One of my favorite experiences in Japan is visiting Japanese bathhouses and staying in ryokans yes, there are some affordable ryokans! Regardless, it will be an experience to remember. Onsens, or Japanese bathhouses, are a unique part of Japanese history. In the Edo Period, houses were small and often did not have baths built as part of the home. Instead, neighborhoods would have bathhouses where everyone could go to bathe and relax. This tradition has persisted through the years, and even today, bathhouses are frequently used by locals and families.
Onsens generally refer to baths made with geothermal water, while bathhouses refer to any type of communal bath. Maybe you have heard the term ryokan.
A ryokan is a type of hotel in Japan where you have access to a bathhouse or onsen. It can be daunting to enter a public bath where there are already 20 people sitting in steaming-hot water, naked. There are other options, such as a ryokan, where you can rent a room with a private bath if you prefer. Or, if you decide to brave the experience or are just curious about how it works, read below.
This is pretty obvious, but I would still like to reiterate. I recommend having a small, water-resistant bag that can hold everything you need to take a shower: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, luffa, brush, and a HAIR TIE.
You might also be inclined to bring your own towel. Bathhouses will usually have towels that you can rent for a small fee, soaps that you can borrow for free, and hair dryers that may be free or not. This area has lockers where you can leave your belongings. The bath area will be through a sliding door. As you walk around, you may want to use the small towel to cover yourself. There will be shower stations: handheld showerheads with plastic chairs lined along a short wall.
