Bath in Japan; Ofuro (Private bath),Sento (Public bath),Onsen (Hot spring)
In the previous entry titled "Toilet in Japan", I wrote that, in Japan, every train station has bathroom, and we have toilet slippers to wear to use the bathroom at home and school. And I also wrote that toilet manner is different from the one in the states.
If you visit Japan, you would notice one more big difference in bathroom culture in Japan. If you hear the word "Bathroom", you would imagine the room with toilet and shower tub right next to it.
In Japan, toilet room and shower room is separated. One room for toilet, and one room for shower room. When you first walk in to shower room in Japan, you will be in the compact changing room with bath mat on, in front of the door that lead to the shower room.
Once you step into the shower room, you would be at wash room, where you find wash bowl, small stool to sit on, body soap, wash towel, shampoo/conditioner, mirror and shower head.
First thing you do is to wash your body there, and floor has drain. Then, right next to the shower floor, you will find deep bath tub so you can sink your body in to warm up. The tub is filled with hot water, and top is covered with bath tub cover. Often times, there is a gas heater panel on the wall so you can re-heat the water.
I came across youtube video on Japanese shower room (We call the bath tub room "Ofuro"). You can see what Japanese bathroom looks like.
Ofuro in Japan (Bath in Japan)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
I saw someone was asking as comment under the video as to what would happen if the lady was happened to be on period.Usually, ladies with period would take just shower and not going in to tub.
There is also public bath place called "Sento". If you go to Sento, you will pay for entrance, and keep the clothes in locker and walk in to wash room. Usually, wash room is separated by gender, and there is lined up faucet,mirror,soap,wash bowl etc. Then, with Sento, you will see different kind of bath tub from Jacuzzi, to regular deep tub.
One thing that is very unique to Japan will be presence of Onsen (hot spring). You will find many Onsen in Japan.
Water used for Hot spring is hotter than regular bath water, and they are natural hot spring water.
In Japan, it is believed that hot spring water is good natural water for chronic disease such as rheumatism due to mineral content in the water. Each hot spring place offer water from natural hot spring with different minerals and each has known for its specific characteristics for health.
Some people enjoy spas especially located in open air bath (roten buro) with natural scenery.
Hot spring in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
If you look more into hot spring areas,you would find all kinds of bath from cave bath, bath that has floating citrus fruits, suna buro (sand bath) etc..
We are not the only one that enjoy hot springs. There is a famous spot for Wild Monkey taking hot spring bath in Nagano prefecture during winter time. The area is called "Jigokudani Yaen koen (Jigokudani Monkey Park). It is part of national park, and one of the popular tourist spots in Japan.
Monkeys take Hot spring
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
I like taking bath in Japanese way, and every time I back home in Japan, Ofuro is one of the things that I enjoy during the stay with my family.
If you had a choice to pick from Japanese bath and American bath, which do you think you would pick?
If you visit Japan, you would notice one more big difference in bathroom culture in Japan. If you hear the word "Bathroom", you would imagine the room with toilet and shower tub right next to it.
In Japan, toilet room and shower room is separated. One room for toilet, and one room for shower room. When you first walk in to shower room in Japan, you will be in the compact changing room with bath mat on, in front of the door that lead to the shower room.
Once you step into the shower room, you would be at wash room, where you find wash bowl, small stool to sit on, body soap, wash towel, shampoo/conditioner, mirror and shower head.
First thing you do is to wash your body there, and floor has drain. Then, right next to the shower floor, you will find deep bath tub so you can sink your body in to warm up. The tub is filled with hot water, and top is covered with bath tub cover. Often times, there is a gas heater panel on the wall so you can re-heat the water.
I came across youtube video on Japanese shower room (We call the bath tub room "Ofuro"). You can see what Japanese bathroom looks like.
Ofuro in Japan (Bath in Japan)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
I saw someone was asking as comment under the video as to what would happen if the lady was happened to be on period.Usually, ladies with period would take just shower and not going in to tub.
There is also public bath place called "Sento". If you go to Sento, you will pay for entrance, and keep the clothes in locker and walk in to wash room. Usually, wash room is separated by gender, and there is lined up faucet,mirror,soap,wash bowl etc. Then, with Sento, you will see different kind of bath tub from Jacuzzi, to regular deep tub.
One thing that is very unique to Japan will be presence of Onsen (hot spring). You will find many Onsen in Japan.
Water used for Hot spring is hotter than regular bath water, and they are natural hot spring water.
In Japan, it is believed that hot spring water is good natural water for chronic disease such as rheumatism due to mineral content in the water. Each hot spring place offer water from natural hot spring with different minerals and each has known for its specific characteristics for health.
Some people enjoy spas especially located in open air bath (roten buro) with natural scenery.
Hot spring in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
If you look more into hot spring areas,you would find all kinds of bath from cave bath, bath that has floating citrus fruits, suna buro (sand bath) etc..
We are not the only one that enjoy hot springs. There is a famous spot for Wild Monkey taking hot spring bath in Nagano prefecture during winter time. The area is called "Jigokudani Yaen koen (Jigokudani Monkey Park). It is part of national park, and one of the popular tourist spots in Japan.
Monkeys take Hot spring
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from face book,please click here to watch the video.
I like taking bath in Japanese way, and every time I back home in Japan, Ofuro is one of the things that I enjoy during the stay with my family.
If you had a choice to pick from Japanese bath and American bath, which do you think you would pick?
Posted by yassy at 3/27/2011 2:08 PM 
Categories: Japan
Tags: Japan bath onsen hot spring sento monkey
Categories: Japan
Tags: Japan bath onsen hot spring sento monkey
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