Japanese Onsen Hot Springs.
An onsen is a Japanese Hot
Spring. The onsen is basically a Japanese public bath (sento)
with natural hot spring water, and its history and
etiquette are very related to the sento. The onsen
plays an important role in Japanese culture,
providing (socially) institutionalised relief from
the pressures of the contemporary Japanese
twelve-hour work ethic and a chance for Japanese to
break down the hierarchal nature of society through
the mutual nakedness of skinship.
The essential difference between an onsen and a
sento
(communal bath house) is that the water in an onsen
must be volcanic spring in origin, even if reheated,
whereas a sento may use ordinary heated water. Onsen
water is often thought to have healing powers according
to its mineral properties and onsens often have several
different baths, each augmented by the addition of
different minerals or the composition of the tub.
A key feature of the onsen is that as well as mere
bathing facilities, there should be accommodation,
extravagant cooking and all manner of relaxing pastimes
- massages, aromatherapy, relaxation rooms and
comfortable surrounds. Essentially, the onsen should be
the diametric opposite of everything in normal, hectic
day-to-day Japanese life.
Here is Taupo Hot Springs Spa’s pick of the
very best Japanese onsen bathing.
Great Japanese Onsen experiences #1
Kanagawa Prefecture - Hakone,
Tsurumaki
Kanagawa Prefecture boasts the spectacular Hakone
area, just 2 hours southwest of Tokyo and featuring
beautiful views of Mt Fuji, lofty peeks, deep valleys,
clear streams and some of the finest hot springs in
Japan. This volcanic area literally bursts with
onsen.
The city of Taupo in New Zealand has
developed over the last decade a strong sister city
relationship with Hakone, Japan. A number
of Hakone Hot Springs have begun
to forge 'Sister Spa' relationships with Taupo Hot
Springs Spa here in Lake Taupo, New
Zealand.
There are seventeen different onsen areas that make
up the "Hakone 17 Toh" (17 renowned hot springs of
Hakone). Seven of these used to be called "Hakone 7
Toh" (the seven traditional hot springs of Hakone).
They included Yumoto, Tonosawa, Sokokura, Dogashima,
Kiga, and Ashinoyu. All except Ashinoyu were situated
along the Haya River in the center of the Hakone
region. The ten other onsen – Gora, Ohiradai,
Kowadudani, Miyagino, Ninotaira, Sengokuhara, Ubako,
Yu-no-hanazawa, Takogawa and Ashino-ko – were
recently added to the list that now includes all
seventeen.
- Tsurumaki, Kanagawa
- Hakone, Kanagawa
Great Japanese Onsen experiences #2
Hokkaido
Hokkaido possesses three primary volcanic mountain
groups. Consequently, more than two hundred hot springs
can be found throughout the prefecture. Some of the
more famous onsen resorts are Noboribetsu, Toya,
Shikotsu, Jozankei, Yunokawa, Kawayu, Akan and
SounkyoSounkyo, Hokkaido.
- Onneyu, Hokkaido
- Jozankei, Hokkaido
- Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
- Toya, Hokkaido
- Futamata, Hokkaido
- Yunokawa, Hokkaido
Great Japanese Onsen experiences #3
Aomori
Aomori is a paradise for lovers of onsen,
Japan’s hot springs. Throughout the prefecture,
hidden away in mountain valleys or nestled among the
shops and offices of a city street, there are hot
springs of every shape, size and style.
- Asamushi, Aomori
- Geto, Iwate
- Hanamaki, Iwate
- Naruko, Miyagi
- Zao, Yamagata
- Akayu, Yamagata
- Senami, Niigata
- Yuzawa, Niigata
- Shiobara, Tochigi
- Kinugawa, Tochigi
- Shima, Gunma
- Kusatsu, Gunma
- Ikaho, Gunma
- Akagi, Gunma
- Izu, Shizuoka
- Atami, Shizuoka
- Sumatakyo, Shizuoka
- Shimobe, Yamanashi
- Kakeyu, Nagano
- Suwa, Nagano
- Gero, Gifu
- Unazuki, Toyama
- Wakura, Ishikawa
- Takarazuka, Hyogo
- Arima, Hyogo
- Shirahama, Wakayama
- Miasa, Tottori
- Dogo, Ehime
- Beppu, Oita
- Ibusuki, Kagoshima
Here is Taupo Hot Springs Spa’s pick of the
very best english websites about the pleasures of
Japanese onsen bathing.