That is the famous saying of Japanese people for onsen. Not only is it considered a miraculous beauty and health treatment, Japanese people have raised the habit of bathing onsen to the level of an art of life experience and a national cultural characteristic. But onsen is not only in Japan and in fact it has "addicted" the whole world. Let's explore with Travellive some great hot spring bathing destinations in Asia, maybe somewhere will catch your "green eye".
Sakunami - Sendai, Japan
Japan is considered to be the country with the most abundant hot springs in the world. Currently, there are about 20,000 hot springs in this country. However, not all natural hot springs qualify to be called onsen. Hot springs must have the necessary temperature and mineral content.
In Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture, Sakunami is known as “Hot spring that creates beauties”, discovered 1300 years ago and considered by local people as a sacred water source. Inheriting from nature a warm stream of water containing many minerals that are good for health and especially good for the skin, Sakunami has become a special highlight attracting tourists to Miyagi. Here, the spring source is divided into many types of baths. For Ryokan (inn), you can experience stone baths, open-air onsen baths, tachiyu baths (rooms with deep water level). In addition, there are still Miyako-no baths for guests to experience during the day. If you come to Japan in winter - spring without bathing in onsen, your trip is considered incomplete.
Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi
Hotline: 022-395-2052
Beitou - Taiwan
Beitou – one of the two most famous hot springs in Taiwan – is a type of sulfur hot spring with green water, always steaming like a fairyland, with a strong mineral smell… Especially, the mineral water stream runs throughout the neighborhood, so if you walk around the street, you will see smoke rising from the manholes and the sound of boiling water, bringing a very enjoyable feeling.
Here, you can experience an onsen bath with a temperature of nearly 45°C and admire the poetic scenery immersed in mist. The abundant amount of minerals has an incomparable therapeutic effect after just a few hours of soaking in the spring water. In particular, Beitou also has a public onsen bath area with extremely affordable prices for both locals and tourists, only about 30,000 VND/person.
Besides the hot springs, don't miss the beautiful wooden library which is considered the symbol of Beitou - a place for those who are passionate about architecture and endless sources of books; remember to visit the Thermal Valley, the Hot Water Museum and taste the local tea.
Wenquan Street, Beitou Dist., Taipei, Taiwan
Hotline: +886 2 2895 5418
Deokgu - Gyeongsang, South Korea
If you are a loyal follower of Korean dramas, the image of saunas and public baths will not be strange. Not only in Japan, Korea is also a country that loves "onsen bathing culture". Coming to Deogku hot spring, you will understand that there are countless romantic things for you to experience.
Deokgu is a famous hot spring resort with luxuriously designed indoor pools and extremely romantic outdoor pools. While the indoor pool is a private, quiet space, the outdoor pool will give you the feeling of being immersed in wild nature, feeling the white snowflakes falling under the misty smoke. Under the cold winter sky, immersing yourself in the warm water is a truly wonderful experience.
Deokgu Hot Springs has a high mineral content, with an average temperature of up to 43°C. If you have the opportunity to bathe here regularly, you will have a tight and firm skin. On the other hand, Deokgu also offers water treatments that allow you to massage your neck, back, and legs with strong water jets.
Sikkim is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in India. Here you can go trekking, visit ancient villages and especially enjoy hot mineral baths. The hot mineral springs in Sikkim have many medicinal and therapeutic values. The average temperature of the hot mineral springs is 50 °C. And Reshi is one of them. However, Reshi is more famous for its religious significance than for the minerals it possesses.
Reshi Hot Springs is located 25 km from Gyalshing, on the banks of the Rangeet River. In ancient times, Reshi was a winter spa where pilgrims bathed because the springs contained healing minerals. Nearby, there is also Lho Khandro Sang Phug, a small monastery and a sacred cave known as the “cave of the mystic fairies”. It is because of the cave and monastery that Reshi Hot Springs have a special significance for Indians and pilgrims. On the other hand, because Sikkim is located at a high altitude, the region is often very cold in winter, with temperatures dropping as low as -40°C in some places, which is also part of the reason why the hot springs here are popular.
Another interesting thing that Reshi offers to visitors is the small huts that are pre-built so that visitors can stop overnight at affordable prices.
Gangtok, Sikkim - India
Huanglong - Sichuan, China
Huanglong Valley is found with more than 3km of natural hot spring water. Huanglong means Golden Dragon Mountain, known as "human daochi" - precious lake in the human world. This land is famous for its lakes full of water, lying evenly like colorful stairs. The lakes here are formed by geological deposits, calcium mineral mines. In Huanglong Valley, there are more than 3000 lakes and small streams, with jade green color. This is a famous tourist destination of Sichuan province - China. Although the lakes in Huanglong are only for sightseeing and sightseeing, there are still hot lakes for visitors to bathe in. You can experience natural hot springs at Pearl Boiling Hot Spring and the southern lakes of Huanglong where the water contains minerals that help treat diseases and rejuvenate the skin. In particular, this time is also the best time for you to visit this place.
In addition, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, so the temperature here is quite low, suitable for you to soak in the hot mineral springs and admire the "fairy" scenery.
Songpan County, Aba County, Sichuan Province - China
Onsen is one of the unique cultural features of the cherry blossom country. If you are taking an onsen bath in Japan for the first time, you need to pay attention to their own rules. Because the Japanese are not only disciplined in their daily lives, but for onsen, it is tradition, habit and pride.
1. Put shoes in the closet
If you visit a Japanese home, you must take your shoes off at the door. The same goes for onsen, where your shoes must be stored in a cabinet at the entrance to the bathing area.
2. Go to the correct dressing room
At onsen baths, the changing rooms are usually marked with pictures, or sometimes curtains. Red is usually for women and blue is for men. If you pay attention, you will see this color distinction used in Japanese toilets.
3. Store all belongings and clothes outside
The characteristic of Japanese onsen is that you do not wear clothes in the bathing area, all your belongings must be stored in a basket or cabinet outside. You are even only allowed to bring a small towel to block the wind when moving between different bathing areas. Because onsen in Japan is a form of hot mineral bath in the middle of nature, you are not allowed to wear any clothes on your body, so this area is also strictly forbidden to take pictures.
4. Clean your body before getting into the water
This is the first step when you start bathing in onsen. You need to clean your body to maintain general hygiene before entering the communal pool, the Japanese are quite meticulous in this. Because the water temperature is over 40°C, in some areas it can reach up to 60°C, so you should soak your feet first, so that your body can gradually get used to the temperature in the pool.
5. Keep towels separate
The small towel you bring into the bath can be wrapped or folded and placed on your head as some Japanese people often do, or placed next to where you are bathing. Absolutely do not drop the towel into the water.
6. Put things in the right place
If you use any item in the bathing area, when you are done using it, you need to put it back in its proper place. This is politeness in Japanese culture and most countries in the world.
7. Keep quiet
Bathing in an onsen is a time for people to relax and relieve stress and fatigue. Therefore, you should absolutely not speak loudly or make noise in public places, especially in places where people need a relaxing space.
8. Not suitable for guests with tattoos
This is a Japanese onsen rule. If you have a tattoo, you are absolutely not allowed to bathe in an onsen. However, there are some places for foreign tourists, if your tattoo is small, you can still bathe, but you need to ask the supervisors first.
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