Onsen - The public bath

Traditionally men and women shared the same bath. Now they are separated.

The Japanese have this great tradition of public baths. They use the water from the hot underground springs, to create little oases in the cities. When we were in Osaka we visited one, we were told not to miss it. I now understand why. It was great. We came walking down the hot street at 12 pm after a long day at work. The lights from the neon signs were competing in brightness and color, and led my imagination far away from what was waiting us. At first we passed the bath, and were told to go back to the big yellow sign saying Mags ( The name of the complex). Outside were teenagers hanging out or leaving the gaming halls inside. Noise games being played in several levels, all that a teenage kid could want, and in japan everyone enjoys the games. The business man with a cigaret and a beer beside the old lady in her ironed  dress next to the teenage boy playing guitar hero. We were sure we were lost, but I am learning that you just never know in Japan. Don't trust your instincts here, they are probably wrong. And so they were.. The guard pointed his finger out the other side of the building. Behind the gaming complex lay a one level wooden house. It did not look of much, no neon lights. We entered well prepared with the rules of the public bath. There are many, and you must be sure to know them. You come well prepared, bringing towels of different sizes for different purposes, your favorite shampoo and soap. First there is a area to shower and get clean, here you sit for at least 15 -20 minutes washing your body from top to toe and toe to top. Don't think I have ever been so clean as after 3 hours of bathing with the Japanese. They have little stools, so they sit down in front of mirrors and wash themselves. It is important to be clean since there is no chlorine in the water.
Then the bath is open to be enjoyed, for 30 kr there are maybe 6 different baths with different temperatures, the are steam baths, hot stones to lie on with hot water running down them. There are salt scrubs, saunas, cold water tubs, and all in a beautiful garden. It was fantastic. You have to visit the Onsen if you ever visit Japan. I think that is the secret behind the japanese living so long.