How to Visit a Japanese Onsen or Sento

Onsen vs. Sento: What’s the Difference?

Onsen (温泉): Natural hot spring bath. Water comes from geothermal sources and contains minerals. Must meet legal requirements for mineral content and temperature. Usually in rural areas or hot spring towns.

Sento (銭湯): Public bathhouse using heated tap water. Found in cities and neighborhoods. Cheaper than onsen (¥500-¥700 vs. ¥800-¥2,000).

Super Sento (スーパー銭湯): Modern bathhouse with multiple baths, saunas, relaxation areas, restaurants. Hybrid between traditional sento and onsen resort. Common in suburbs.

Both follow the same bathing etiquette.

Tattoo Policies

This is the biggest concern for foreign visitors. Historically, tattoos are associated with yakuza (organized crime), so many onsen and sento ban them.

Three Categories of Tattoo Policies

1. Complete Ban (Most Common)

• No tattoos allowed, any size
• Staff will ask you to leave if they see tattoos
• Common at: traditional onsen towns, rural areas, hotel onsen

2. Cover Stickers Allowed

• Small tattoos can be covered with waterproof stickers
• Stickers sold at front desk (¥100-¥300) or bring your own
• Only works for tattoos smaller than 10cm × 10cm
• Common at: super sento, some chain onsen

3. Tattoo-Friendly (Rare but Growing)

• All tattoos allowed, no covering needed
• Explicitly stated on website or entrance
• Common at: tourist-focused onsen, some chains, private baths

Tattoo-Friendly Chains and Locations

Chains that allow tattoos:

• Oedo Onsen Monogatari (大江戸温泉物語): Theme park-style onsen, multiple locations, all tattoos allowed
• Kusatsu Onsen (草津温泉): Famous hot spring town in Gunma, three main public baths allow tattoos
• Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉): Hot spring town in Hyogo, all seven public baths allow tattoos
• Hoshino Resorts KAI (星野リゾート界): Luxury ryokan chain, changed policy in 2024 to allow tattoos

Individual tattoo-friendly onsen:

• Dogo Onsen (Ehime) — historic public bath
• Arima Onsen (Kobe) — some facilities allow tattoos
• Hakone area — some modern facilities are tattoo-friendly

How to find tattoo-friendly onsen:

• Search “tattoo friendly onsen [city name]” in English
• Check website for “タトゥーOK” or “入れ墨OK”
• Call ahead and ask: “タトゥーがありますが、入浴できますか？” (tattoo ga arimasu ga, nyuuyoku dekimasu ka — I have tattoos, can I bathe?)

Private Baths (Kashikiri-buro)

If you have tattoos and can’t find a tattoo-friendly onsen, book a private bath (貸切風呂).

How it works:

• Rent a private bathing room for 40-60 minutes
• Cost: ¥2,000-¥5,000 per session
• No one will see your tattoos
• Available at many ryokan and onsen resorts

Booking: Reserve at front desk when you check in, or book online in advance.

Step-by-Step Bathing Procedure

Before You Enter

1. Pay at the entrance

• Onsen: ¥800-¥2,000
• Sento: ¥500-¥700
• Some places use vending machines, others have a front desk

2. Remove shoes

• Put shoes in locker at entrance
• Take the key with you

3. Go to the correct changing room

• 男 (otoko) or 男湯 (otoko-yu) = Men
• 女 (onna) or 女湯 (onna-yu) = Women
• Curtains are usually blue (men) or red (women)

In the Changing Room

4. Undress completely

• Remove all clothing, including underwear
• Put clothes and belongings in a basket or locker
• Take the small towel (手ぬぐい tenugui) with you
• Leave the large towel in the changing room

5. Bring only the small towel

• This towel is for washing and modesty while walking
• Do NOT put this towel in the bath water

In the Bathing Area

6. Rinse off before washing

• Sit on a small stool at a washing station
• Use the shower or bucket to rinse your body
• This is just a quick rinse, not a full wash yet

7. Wash your body thoroughly

• Use soap, shampoo, and conditioner provided (or bring your own)
• Scrub your entire body
• Rinse completely — no soap residue
• This is mandatory before entering the bath

8. Enter the bath

• Step in slowly — water is hot (40-44°C / 104-111°F)
• Sit down and relax
• Do NOT put your towel in the water (rest it on your head or beside the bath)
• Do NOT swim, splash, or make noise
• Soak for 5-15 minutes, then exit to cool down

9. Repeat

• You can wash again, soak again, use the sauna, etc.
• Many people cycle between hot bath → cold bath → rest

10. Final rinse (optional)

• Some people rinse off after bathing, some don’t
• Onsen minerals are good for skin, so many people skip the final rinse

After Bathing

11. Dry off before returning to changing room

• Use your small towel to wipe off excess water
• Don’t drip water all over the changing room floor

12. Get dressed

• Dry off with the large towel you left in the changing room
• Get dressed
• Many people drink cold milk or tea (sold in vending machines)

Onsen Etiquette Rules

Absolute Rules (Will Get You Kicked Out)

1. Wash before entering the bath — This is non-negotiable
2. No clothes in the bath — Completely naked only
3. No towel in the water — Rest it on your head or beside the bath
4. Don’t drain or contaminate the water — It’s shared by everyone
5. No photos — Cameras and phones are banned in bathing areas

Polite Behavior

• Keep your towel covering your private parts while walking (optional but common)
• Don’t stare at other people
• Keep noise to a minimum
• Don’t hog the washing stations
• Wring out your towel before returning to the changing room
• If you have long hair, tie it up (don’t let it touch the water)

Things That Are Okay

• Sitting on your towel at the edge of the bath (to avoid burning your butt on hot tiles)
• Folding your towel and putting it on your head
• Talking quietly with friends
• Using the cold bath, sauna, outdoor bath in any order

What’s Provided vs. What to Bring

Usually Provided (Free)

• Small towel (sometimes — check when you pay)
• Shampoo, conditioner, body soap at washing stations
• Hair dryers in changing room
• Drinking water fountain

Usually Provided (For Purchase)

• Towel rental if not included (¥200-¥300)
• Toiletries (razor, toothbrush, etc.)
• Drinks and snacks

Bring Your Own

• Large towel for drying off (if not staying at a ryokan)
• Small towel if not provided
• Your own shampoo/soap if you have preferences
• Hairbrush, skincare products
• Change of clothes

Health and Safety

Who Should Not Use Onsen

• People with open wounds or cuts (infection risk)
• People with contagious skin conditions
• People who are very drunk (drowning risk)
• People with heart conditions (consult doctor first)
• Pregnant women (consult doctor first)

Safety Tips

• Don’t stay in too long (15 minutes max per session)
• Drink water before and after bathing
• If you feel dizzy, exit immediately and cool down
• Don’t eat a large meal right before bathing
• Be careful on wet floors — they’re slippery

Mixed Gender Bathing (Konyoku)

Mixed bathing (混浴 konyoku) is rare and mostly found in remote, traditional onsen.

Where it exists:

• Rural mountain onsen
• Some historic onsen (Takaragawa Onsen in Gunma is famous)
• Usually requires wearing a towel wrap (湯浴み着 yuami-gi)

Modern reality: Most konyoku onsen are now gender-separated or have designated times for men and women. True mixed bathing is uncommon and often uncomfortable for women due to voyeurism issues.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Solution
Water is too hot	Onsen water is naturally very hot	Enter slowly, sit on the edge first, or use the lukewarm bath
Staff asked me to leave	Tattoos visible	Cover with stickers, use private bath, or find tattoo-friendly onsen
I don’t have a towel	Didn’t rent one	Buy/rent at front desk (¥200-¥300)
Someone is staring at me	Foreigners are uncommon	Ignore it, or politely ask “何か？” (nanika — something wrong?)
I feel dizzy	Stayed in too long or dehydrated	Exit immediately, sit down, drink water, cool off

FAQ

Q: Can I wear a swimsuit?
A: No, not in traditional onsen or sento. Some theme park-style onsen (like Oedo Onsen Monogatari) have swimsuit areas, but the main baths are naked-only.

Q: What if I’m on my period?
A: Technically not allowed, but if you use a tampon or menstrual cup and are discreet, most people won’t know. Avoid if flow is heavy.

Q: Are there private changing rooms?
A: Rarely. Most onsen and sento have communal changing rooms. Some modern facilities have a few private changing stalls.

Q: Can I bring my phone to take photos of the outdoor bath?
A: No. Phones and cameras are banned in all bathing and changing areas. You can take photos of the exterior or common areas only.

Q: How do I know if the onsen is authentic (natural hot spring)?
A: Look for the onsen mark (♨) and a sign listing the mineral content and source. Authentic onsen must display this by law.

Last verified: February 2026