Onsen Natural Hotsprings

Please note. If you have big tatoo (sleeves or back etc), you may not be able to go in a communal bath. Please check the site policy if you are not sure.

http://www.ryokan.or.jp/english/onsen/index.html

this is a picture of typical communal bath at ryokan.

• Put your clothes in a basket in the changing room. If you are staying at ryokan, Japanese inns, they will provide you a small towel and a bath towel. You may bring your small towel in a communal bath area, but not inside bath tub. You may not bring a bath towel in a communal bath area because there’s no place to put it.
  
• Rinse your body before getting into the bath. Washing away sweat and dust before getting in keeps the water clean. Usually, there’s a stool and shower faucet as shown in the picture. It is polite to sit on a plastic or wooden stool to take a shower or wash your body with a small towel. If you stand up and take a shower, people may around you may be annoyed as you will be spraying them with water – so please sit on the stool provided. You can use a small towel as your wash cloth.
• Once you are done, rinse the seat you sat on and the bucket you used.
• Then you can get in the Onsen (hot spring). PLEASE do not put your small towel in the water. Instead place it on your head or leave it on a rock or somewhere near he bath. When in the bath – don’t swim, splash, put your head under the water, blow your nose, talk loudly, or anything else that may annoy other people. Onsen are for relaxing.
• Japanese hot springs are to be enjoyed naked. Don’t take items like your towel into the bathtub. Wearing a swimsuit in the bath is also against bathing etiquette unless specifically allowed by the management.
• After getting out of the bath, it is time to go back and wash your body again under the shower. Once done dry off lightly with your small towel before entering the dressing area.
  
• After rinsing your small towel, you may take it back home with you. If the inn provides a bath towels, those must stay at the inn.
  
• Bringing alcohol is not advisable, especially in glass bottles. Please check with the inns for their policy.