‘yourself’ with the small washcloth as you move into the onsen and leave the towel on your head whilst you are in (making sure not to allow the towel to touch the onsen water).
If this is all too much - just skip the experience or stay in a hotel with private onsen (many have this).
Not sure I'm loving this post. If the question is: How do "western readers" feel about hotels in non-western countries having "non-western" policies... why would anyone have a problem with that? These hotels are not located inside an embassy, and they're certainly not used exclusively by "westerners."
This question is as silly to me as the reverse would be: Should American and European hotel chains in the Middle East be forced to have mixed-gender...
Not sure I'm loving this post. If the question is: How do "western readers" feel about hotels in non-western countries having "non-western" policies... why would anyone have a problem with that? These hotels are not located inside an embassy, and they're certainly not used exclusively by "westerners."
This question is as silly to me as the reverse would be: Should American and European hotel chains in the Middle East be forced to have mixed-gender saunas because "Westerners" generally prefer it?
Not all onsens in Japan have a single, strict tattoo policy. By being flexible here, the hotel is absolutely following the Japanese tradition of letting saunas decide their tolerance o nthe issue.
However, since bringing your clothes into the bathing waters is (reasonably enough) seen as potentially contaminating to the waters, the requirement for nudity remains. Its not just tradition, its cleanliness (in the Japanese view.)
Curious what you specifically didn't like about the post. Ben is honestly and respectfully questioning his own discomfort with nudity in onsens that seems to have been primarily prompted by a very specific scenario (a polite yet awk encounter with a reader).
He's then using that as a springboard to ask other Westerners how they encounter a very different cultural dynamic around nudity.
Seems counterproductive to shame someone for wanting to engage with...
Curious what you specifically didn't like about the post. Ben is honestly and respectfully questioning his own discomfort with nudity in onsens that seems to have been primarily prompted by a very specific scenario (a polite yet awk encounter with a reader).
He's then using that as a springboard to ask other Westerners how they encounter a very different cultural dynamic around nudity.
Seems counterproductive to shame someone for wanting to engage with honesty and humility on this topic.
Exactly. Thanks Curious. I don't really understand why some want to stifle the conversation. Most of us have been in similar situations. I used to work for a Japanese company so was there quite a bit. I'm generally comfortable with nudity and have been to onsens many times. That being said, I was a little taken back the first time I went with a bunch of work colleagues. It's not very often that you get...
Exactly. Thanks Curious. I don't really understand why some want to stifle the conversation. Most of us have been in similar situations. I used to work for a Japanese company so was there quite a bit. I'm generally comfortable with nudity and have been to onsens many times. That being said, I was a little taken back the first time I went with a bunch of work colleagues. It's not very often that you get naked with a bunch of guys you work with and even stranger if you are with a client.
As an American expat living in Japan, at first the custom was awkward, but now I’ve come to fully appreciate and embrace it. I’m actually the one often telling off American or usually Chinese tourists that they need to wash themselves first, or not to bring the towel into the onsen or other must-do/must-not-do. If you don’t want to respect the Japanese tradition then you shouldn’t use the onsen, period. The rules are posted super...
As an American expat living in Japan, at first the custom was awkward, but now I’ve come to fully appreciate and embrace it. I’m actually the one often telling off American or usually Chinese tourists that they need to wash themselves first, or not to bring the towel into the onsen or other must-do/must-not-do. If you don’t want to respect the Japanese tradition then you shouldn’t use the onsen, period. The rules are posted super clearly everywhere. Especially at the Park Hyatt Niseko which I’ve stayed at numerous times.
For what it’s worth; the worst is the families… you get three kids who come in and treat it as a water park, splashing about….
I agree, Jon, Americans who cannot respect other cultures should stay at home and not invade other countries.
This sounds super condescending. You are not Japanese, and don’t have a right to enforce Japanese rules. Guessing you also scolded foreigners for not wearing masks (even though doing so has never been required by law in Japan).
Glad I met you briefly in an airport instead LOL. Part of the nudity requirement is also that the water has specific composition and supposed healing benefits which contaminates from clothing could disrupt. For that reason I personally follow the requirement (or wouldn’t go if I didn’t want to)
Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto is the one place I’ve visited with co’ed baths but swimsuits are provided (and enforced) there, as you’d expect
Fun facts:
Mixed gender was the norm until 'westerners' started to arrive. And post WW2 sealed the fate of this tradition.
Fun fact, there are still mixed gender no swim wear onsens. It is typically the rotenburo, the open air baths, where the main indoor baths and shower areas are separated. These are country side, very old and traditional places.
IMHO it's not that weird to permit tattoos but require nudity, as the nudity is a cultural feature whereas to my understanding the tattoo prohibition was a pragmatic adjustment to address gang presence. They're both common onsen rules, but for very different reasons.
Basically if you have a problem with nudity then that is your problem, don't use the onsen. While nudity is part of the ritual, it also has a practical reason – swimmers and clothes often have all sorts of detergents and oils in them due to washing and wearing. The purity of the water can be spoiled by people getting in with all sorts of different clothing, which is part of the reason nudity is preferred.
Is this even a question? If there is a sign saying that you shouldn't be wearing clothes, then don't wear clothes. Otherwise just don't use the Onsen.
Similar practices definitely exist elsewhere - e.g. you will find plenty of Saunas in Austria that require nudity (and, unlike Japan, are mixed sex). You may well get a similarly negative reaction to wearing clothes in one of those.
When in Rome, etc.... Respect local customs, or just don't partake. It's not hard.
If nudity is required, then the choice is to be naked or forego the experience. Full stop. Respect local customs.
Yet another post with subtle supremacist undertones.
It’s a different country with different cultural norms, get over it.
The world doesn’t have to cater to so-called “westerns” all the time.
Weird take. Ben is merely initiating a dialogue with his (presumably) Western audience about how they navigate this specific cultural dynamic around nudity.
He actually goes out of his way to interrogate his own discomfort and question his own cultural conditioning as an American.
Granted, I have only enjoyed the experience 4 times over the years, but once I learned that being nude is the preferred method of enjoying them, I didn't even hesitate. Go ahead and ogle all you'd like. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Ben, appreciate that you are humble, polite, and deferential enough not to state the actual etiquette here. I will do it for you. Do not do this. The average "celebrity" does not appreciate being approached with all of their clothes on. Please leave others alone unless they are clearly in a position to receive...
Ben, appreciate that you are humble, polite, and deferential enough not to state the actual etiquette here. I will do it for you. Do not do this. The average "celebrity" does not appreciate being approached with all of their clothes on. Please leave others alone unless they are clearly in a position to receive unsolicited greetings from strangers. FULLY NAKED is not one of those situations.
Arps, across much of the world, bathing has been a social activity for thousands of years.
I suspect almost no one will want to greet you, naked or otherwise.
When in Rome…
Eat lots of pasta and gelato.
Beware pickpockets.
Rock out with your $ock out. When in Rome one must respect the local customs.
There's a hilarious irony in Japan being comfortable with nudity while America is uncomfortable with the same.
Japanese "medium" is an American "x-small" if you catch my drift.
Arps is an admitted meat gazer. Hopefully the onsens are age 18+ to protect the children.
Arps appears to be an expert on genitalia of Japanese and American men. Unless one is a urologist, it is not acceptable to closely examine people's private parts. Those who do are known as sex offenders.
I didn't really think that's ironic. It's probably true that the American obesity epidemic has made Americans more body conscious and more ashamed of their own bodies compared to Japanese people.
I once saw some white Americans wearing clothes and bedroom slippers in the Park Hyatt Niseko onsen and they were quickly told off by an Asian guy.
I’m not from a country that’s particularly prudish nor particularly open to nudity, so for example in saunas it’s usually 75% in their underwear/shorts, 25% nude. I still cannot fathom what makes Americans go into saunas fully clothes (even sneakers I’ve seen lmao)