Onsen etiquette for first-timers: how to use a Japanese hot spring

Your first onsen can feel intimidating: you bathe naked, there are rules nobody explains, and everyone else seems to know the routine. In practice the etiquette is simple and logical, built around keeping the shared water clean and the atmosphere calm. Here is everything you need, step by step.

The golden rules of onsen etiquette

1. Wash thoroughly before you get in the bath.
2. No swimsuits in a traditional onsen; you bathe naked.
3. Keep your small towel out of the water.
4. Tie up long hair so it doesn't touch the water.
5. No soap, shampoo or scrubbing in the tub.
6. Keep quiet and calm; no splashing, swimming or diving.
7. No photos or phones in the bathing area.

Before you go: what to bring

At a ryokan you need almost nothing: the inn provides a small towel (for washing and modesty) and a large towel (for drying), plus yukata and slippers. At public bathhouses you may need to rent or buy towels. Bring a hair tie and, if you wear glasses, be ready to take them off or wipe away the steam.

Step by step: using an onsen

1. Find the right entrance

Shared baths are separated by gender, usually marked by curtains (noren): 男 or blue for men, 女 or red for women. At many ryokan the men's and women's baths swap at set times, so check the times on the sign before going in.

2. Undress in the changing room

Take off all your clothes and put them, with your large towel, in a basket or locker. Leave valuables in your room or in a locker. Take only your small towel into the bathing area.

3. Wash at the shower stations

Sit on a stool at a shower station, wash your whole body with soap and rinse completely, then wash your hair if you like. Rinse the stool and the area when you finish. Some people also pour a few basins of hot water over themselves to get used to the temperature.

4. Enter the bath slowly

Lower yourself in gradually; the water is often 40 to 43°C. Fold your small towel and put it on your head or beside the bath, not in the water. Soak for a few minutes at a time, and get out to cool down whenever you need to.

5. Finish and dry off

Many people don't rinse after a mineral-rich onsen so the water stays on their skin, but rinse if your skin is sensitive or the water is very acidic. Wipe yourself down with your small towel before returning to the changing room so you don't drip on the floor.

Changing room etiquette

Changing rooms usually have baskets on shelves or lockers. Put everything in one basket so the next person has space, and don't leave belongings on the floor. Dry yourself before stepping onto the mats, and use the hair dryers and lotions provided at the vanity counter. Many changing rooms have a water dispenser; this is a good moment to drink.

Outdoor baths (rotenburo)

Open-air baths follow the same rules as indoor ones. In winter, the air can be very cold between the washing area and the bath, so wash indoors first and walk carefully on wet stone. Some outdoor baths have no shower nearby; rinse with a basin of water from the bath before getting in if there is no other option, and follow posted signs.

Signs you may see at an onsen

Talking, groups and children

Quiet conversation is fine, but onsen are places to relax, so keep voices low and avoid long phone calls in the changing room. Groups should not take over a whole bath. Children are welcome at most onsen when supervised; teach them not to swim or splash, and keep soaks short.

Health and safety tips

• Drink water before and after bathing.
• Avoid bathing right after heavy drinking or a big meal.
• Keep soaks short in very hot water; step out if you feel dizzy.
• Check with a doctor if you are pregnant or have heart or blood-pressure conditions.
• Take off silver jewellery, which can tarnish in sulphur or acidic water.

Ryokan etiquette beyond the bath

You can wear the inn's yukata around the building and to dinner. Wrap it left side over right; right over left is used for the deceased. Take off shoes at the entrance and slippers before stepping on tatami. Use the separate toilet slippers in the toilet and remember to leave them there. Staff will lay out futon while you are at dinner at many traditional inns.

Private bath etiquette

In a private bath you don't have to worry about strangers, but the same washing and towel rules apply, because the next group will use the same water. Keep to your time slot, leave the area tidy and don't bring glass bottles. Private baths are a great way to practise before trying the shared baths; see how kashikiri baths work.

Common first-timer questions

Where to practise: inns with private baths

32 of our 219 verified properties say their private baths are free for guests, and 107 sell rooms with their own open-air bath. Towns with the most free private baths: Kinosaki (11), Kusatsu (5), West Izu (3), Atami (2) and Shuzenji (2).

Counts from each property's official website, last checked 18 October 2026.

Using public bathhouses in onsen towns

In towns such as Kinosaki and Kusatsu, public bathhouses are part of the experience. Buy a ticket at the entrance or vending machine, and rent towels if needed. Many ryokan give guests a pass. Small local baths may have no shampoo or soap, so bring your own basics.

After the bath

Relax in the lounge area many onsen provide, drink water or tea, and let your body cool down before going outside, especially in winter. In onsen towns, it is normal to walk around in yukata and geta sandals in the evening. Avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol straight after a long soak.

Drinking spring water

Some onsen have a drinking fountain (飲泉所) for mineral water from the spring. Drink only where it is clearly provided for drinking, and in small amounts; bath water itself is not for drinking.

If you feel unwell

Dizziness, a racing heart or nausea are signs to get out, sit down somewhere cool and drink water. Tell staff if it doesn't pass. Short soaks with breaks are the best prevention, especially for first-timers.

Where to try your first onsen

Towns used to international visitors make it easy: Hakone near Tokyo, Kinosaki with its seven public baths, or Beppu with every kind of hot spring. If you'd rather start privately, book a room with its own open-air bath or an inn with free private baths.

Related guides

• Private onsen vs in-room bath vs family bath: what the terms mean
• How kashikiri private baths work: booking, time slots and fees
• Onsen with tattoos: private bath options in Japan
• Onsen tax and what you pay at check-in
• Booking a ryokan with dinner: what is included
• How to book a kashikiri bath: step by step

Find a private onsen

• Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan
• Ryokan with a Mt Fuji view
• Day-use private onsen
• All private onsen in Japan
• Onsen near Tokyo
• Onsen near Kyoto

Frequently asked questions