Osaka Trivia

1. True Bath Lovers Go Early

Onsen facilities are normally cleaned during the late night to early morning hours. That means when you arrive in the morning, the bath pails are neatly lined up and everything is nice and fresh. Regular customers often aim to be the first ones in the bathhouse.

2. Definitely Use The Outdoor Bath

Natural hot spring resorts often use their best water for the outdoor baths. Cedar and cypress aromas mixed with the open-air combine for a perfectly relaxing experience as you reconnect with nature.

3. Easy To Use Wristbands

Larger establishments will give you a wristband when you enter. You can use it to pay at restaurants or for the vending machines. It’s very convenient to go cashless while at the bath & you pay on the way out.

4. Kick Off Your Shoes

Well, not literally… but do take off your shoes when you enter the building. Enjoy walking around barefoot on the textured tatami mats and put up your feet to relax in a reclining chair.

Bathhouse Trivia

Table Tennis After The Tub

You often see people playing bathhouse table tennis in manga or on TV. No one really knows how this became a popular onsen activity. But Olympic medalist Ai Fukuhara said she dreams of playing at a bathhouse with her daughter someday.

Post-Bath Milk

Coffee-Flavored, fruitflavored, or plain, milk is something you’ll see a lot of people drink after bathing. It usually comes in bottles that you never see sold in stores. The machines always have like 5 of the same product displayed and for some reason never give you the exact number that you push. The contents are the same though so… Bottoms up!

*Facilities may vary by establishment
*Guests with tattoos may not be admitted to some bathing establishments. Check before you go