Onsen, Sento & Super Sento – Kitakami, Iwate
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Onsen, sento and super sento — what is the difference?
- Onsen: baths using natural hot spring water, from rustic communal baths in onsen towns to day-trip spa facilities.
- Sento: neighborhood public bathhouses with a fixed, affordable price set by each prefecture — many have Mt. Fuji murals and saunas.
- Super sento: large bath complexes with many kinds of baths, saunas, bedrock baths, restaurants and rest areas — great for a whole day.
How to enjoy a Japanese onsen or sento
- Wash your body at the shower area before getting into the bath.
- Do not put your towel in the bath water; keep long hair tied up.
- Many baths are nude and separated by gender; swimsuits are usually not allowed.
- Tattoo rules differ by facility — look for “Tattoo-friendly” or check the official site.
- After a sauna, rinse off sweat before entering the cold plunge bath.