| Japanese onsens,
or public baths, are rarely empty making it difficult to get
pictures of the inside of one. Luckily we went to one just as it opened so
here are some pictures. Some onsens use the Japanese word for hot water,
which is one character pronounced "you", spelled Yu in Japanese:
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| A general shot of most of the room. The
large bath to the left will be really hot. The round pool in the
middle would probably be warm, right in the really comfortable
range. The quarter circle pool to the right would be cool if not
cold. They are usually 2 feet deep or so and have a bench along the
edges. |
Before entering the onsen, one comes to
the shower area and grabs a stool. You sit facing the mirror and
first turn the knob to test the temp of the water, if that option is
available. Then you press the shower button and water comes from the
moveable shower head. You completely clean yourself head to toe, at
least three times. |
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| There is usually an "authentic" bath,
even when the places are in the middle of a city. This one is
average. I have seen much nicer rocked baths with caves and what
not. |
A bigger shot of the large bath and the
water pump that constantly keeps hot water in the bath. |
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