Japanese’s bath customs

In Japan typical bathroom are divide in two to 3 rooms. One room is the changing room (you normally have a small sink there). The second room place is the washing space where you have the tub and a shower that you can adjust to your height. The third part is the toilet, so even if someone is taking a bath you can still use the sink and the toilet.

Steps to follow:

At your house or friend’s place in Japan

normal Japanese Bathroom

1. Get your clothes off.
2. Go to the washing space and sit on the stool and wash carefully the lower parts of your body. You can use a washing towel, body brush and other tools in the space.
3. Rinse carefully your body to not transfer any soap in the tub.
4. If you are a woman and have long hair please tight up your hair to not let any hair in the tub.
5. Enter the tub and soak for short or long time as you wish. Relax and enjoy a nice moment.
6. When you ready get out of the bath and go wash the rest of your body.
7. You can also go back in the tub if you want to enjoy more relaxation time.
8. Please make sure to rinse the place where you washed carefully to not leave any soap or shampoo behind and leave the place clean as it was when you came in.
9. Go to the changing room and put some clothes on (yukata – pajama – clothes)
10. Please make sure to install your used towels to a place they can dry.

At Sentou (Public bath)

1. Normally in Japan people bring two towels (one for washing - one for drying) – shampoo & conditioner – soap with a change of clothes in a bag.
2. Put your shoes in the shoes lockers (kutsu bako- kutsu tansu).
3. Get your clothes off and put it in the basket. Keep your shampoo and all personal goods with you to the washing room.
4. Go to the washing space and sit on the stool and wash carefully the lower parts of your body. You can use a washing towel, body brush and other tools in the space. Sentou can offer some soap and shampoo if you forgot to bring those from home.
5. Rinse carefully your body to not transfer any soap in the tub.
6. If you are a woman and have long hair please tight up your hair to not let any hair in the tub.
7. Enter the tub and soak for short or long time as you wish.
8. When you ready get out of the bath and go wash the rest of your body.
9. You can also go back in the tub if you want to enjoy more relaxation time.
10. Please make sure to rinse the place where you washed carefully to not leave any soap or shampoo behind and leave the place clean as it was when you came in for next customers.
11. Go to the changing room and put some clothes on.
12. Please place your used towels soap-shampoo and other personal tools into your bag before leaving.

#1 = oke
#2 = furo-isu
#3 = Katate-Oke

At Onsen (Hotel with public or private bath)

1. You get to your room. Put your shoes in the shoes lockers (kutsu bako - kutsu tansu).
2. Change into yukata.
3. When you are ready you can go take a bath outside your room or in your room depending the lodging you have chosen.
4. Get your yukata off and put it in the looker. Normally Onsen offers soap and shampoo to their customers (but you can bring yours).
5. Go to the washing space and sit on the stool and wash carefully the lower parts of your body. You can use a washing towel, body brush and other tools in this space.
6. Rinse carefully your body to not transfer any soap in the tub.
7. If you are a woman and have long hair please tight up your hair to not let any hair in the tub. Rinse your space carefully before leaving for the inside or outside bath.
8. Enter the tub and soak for short or long time as you wish.
9. When you ready get out of the bath and go wash the rest of your body.
10. You can also go back in the tub if you want to enjoy more relaxation time.
11. After your second wash please make sure to rinse your body and the place where you washed carefully to not leave any soap or shampoo behind and leave the place clean as it was when you came in for the next customers.
12. Go to the changing room and put back your yukata on.
13. Please place your used towels in the basket assigned for it before leaving back to your room or other activities.

Basket where you leave your yukata or clothes

Different kind of lodging is possible.