Given my experience and interests in bathing in hot spring for health benefit, here is a comprehensive guide of hot spring (onsen) bathing:
- History of hot spring bathing for health benefits.
- Types of hot spring and its water.
- How to bathe in hot spring.
- Frequency and when to soak.
- Reviews of various hot spring that I have been to.
- Hakone, 2014
- Ito, Izu peninsula
- Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, November 2019
- Shima onsen, winter 2022
- Arima onsen, Hyogo, visited January 2023
- Ginzan onsen. summer 2023
- Gero onsen, summer 2023
- Chiraumi onsen, summer 2023
- Beppu, Jan 2024
- Yufuin, Jan 2024
- Ibusuki sand bath, Jan 2024
- Unzen, Jan 2024
- Bandai-atami onsen, autumn 2024
- Noji onsen at Tsuchiyu-onsen area, autumn 2024
- Naruko onsen, autumn 2024
- Matsushima onsen
- Nyuto onsen
- Osawa onsen, autumn 2024
- Tamagawa onsen, autumn 2024
- Akiu onsen, autumn 2024
- Koganezaki onsen, autumn 2024
- Kinosaki onsen, spring 2025
- Ikaho onsen, spring 2025
- Recommendations - top 3 hot spring.
One of the website of the onsen tourist association, even wrote that balneotherapy is often mistaken for good qualities of the bathing water alone. However, the holistic element of the change in living environment, the weather, surrounding nature, as well as food intake play positive and beneficial effect to the healing process.
The recommended duration for maintenance of healthy body is 2-3 days.
Start the day with a morning bath, even better before breakfast.
The viscosity of human blood increases during the night. In the morning, the viscosity of blood decreases, and is smooth. By bathing in the hot spring, the blood circulation becomes active, refreshing the body. Hot water bathing is recommended as well for body activation.
Avoid bathing immediately after eating.
After eating, the body needs some time to digest and absorb the nutrients. By bathing, the blood is directed to the surface of the skin, disrupting the functions of stomach and intestines. Furthermore, the pressure from the water would prevent food from traveling from the stomach to the intestines. Take a break of 30 minutes to an hour and take a lukewarm bath.
Drinking alcohol during hot spring bath is dangerous.
Both alcohol and bathing expand blood vessels and promote blood circulation, making blood that should travel to the brain move toward the surface of the skin, and more likely to cause anemia. Furthermore, because of increased heart rate, arrhythmia and heart attacks risks increases as well.
Bathing at night with lukewarm water promotes relaxation
At night time, as the body goes to resting mode, a bath will help relax the body and relieve fatique.
Step by step recommended by Unzen hot spring:
Before bathing in the hot spring, pour bathwater over yourself.Before bathing, to encourage perspiration, please stay hydrated.
Pour bathwater over yourself from your toes and fingers to ease yourself into the hot water. It is important to pour bathwater over yourself to prevent from getting dizzy by allowing the blood vessels in the skin to expand.
Bathe up to your shoulders in the hot spring.Bathe up to your shoulders in the hot spring, and take in the hot spring's ingredients. Aside from having a sterilizing effect, sulfate ion expands blood vessels and prevents hardening of the arteries, and strengthens joints and tendons. Furthermore, sulfur activates the pancreas, and the perspiration caused by the hyperthermic effect prevents diabetes as well. It also has anti-stress properties, and is suitable for medical treatment. However, for those with high blood pressure, we recommend a half-body bath up to the belly button.
Lukewarm (About 40°) water is ideal.When they were children, there are perhaps many people who were told that they have to stay in the bathtub until they count to 100. Because of this, it is often mistakenly thought that it is better to bathe long in hot water because your body is warmed up. However, bathing for extended periods in hot water can acutely increase blood pressure and heart rate, making it dangerous. If it is lukewarm water, long baths are safe. A good indication of this is to bathe until your forehead is slightly perspiring. When you feel the perspiration, take a break by getting out of the bathtub.
You do not have to shower before getting out.The effects of hot springs last for about 3 hours, so it is actually more effective not to rinse off before getting out.
However, because Unzen hot springs are sulfuric and strongly acidic, those with sensitive skin should rinse off with fresh water.
After bathing, take half an hour to rest.After bathing, even if you feel refreshed, your body is more tired than you think. It takes about 2 to 3 hours until your blood pressure stabilizes, so take about half an hour to stay calm and be mindful of not getting chilly. Don't forget to hydrate yourself after perspiring.
Furthermore, just because you have come to a hot spring resort, doesn't mean that you should bathe excessively. In fact, excessive bathing can strain the body and cause fatigue. Keep the number of baths to about 3 a day.
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