A simple step-by-step guide to bathing comfortably and respectfully.
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Quick answer
Wash before entering the bath, and keep towels and hair out of the water.
1
Wash before entering the bath
Undress in the changing room and wash thoroughly at the shower area before entering the shared bath.
2
Keep towels and hair out of the water
Place the small towel on your head or beside the bath. Tie up long hair.
3
Check tattoo and photography rules
Policies vary. Never take photographs in changing or bathing areas.
Useful Japanese phrase
Are tattoos allowed?
タトゥーがあっても入れますか？
Tatū ga atte mo hairemasu ka?
Cold outside? Do not use a longer, hotter soak to warm up
Winter bathing needs care as well as etiquette. Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency warns about bathing accidents, particularly among older people, and recommends warming the changing and bathing rooms, avoiding sudden standing and avoiding bathing while alcohol remains in the body.
Ask about cold changing areas. At a shared facility, ask staff about a warmer place to change or a suitable bath; do not alter shared heating or water controls yourself.
Enter slowly and keep the soak short. The agency’s guidance for older people uses water at 41°C or below and up to 10 minutes as a guide. These are not guarantees of safety or targets to endure. If the bath feels too hot or you feel unwell, get out safely and ask for help.
Stand up slowly. Use the handrail where provided. For an outdoor bath, ask whether the route is open and follow staff instructions on wet or icy surfaces.
Do not bathe after drinking. If you take sedating medicine or have a condition that affects bathing, ask a healthcare professional about suitability. Tell a companion before bathing, particularly if you may need help.
If someone collapses, alert staff immediately. Call 119 for a serious or life-threatening emergency and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. See the medical help guide for non-emergency care.
Public onsen are shared baths, not swimming pools. Leave clothing and your phone in the changing area, wash and rinse completely, then keep your towel and hair out of the bathwater.
First-time onsen tutorial
From the entrance to the changing room
Illustration: follow the facility rules and keep your phone stored. Click the illustration to enlarge.
1
Check the facility rules
Confirm opening hours, the correct bath entrance, tattoo policy and whether towels are included or rented. Bath entrances may switch by time or day, so read the curtain and sign each visit.
2
Remove shoes where indicated
Place them in the shoe locker or designated area. Do not walk into the changing room wearing outdoor shoes.
3
Use a locker for valuables
Remove clothes and, unless the facility says otherwise, swimwear and underwear. Metal jewelry may discolor in some mineral water, so store it safely too.
4
Take only the small towel
Leave your bath towel and phone in the changing room. Take the small wash towel and toiletries if they are not provided.
Inside the bathing area
How to bathe step by step
Illustration: wash first, soak quietly and leave the bath if you feel unwell. Click the illustration to enlarge.
1
Sit and wash thoroughly
Use a washing station, soap and shampoo. Rinse your body, hair and all soap away before entering the shared bath. Avoid splashing people beside you.
2
Rinse the stool and area
Return the bucket and stool neatly. If there is kakeyu water near the bath, pour it over yourself to adjust to the heat—but it does not replace washing.
3
Enter slowly and soak
Step in carefully. Do not jump, dive, swim or splash. Speak softly and leave enough space for other bathers.
4
Keep towel and hair out of bathwater
Place the small towel on your head or beside the bath. Tie up long hair so it cannot touch the water.
5
Take breaks and listen to your body
Onsen water can be very hot. Leave the bath if you feel dizzy, faint, nauseated or unwell, and cool down in a safe place.
6
Dry before returning
Use the small towel to remove water from your body and hair before stepping into the changing room, so the floor does not become wet and slippery.
×
Do not do these in a public bath
Do not use phones, cameras or recording devices in changing or bathing areas; keep them stored in your changing-room locker.
Do not put a towel, soap or personal item into the bathwater.
Do not wear a swimsuit unless that specific facility instructs you to wear one.
Do not swim, splash, run or talk loudly.
Do not enter while alcohol remains in your body or when you have a fever or feel seriously unwell.
If you have a tattoo
Ask before paying or entering
Illustration: a cover or private bath is an option only when the facility permits it. Click the illustration to enlarge.
There is no single nationwide rule. One facility may allow tattoos, another may allow a small tattoo only when covered with an approved waterproof seal, and another may refuse entry to its communal bath.
1Check the website or ask staffNever assume a cover patch is accepted.
2Use an approved cover if allowedAsk about the permitted size, color and number of seals.
3Reserve a private bathLook for kashikiri-buro, a family bath or an in-room bath and confirm its tattoo policy.
I am not comfortable bathing nude
Look for a private reservable bath, an in-room bath or a footbath. Some special mixed-gender facilities provide a bathing garment, but ordinary communal baths generally do not permit swimsuits.
I am visiting with a baby or child
Rules for diapers, toilet training, age and which bath a child may enter vary by facility and municipality. Ask before changing or buying admission.
Should I rinse after the onsen?
Practices differ by water type and personal skin sensitivity. Follow the facility’s guidance; rinse with fresh water if staff recommends it or the water irritates your skin.
I have a medical condition
Hot water can affect circulation and blood pressure. Ask a healthcare professional if you have concerns, follow posted health warnings and leave immediately if you feel unwell.
Useful Japanese phrases
タトゥーがあります。入れますか？Tatū ga arimasu. Hairemasu ka?I have a tattoo. May I enter?
貸切風呂はありますか？Kashikiri-buro wa arimasu ka?Do you have a private reservable bath?
タオルは借りられますか？Taoru wa kariraremasu ka?Can I rent a towel?
このお風呂は今、入れますか？Kono ofuro wa ima, hairemasu ka?Can I use this bath now?
Official guidance checked on August 15, 2026. Tattoo, clothing, photography, child-access and health rules vary by facility and bath type. Always follow the current sign and staff instructions at the bath you visit.
Useful links
Check the official onsen guidance
Official resources come first. Links open in a new tab.
