Onsen Etiquette: How to Bathe Like a Local in Japan

A soak in a Japanese hot spring is one of the most relaxing things a visit can include, and the etiquette behind it is friendlier than it first sounds. The rules are simple, they exist to keep the bath clean and peaceful for everyone, and most can be learned in a few minutes. This guide walks through the steps in order, from the entrance to the changing room to the final towel dry.

What Counts as an Onsen

According to the Japan Travel (japantravel.com) onsen guide, onsen are natural hot springs. Under Japan's Onsen Law, the water must be warmer than 25 degrees Celsius and contain at least one of 19 designated elements, such as lithium, sulfur, sodium chloride, or iron. Springs that meet those conditions naturally are called tennen onsen, and those that meet them artificially are jinko-onsen.

Not every bath is an onsen. The same guide describes a sento as a public bath that uses heated tap water rather than mineral water, a roten-buro as an outdoor bath, and a kashikiri-buro or kazoku-buro as a private reserved bath. Time Out Tokyo notes that onsen are enjoyed year-round, not only in winter.

Before You Go In

Towel arrangements vary. Discover Oita notes that hotels leave a towel in your room, while public baths often rent one for a small fee, and some local baths may have none. Japan Travel lists towel rental at typically 300 to 500 yen and entrance fees usually between 400 and 800 yen, with a wider range possible. Time Out Tokyo adds that higher-end onsen usually provide soap, shampoo, and towels, while cheaper ones may ask you to bring your own. Check current prices and what is provided before you go.

If you are staying at accommodation with a yukata, the cotton robe provided in the room, Discover Oita suggests bringing it along to wear after bathing.

Choosing the Right Entrance

Discover Oita explains that men's baths, called otoko-no-yu, usually have a blue or purple drape, and women's baths, called onna-no-yu, usually have a red or pink one. Japan-guide.com agrees that curtain colors usually indicate gender, though not always, so double-check the signs. According to Japan Travel, most onsen separate men and women, and some have set times for each. Mixed-gender baths, called konyoku, are very rare, apart from private baths.

Time Out Tokyo notes that gender-separated bathing dates to the Meiji period, which ran from 1868 to 1912.

In the Changing Room

Undress fully and store your clothes in the lockers or baskets provided, as Discover Oita describes. Japan-guide.com and Time Out Tokyo both say that almost all onsen follow a bathe-without-clothing approach, so swimsuits are not worn. Time Out Tokyo describes the idea of hadaka no tsukiai, or naked communion, the notion that open bathing builds a special kind of ease between people.

The small towel is your modesty tool. Japan-guide.com says it is used for washing and for modest cover while moving around. Time Out Tokyo notes that it is used on the way between the changing room and the bath. Jewelry can discolor in some mineral waters, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), so consider leaving it in the locker.

If shared nudity feels like a lot, a private bath is a comfortable alternative, covered below.

Wash First, Then Soak

This is the heart of onsen manners. Discover Oita puts it clearly: wash thoroughly at the faucets and shower area along the walls, sit on the provided stool, and rinse off all the soap before entering the bath. Time Out Tokyo says to scrub down thoroughly using the showers provided. Japan Travel adds that the bath is for relaxing, not washing.

Japan-guide.com adds some tidy habits: avoid spraying others, make sure no soap reaches the bath, and tidy up after yourself.

Hair and the Towel in the Bath

Japan-guide.com advises that those with long hair should tie it up before entering the bath. JNTO adds that you should keep hair out of the water. For the small towel, Japan-guide.com and Discover Oita both say to keep it out of the water, either set at the edge of the bath or folded on your head. Time Out Tokyo mentions that putting it on the head is traditional, though many people now leave it in their locker.

Getting In and Enjoying the Bath

Test the temperature: According to Japan-guide.com and Japan Travel, bath water is typically 40 to 44 degrees Celsius. Discover Oita says the water can be hotter near where the spring flows in.
Enter slowly: Japan Travel suggests starting with your feet and knees, soaking for about 5 to 10 minutes, resting on the rim, and repeating two or three times.
Mind the surfaces: Japan-guide.com notes that floors can be slippery and cloudy water can hide underwater steps.
Keep it calm: Japan Travel says conversation is fine, but keep noise down, and diving, splashing, and swimming are not allowed. Photography is generally not allowed.
Try other baths: Japan Travel notes that many onsen have several baths with different mineral compositions, and you can try them after showering once.

Drinking Water and Pacing Yourself

Hot water is relaxing, and it is also dehydrating, so pace yourself. Japan-guide.com recommends short sessions with breaks, plenty of water before and after bathing, and skipping alcohol. It also advises avoiding a bath right after a meal. Japan Travel suggests drinking water before bathing, leaving the bath right away if you feel dizzy or nauseous, and limiting total soaking time, noting that bathing more than 30 minutes in total may be dangerous. People with high blood pressure or other health conditions should take extra care, according to Japan-guide.com, and may wish to check with a doctor first.

After the Bath

Advice on rinsing differs, which is a nice reminder that onsen culture has some personal preferences. Japan-guide.com recommends not rinsing with tap water after soaking so the minerals can work fully, and Discover Oita says rinsing is optional, with many people skipping it for the same reason. Before heading back to the changing room, Japan-guide.com suggests patting yourself dry with the small towel to keep the floor dry, and Discover Oita adds that wringing out your wash towel removes most moisture if you have no other towel.

Tattoos and Onsen

Policies vary, and planning ahead keeps things easy. Time Out Tokyo says visible tattoos are generally not allowed in onsen because of an association with organized crime, and Discover Oita says some establishments have relaxed this for foreign visitors. JNTO states that policies at public onsen vary case by case and that many owners do not mind tattoos, though it advises being prepared in case you are refused.

The same guide offers helpful options:

Ask in advance: Email the facility or ask through your booking platform. They may simply ask you to avoid peak times.
Tattoo seals: Skin-toned adhesive strips can cover small to medium tattoos, and some onsen sell them. The guide says they are also available online and at Don Quijote.
Private baths: Kashikiri onsen usually cost a little extra and are booked ahead or arranged at the front desk.
Tattoo-friendly onsen: Some exist and are well documented.

Discover Oita also mentions that at Beppu's Takegawara and Kaihama sand baths and Kannawa's Mushiyu Onsen, guests are wrapped in yukata, so tattoos are not an issue there.

Quick Checklist

Confirm prices, hours, and towel arrangements before you go.
Check the tattoo policy if it applies to you.
Wash fully on a stool and rinse off all the soap.
Tie up long hair and keep the small towel out of the water.
Soak in short sessions and drink water.