#003 Magic of Japanese Onsen (Hot spring)
It's a low budget, but you can feel Japanese bathing culture.
History, nature, food, what is your purpose of your visit to Japan? It varies depending on your interests. For me, Onsen (Hot Spring) is an important factor when it comes to traveling. You may say Onsen is just a big bathtub and some of you may be hesitant to undress yourself and share the space with other people. But Onsen has various advantages, culturally and psychologically. In this newsletter I will introduce a little bit different approach to enjoying Onsen for those who are visiting Japan.
When it comes to visiting Onsen in Japan, the type of hot spring water, lodging, food, atmosphere... what are your important elements in deciding your trip? When you start searching for your Onsen trip, the location and type of hot spring water come first and then you decide the accommodation from the list. But I am so picky about the quality of hot spring water that I ended up with a few places for a weekend trip around the Kanto area, which is within a couple of hours from Tokyo. In my case the quality of hot spring water has to be sulfur spring, which has very strong characteristics and I prefer to use public bath. This condition will narrow down my choices to a few places. In conjunction with the quality of hot spring water, I prefer to stay in an old simple Ryokan type rather than a big hotel.
The following is one of my recommendations which I choose when I want to relax for a short weekend.
1/Location: Nasu Yumoto in Tochigi prefecture/ One hour by bullet train from Tokyo and 30 min from Nasu-shiobara Station by bus.
2/Type of accommodation: Minsyuku=Guest House with shared toilet
3/Food: Dinner and breakfast are served in the room.
4/Budget: 7,000 Yen with 2 meals. Additional heating fee required during winter.
5/Recommendation Points:
*Most minsyuku don't have their own baths here. You must walk to the bathhouse which is within a few minutes' walk. Men and women use different bathhouse.
*You are only allowed to use shampoo here, but not soap to wash your body. The acid in this hot spring water is so strong that soap doesn't work. When I go there, I just bring my towel and soak in the hot spring water.
*The origin of this hot spring water is called Shikano-you and basically water is not added. It is very strong and very hot. The temperature varies and there are two bathtubs so that it is your own choice, hot one or relatively warm one.
*These special indoor baths are only open to local people and minsyuku customers. So, you can't use it just passing by. Everyone visiting there has keys to enter and you have to stay minsyuku to use this place.
When it comes to this type of accommodation for overseas visitors, I must add more information such as manners at minsyuku, food, how to use toilets and even how to book minsyuku. I will add more information when I have a chance.
But I would advise that you will be able to have a unique experience and have lots of findings if you choose this option. There are hundreds of hot springs in Japan, but this is one of the best ways to feel JAPAN at a low cost. I can guarantee the quality of the hot spring water.
Lastly, don't take the best clothes. Beautiful smell will last on your body nearly a week!!
How does one become minsyuku customer? By prebooking?