While homes in Japan have private bathtubs of their own, sento and onsen are still popular choices for unwinding after a long day and they can be found in nearly every neighborhood of Tokyo. Historically, bathhouses have existed in Japan for over 1,000 years, though the modern version of the sento really took off in the Edo period which began in 1603. Back then, Japanese homes lacked the modern luxury of private baths, making sento the only way to wash your body after a day of work. Nowadays, many people still visit the sento even when they have a bath at home since they provide a sense of community and a calming, spa-like atmosphere.
Nearly all sento and onsen have two sides to separate men and women, yet the privacy measures end there. After entering, you take off all of your clothes and place them in a locker, and then move on to a communal shower area. You can’t wear a bathing suit or any other form of clothing into the sento; it’s all or nothing! After showering and cleaning your body, you can finally enter the giant bathtub. I’ve been everywhere from a small outdoor onsen overlooking Mt. Fuji to a giant “supersento” in Kyoto with over 50 other people, and everywhere in between! Some sento even have special baths, my favorite being one that literally electrocutes you while you sit in it. Try it sometime!
My first time visiting an onsen was with my close friends, and we were terrified at the thought of getting naked in public.
