Hey Yangblog, Tell Us a Japanese Bathing Story!

When Yangblog travels, I do as the Romans do. If this means taking an outdoor hot bath with Japanese men, so be it. Since Yangblog strives to enrich and enlighten, here is how to behave if you find yourself in an Onsen surrounded by naked Japanese men (or women).

You may thank me later.

1) The bathing area is a PUBLIC pool which means the bathwater is shared by everybody. Sharing is the key word. You will find individual cleaning stations surrounding the pool. For the love of humanity, CLEAN YOURSELF before you sit in the public bath.

2) Thoroughly clean yourself so "stuff" isn't floating off you while you're in the water. If you are hair-on-your-back hairy, forget about the public bath. Trust me, NOBODY wants you there. "Back-hair soup" is not anyone's idea of a relaxing day.

3) It is not necessary to wash your head or hair before you go to the bath. A simple rinse is fine. You may shampoo and shower after the bath. Just make sure you don't dip your oily head and hair into the bath water. This will probably not be an issue since most of you will not want "boiled head" trauma.

4) Before I carefully dip into the pool, I like to say "Hello" in English if Japanese bathers are in the pool. This way, they will not be shocked when I SCREAM IN AGONY as I dip into the scalding water. Don't worry, if you are not Japanese, YOU WILL SCREAM.

5) Once you adjust to the water, you will feel relaxed. Really really relaxed.  It is impossible to feel stressed. Usually there is an indoor bath where you can adjust to the water and an outdoor pool for enjoying the scenery. The outdoor bath will make you happy as a clam. You will be so happy you will start chatting with other bathers in Japanese even if you don't speak Japanese.


One final Onsen story which should warm your heart:

One morning I was relaxing in the outdoor bath when two young boys dipped into the pool. They were probably 5 to 7 years old. Suddenly the 5 year old sneezed into his hands and WIPED HIS HANDS IN THE POOL. He then took his phlegm-filled head and SUBMERGED HIMSELF under the water. Onsens have a variety of pools at various temperatures. I immediately left the pool and dove into the hottest HARD-CORE-ONLY-FOR-THE-MOST-INSANE pool to sterilize myself. Even now I can hear my screams echoing off the walls.

I would love to tell you more, but I need to call my health plan.

I need to see if my insurance covers "skin grafting".