Yep will go to onsen in a few months, and Finnish/Nordic sauna culture is very similar. No one is ashamed even in mixed saunas, but ofc teens will blush.
I couldn't find any private onsens near me so I woke up at 5 am and snuck into my hotels Onsen since tattoo's weren't allowed and i also wasn't too keen on bathing with others and was lucky enough to have the place to myself. Bathed in a outdoor roof top onsen overlooking the ocean in Atami and saw the sun rise. Was one of the best experiences I've ever had 🥺
As someone from northern Sweden with Finnish heritage, being naked at public baths is pretty natural. You would shower and sauna separately before going to the mixed pool. I mean, what about locker rooms? People are naked in those too. I did try a sento in Tokyo last time, it was great.
I used to take my glasses off, but if I'm at a nice or famous onsen I'll wear them because I want to enjoy the same view everyone else can see too! It's not weird to wear glasses because others can see and look, so why shouldn't I be able to?
shiori's reactions and expressions are so cute. kawaii overload!! she just makes me smile with her genuine openness and wonderful sense of humor too. cheers!
I really love this show, especially these four presenting. It gives amazing and diverse insight into their own specific experiences. Ian please get in front of the camera more you’re really great!
I was in Japan for 7 weeks and there were regular trips to the onsen. I decided to go as soon as possible just to break that awkwardness barrier. Within 2 minutes, I wasn’t self-conscious at all and was really relaxed. It became a nice weekly break from the hard work (I was a volunteer). Shiori is very right about the milk afterwards. There was a mixed fruit flavoured one that was divine after the heat of an onsen.
That onsen in Gunma is a mixed onsen so both men and women can share the same baths. Very popular with yakuza. I saw a women with a full body tattoo when I was there. I am a Brit too. When I was at school (all boys) we all had to shower together after sports. I don't see any difference with using a bath house.
Guys, second time I'm writting a comment about this today, but the easiest way to understand the tattoo prohibition thing goes more or less like this - it's all about not bothering other costumers. Everything is always about not bothering other costumers. It goes back to omotenashi. That's the way you should see it. Well, at least from the little experience I had, that was exactly the reason behind, and why it's there. This is what several estabilishments including onsens and sentos thinks first, not about yakuzas, not about the past history of tattoos in Japan, not about you potentially being a gang member of something like that. So, for most places it goes like this - if there is even a remote possibility of your tattoo bothering other frequent costumers of the place, they will likely err on caution and refuse you. I'm only saying this because I've been to Japan twice, I have tattoos in both arms, and the 3 onsens I visited tattoos were not a problem at all. I've been to Kusatsu onsen, one in Nikko, and the other I can never remember because it was 10 years ago. All accepted on first attempt. The thing is, we went off season, and with a family group of 7 people, most people on retirement age. So they knew it wouldn't be a problem both because I was with relatives including one that has lived in Japan for some 50 years now, and because there weren't many other costumers at the time. One of the staff even explained this to us. They said that they didn't individually have a problem with it, that if it dependend on them the "ban" wouldn't even exist anymore as it's becoming super rare to have incidents with yakuza and such. But that they had to keep it the way it is because of complaints from other, specially older costumers. They are not afraid of tattoos, criminal affiliation or stuff like that - they are afraid of the reaction of other costumers. Japanese people can be very demanding at times, specially when it comes to costumer service. The problem with yakuza, bosozoku and other erm... less wanted people also was not because of tattoos. It's because of their behaviour. Rowdy, violent, noisy, causing trouble to other costumers, having bad manners, the testosterone bro kinda thing. That's mainly why they started getting rejected in all sorts of estabilishments. If it wasn't for that, it'd probably be ok. On the opposite hand, I think if there already aren't places like that, it's likely that in the future with the influx of even more foreigners and tourists in the country, estabilishments will start refusing foreigners altogether. I personally think there is a high probability of that happening, and it becoming a problem for tourists and foreigners living in Japan. The culture clash. You guys know what I'm talking about, as you are probably among the foreigners who try to do everything by the book and not cause trouble, but has probably perceived some of the prejudice that comes because of a few tourists and foreigners that misbehave and cause problems. Not because of skin color, nationality, or something like that, but because a few foreigners causing problems in a estabilishment will be enough for some of them to outright ban for fears of causing trouble to other regular costumers. That's the general mentality I feel exists there. It's the other side of omotenashi that people don't think about. If you wanna give excellent costumer service for people, sometimes it means banning others because they can't behave themselves. It's why some estabilishments will stop you from taking tons of photos, making tons of videos, walking around in vlogging mode etc... most likely, not because they think it's bad themselves - as it's free advertisement -, but because in doing so you could be bothering other costumers who don't want to be part of your photos and videos or are just bothered by the presence of cameras and noisy people. :P This is also why private onsen is ok for everyone. You can do whatever you want on them, you won't be bothering other costumers anyways. Or why everything is a bit more lose and accepted once the place is empty.
Sounded a lot like describing a public sauna or a public swimming hall here in Finland. Especially that part about “being equal” without any clothes. But in Finland you don’t have to worry about your tattoos.
Dogo onsen in Matsuyama is tattoo friendly. A sailor friend of mine and even his Japanese wife had no problem. In America we have this thing called mole skin, which is a kind of medical pad that acts as a second skin around blisters and burns to protect them from running on something that hurts. They come in huge patches that can be cut to fit different issues. Ok, so USMC recruit training has nearly no privacy; they even took the doors off toilet stalls. Being aboard a USN ship is slight better, but still a hundred men/women living in a small space. My first experience in a Japanese onsen was Bepu, I was surprisingly skiddish about being naked with friends. It all changed pretty quickly though and is now a favorite thing to do from time to time.
Onsen are the best thing ever and THE thing I think my country should adopt from Japan :). Fun fact: some onsen changing rooms in hotels have carpeted floors, which can make you feel REALLY guilty if you drip on them!
My first time I had the oddest conversation with a very enthusiastic middle aged man in broken English/Japanese he was all impressed cause I was staying in the cold bath for so long (Canada Eh?)
Good video on the topic. I'm very interested in visiting an onsen. Maybe Tokyo Creative should find a RU-vid safe way of showing an onsen and the procedure inside like how the showers look and how to use. I've seen images before, but an actual video somehow demonstrating would be better. I think you dump a bucket of water on yourself at some point?
@@Thoraxe0987 Abroad in Japan has a few onsen videos but I don't remember any of them being very detailed on "what to do in an onsen". This tea talk had a lot of things I hadn't heard of before. EDIT: This is actually pretty detailed video. I didn't remember that he had one with that much info. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-u240yK8_fVM.html
my first onsen experience was in Beppu. i have tattoos from my neck down to my legs. most places are tattoo friendly, but i did have to spend money on a private onsen though. i'm yet to find a sento that's tattoo friendly.
My first sento was in a capsule hotel in Osaka. I didn't know there were no private bathing areas when I booked the stay and boy was I surprised! I was nervous the first time I used it, but everyone kept to themselves except the worker trying to refill my shampoo bottle while I was using it. Sometimes the most memorable adventures are the unexpected ones.... and sometimes they're naked adventures!
It was a little daunting at first, but then I came to realize that it was like taking a bath at the gym, but a bit more extreme than that. Afterwards I got used to it the second time around. Last time I went I was with two of my previous classmates and for one of them it was their first time and was a bit uncomfortable getting naked in front of us. My other classmate had to explain the Hadaka No Tsukiai to him, he actually liked it after his first experience
4:50 If I see someone walk into an onsen with a full body tattoo like in Jake's story, I would walk out immediately. 99% chance the yakuza owns that onsen, that's why that person is there.
There is a restaurant near Tokyo station which has a sign with a handgun crossed out and says in clear English letters "No Gang Members" whilst also saying the same in much larger Japanese. As to why that sign is necessary, I wish I knew the story. So yeah, places sometimes do just say "No gangs"
My 1st experience was in Osaka my 2nd night in Japan. I am normally a pretty shy guy, and previously was not comfortable at all with public nudity lol. But i had just been at a Band-Maid gig and was sore from all the standing so i said screw it, and went. I didnt even realize at the time that no tattoos were allowed... i do have a small one on my shoulder. That relaxing bath was exactly what i needed after the nights events, and now i always try and book places that have them :)
I went to Tokyo Somei onsen Sakura about a month ago. It was easy to get to from sugamo station. It is foreigner friendly but not tattoo friendly. It was slightly akward but I didn't get any wierd looks or anything. The water was super relaxing, would recommend.
Thanks for all the info on Onsen's it would be kind of different to us in the USA but it is regular tradition in Japan. If your shy it seems like it would be nice to have a friend with you to kind of talk you through it lol or help ya out a little great informative video as always.
Getting regional here but Kyushu tops for onsens a lot with views everywhere outside and inside options and Kagoshima on hill hotel one outside looking at an active smoking volcano unique
In Europe there are Traditional Saunas where you get naked with others. There are even mixed Saunas so it depends on where you come from I guess. I have been to places like Onsens and honestly: I hated it. I just couldn't get over the fact that I was naked, didn't care about the others being naked but wasn't able to overcome my own nakedness... It depends on personality too. Nice talk!
I love Japanese onsen! As a German, I am used to being naked in public saunas and there usually is no gender separation. So when I went the first time to an onsen with my boyfriend I was very disappointed that we couldn't go into the onsen together and I didn't give a second thought to bathing naked.
Question for TC or anyone really: I lived in Korea for a bit and the public baths there have these hard scrubbing towels that you scrub your dead skin layer off with to promote pore health. Is there something like that in Japanese bathhouses, too?
I've never run my head towel under the cold water. I always keep it dry to dry off before I go into the changing room. I was worried about being naked at first but after dozens of times with strangers I felt fine being in front of two friends or new acquaintances. Bathing or soaking in front of others is no big deal, I'd rather see ladies scrubbing themselves at the shower heads than see them scratching in the bath.
I love sentos and find it freeing to be naked but I went to one in tokyo once and there was a bath with an electric current running through it 😳 it was horrible! Why... What is the reason behind this? Great video!
@@TheMusicman1945 Oh OK, that's really interesting, Maybe I didn't give it a fair try, I had a broken rib and the electric shocks were kinda like..... Surprise agony! Next time I will be better prepared (and researched) for the unexpected 😊
EXACTLY! The most shocking part is when we have to strip down naked IN THE LOCKER ROOM 🤣🤣 Dear Lord. I was, "soo, where do we change? What here, HERE?? But this is so close to the lobby, literally next door" (standing nervously for a good couple of minutes) 😂 Second time I when to Japan, meeehh let's do this! Let's go cavemen mode.
I often forget to think about how seriously tattoos are taken in Japanese culture. While understanding the cultural implications of tattoos within Japan, it would really be a bummer to be pushed away for having tattoos while trying to enjoy an onsen or any other activities while in Japan.
people scared of gangsters ban tattoos because tattoos = gangsters , But cover your tattoo it's ok because covered tattoo Not = Gangster , makes sense to me
I understand not allowing japanese people with tattoos to onsen due to potential gang ties but why does this rule apply to foreigners? Like Ian’s from the Uk the likelihood he was in the yakuza is probably less than 1%. I think this is a very foolish to apply to tourists, what will they do when the olympics come?
