Public baths in Japan Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
About Public baths in Japan
Whereas a Western "bath" is used for washing in, "baths" in Japan are for soaking and relaxing. (Think of it more like a hot tub than a bath.) Washing is done first outside the tub, usually sitting on a stool in front of a faucet, but showers are also available. The difference that may stick in your craw is that unlike a hot tub, baths in Japan are generally usednaked. While this initially sounds shocking to Western sensibilities, it's simply the norm in Japan; friends, colleagues, and family members of any age think nothing of it. The Japanese even use the phrase"naked socializing"(裸の付き合いhadaka no tsukiai) as an idiom for "completely open relationship" to describe the way bathing together breaks down social barriers. You should really consider trying it, but if you refuse then there are o
Public baths in Japan Travel Guide Sections
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