The yukata provided is acceptable to wear around the hotel, indeed the immediate neighbourhood

To get to the outdoor onsen you swap your indoor slippers for some outdoor slippers

Baths are gender segregated, there's usually just a red curtain and a blue curtain. Shoes off again

Inside the sliding door is a changing room and stuff for getting ready at the end. Fanciness varies

First time I've seen lockers, it's usually just baskets in a bookshelf

You get completely naked now, and proceed to next room with a sort of tea towel for modesty if want

This is an outdoor example but indoor is same - there'll be little wash stations beside a big bath

You sit on a stool and use the shower head, bucket, soaps and shampoos to wash your body and hair

Making sure to have rinsed all the soaps off, you then enter the mineral baths

And soak quietly. The water is about knee height so you sit on the bottom or side with just legs in

When you're finished you rinse, dry, apply various potions and creams, clothe, and go. Fab!

Nudie rudie

October 4, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

This hotel has both indoor and outdoor baths, and they are in lieu of a bathroom in the room. We have a toilet, but the baths are communal.

Due to walking we have gotten into a routine whereby our core bathing hours are 3-5pm, as it helps you get away quickly in the morning and be clean after the distance is done.

Onsen are typically very quiet at this time so I chanced bringing my phone to show you some of the experience. I would emphasise the following points.

A) I triple-dipple checked before taking any photos. I was solo at the start but a Japanese mother and tiny twins later joined me so no pics after that obviously.

B) They're all different but follow the same basic structure, and I wish I'd taken pics of the one at Owase Ocean View.

C) Louise, nobody came to put my creamies on, I had to do it myself, I can't thrive under these conditions.

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