This blog entry was created in response to the posting (just below) on a gay message board. I often get inspired to write a long article once I've taken on the task of responding to someone's request for information (Photo: In Wolverine's latest X-men movie, there are many scenes of a hot springs bath in Japan.)
13 Jan 2015, 15:13 The Japan Rail pass is an excellent value. There are so many places worth seeing. At this time of year (winter), the hot springs are great value.
There are lots to choose from, but if you like an outdoor bath surrounded by snow, head north from Tokyo to the Tohoku area. I once went to a hot spring with a geyser just a couple of meters from the outdoor bath and snow all around. I think it was in Miyagi prefecture, but I can't remember the name of it right now. If you hate the cold, head to Kyushu: Nagasaki and Kagoshima and Kunisaki peninsula. For culture and history, check out Kyoto and Nara, only a fairly short train ride apart, and not so far from Osaka and Kobe.
A lot of the Japanese hot springs are in hotels, so they're for the hotel guests, but they often have day visitor rates for people not staying at the hotel who just want to use the hot springs. Of course, there are some baths run by local city or town administrations. These don't usually have much of a rest area, just a space for changing.
But there's a big variety in style and cost, so look around. Ask a information offices (at railway stations etc). Last time I was in Japan back in autumn, there were a lot of flyers offering inexpensive packages at hot spring hotels. It's worth checking each place out a bit before committing yourself.
23 Jan 2015, 10:01
If you visit Nikko (Toshogun Shrine, Chuzenji Lake and falls), or Hakone, a lake near the foot of Mt. Fuji, both of which are just a couple of hours by train from Tokyo, you can still have time to squeeze in a quick visit to a hot springs. Some of the onsen resorts nationwide have outdoor hot spring baths, called 'rotenburo,' which gives you the thrill of being naked outside, relaxing in the hot water, and getting to see nude Japanese men (most often draping the ubiquitous long hand towel in front).
Actually, a few public baths still operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly the same experience for under $5. Take your own towel, and toiletries.
Japanese love bathing in groups so much that many hotels in urban areas have 'ofuro' which they call 'onsen' (hot mineral springs) - although the water is usually piped in or the minerals are added on
You can get the feel of what a traditional hot springs bath is like without having to go so far afield. In a few cases, there are 'onsen' in urban areas, and also at ski resorts or recreation areas where you might be going to visit anyway.
Actually, a few public baths still operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly the same experience for under $5. Take your own towel, and toiletries.
Finally, if you're interested in having or seeing gay sex. You might consider visiting one of the all-male saunas in either Tokyo or Osaka (there may be some in smaller cities as well). In Tokyo, 24-Kaikan is the most famous, and the one is Shinjuku 3 (san)-chome is clean and active. It's also a hotel so you could even stay the night - although there are shared bunk bed rooms which your $24 locker (12 hour stay) will allow you to rest. There is a large Japanese style bath in most all the sauna, but also showers stalls with glory holes. The largest one in Osaka is called Hokuokan, and could be said to be bigger than Tokyo's 24 Kaikan gay bathhouse.
I have written about the baths, saunas, onsen (hot springs), and collected what others have said here before (because it disappears) on one of my blogs. You can find links to those two gay saunas mentioned, and more detailed information by going to blog:
http://sunbuns.blogspot.com
There are actually several different entries. One explains about the gay scene in Tokyo.
The photo here isn't mine, but represents how Japanese men, especially young and frisky ones, like to play around in the onsen spa resorts. You can often find groups of friends, college students, or company employees in the onsen; they make the trip to build up group cohesion and camaraderie - which can be a highly homoerotic situation (at least from a gay's man perspective).
Enjoy your visit...
Kelly
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