Japanese Onsen!?

An Onsen is a Japanese Hot Spring.  People go to these hot springs to wash, relax, and refresh themselves.

I recently came across this blog It Just Gets Stranger, it is an entertaining read if you have the time.  After reading about Eli's experiences in a Russian Bath House and then his experiences in a Turkish Bath House, I thought I could share one or two of my experiences in a Japanese Bath House.

At a Japanese Onsen, men and women are separated/segregated.  After you take off your shoes and check in, you are to enter the locker room, remove your clothing, and then wash yourself completely before you can enter the hot springs.  Some hot springs have various pools of varying degrees of temperature and some are all indoors while others are outdoors.  I like the outdoor ones more than the indoor ones, the scenery is always very beautiful and if you go after dark you can sometimes see the stars!

My first experience with an Onsen I felt like everyone was staring at me!  I happen to be really white very pale skinned.  I went with a group and we were only speaking English, so maybe that is why I was being stared at!  But is was an experience I needed to have in Japan, and I thought I don't ever want to do this ever again!  That didn't last, and the next time I went it was just me and my friend Chika.  That time I didn't feel self-conscious or that everyone was staring at me, I'm not sure what the difference was, but it was more enjoyable the second time I went!  Well in February of 2012, I went to Gero with two very good friend, and this time was the best!

 One of the Foot Baths in Gero (this one was the best/hottest)

 Which feet are mine?

There is a famous Onsen town called Gero a few hours from where I lived in Japan.  There are other things in Gero besides Onsen, one of the best in my opinion would be the foot baths located in several places all over the city!

~Adventures in Anything & Everything