ONSEN
Healing
β version
"Silence is a source
of great strength"
-Lao Tzu
What Is an Onsen?
Onsen is a hot spring that flows naturally from the ground, and is harnessed into outdoor bathing pools and often piped into indoor baths. What seduces millions of onsen bathers is a wonderful feeling from just being able to close the eyes and forget about life’s daily hassles — the boss, the crowds, the frustrations. But the relaxation effect of onsen is merely one dimension.
As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered throughout its numerous islands, and literally the greatest variety of hot springs in the world. Japanese onsen culture has developed its own style over more than 1500 years. The ancients worshiped onsen as a sanctum, and treated them or as spiritual "power spots" in nature. Modern Japanese maintain their reverence for onsen as a special and unique aspect of their culture, using onsen as a place to bond with their families, to escape the frantic pace of their busy lives, to cleanse and even heal their bodies.
Types of onsen
There are essentially two different types of onsent. One is a volcanic hot spring with a heat source of magma underground. Another is a non-volcanic hot spring, where the water is heated by the phenomenon of heat generated from ancient sedimentary plants turned into brown coal. Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, but many Japanese style inns (ryokan) have built indoor bathing facilities as well. Onsen by definition use natural hot water from geothermally heated springs.
Outdoor bath (rotenburo)
Smell of the sea breeze, close to sky, listen to the songs of birds.
Indoor bath (ryokanburo)
The gambrel-building roof, blackened and smoked pillars and beams of traditional old wooden ryokan (inns) of long ago, make onsen villages attractive and have been a source of hot springs for many years.
Wild onsen bath (noyu)
Mostly hidden and completely natural, noyu are artesian hot springs that exist in nature, and are located away from commercial facilities.
Mt. Fuji bath
Feel the mystical power from the sacred Mount Fuji as you soak in the bath.
Sand bath (sunaburo)
Using natural hot spring heat from underground, lie down and have your entire body covered with natural detox sand. Guests are buried to their necks in moderately warm sand wearing nothing but a Japanese style cotton yukata robe.
Private ＆ executive class bath
Book a private bath for yourself or your family. There are also executive rooms with open-air baths. No one will intrude on your personal healing time.
