Natural mineral hot springs (onsens) are not hard to find in Japan.  We have countless ryokans (Traditional Japanese Inns), hotels, and resort villages that are exclusively for those seeking a relaxing soak in hot springs.  Then we have hot springs that medical doctors recommend and prescribe such as Tamagawa onsen which has the highest acidity of all Japanese onsens.  The bedrock at the onsen emits radioactivity, and as a result people come from all over Japan to be cured of a wide range of ailments.  Some of these people have had negative effects from hospital radiation treatments, and their doctors recommend the hot springs as an alternative.  Hot springs water temperature varies from onsen to onsen.  Our JDS photography workshop leaders have seen onsen temps across Japan from 37℃ to 50℃ (98.6℉ to 122℉), but the average onsen will be anywhere from 39℃ to 42℃ (102.2℉ to 107.6℉).  50℃ (122℉) is way too hot for me, and our workshop leaders like their onsen temp at 41℃ (105.8℉), and if they have a couple hours to soak, they prefer water temps just above body temperature, around 38℃ (104℉). 

Across Japan there are over 27,000 onsens.  Wow!  Worldwide, onsen culture dates back thousands of years.  In Japan, the onsen culture was popular in the Nara and Heian period, and became popular again in the Edo period.  These were times of peace in the land of the rising sun.  After the second world war, onsens became popular again, and community city, village communal baths were constructed where male and female bathed separately.  Most homes at this time did not have the luxury of a bath, but today you would be extremely hard pressed to find a home in Japan without one.  

One of our workshop leader's first onsen experience:

"My first onsen experience in Japan was interesting to say the least.  It was over twenty five years ago in Hokkaido, and just before I entered, my fiancé quickly rattled off the rules to me.  1) Male and female bathe separately.  2) No clothing in the onsen; only bring the washing towel the ryokan provided into the onsen, and she did mention you can cover your private parts with the towel when walking around, but never put the towel into the onsen water; put it on your head when in the onsen.  3) Wash your entire body before entering the onsen bath.  When I went in, it was around 4 pm and super busy, but I found separate washing stalls, and at first, I showered and washed for a long time as I felt uncomfortable entering the onsen with other men naked.  Then about ten minutes later, I remembered my sports days and showering with teammates, and at the gym, plus in the Canadian Rockies we have natural hot springs in the mountains that I have used plenty of times while camping and horseback riding.  So I stood up and covered my privates with the towel and entered the onsen.  I WAS SOLD in thirty seconds flat!!!  My only thought was, 'WOW!  WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!'"

Today, the JDS workshop leaders love onsens so much that one of them purchased a home in Niigata, Japan a ten minute drive to Iwamuro Onsen Village.  And one has a cottage in Hokkaido that has natural hot springs running year round, but he needs to winterize this cottage, as he only gets a few months a year to enjoy it, but his family is kinda happy he hasn't winterized it yet, as he might end up spending an entire winter in Hokkaido, and they enjoy the temperate weather of the Tokyo region in winter.  Annually, he and his family spend at least three weeks of vacation time at onsen resorts.  At the end of May this year before the summer heat hit, one of our workshop leaders spent time at Hachimantai Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, where he checked into Goshougake Onsen.  On their website it reads, (Located at 1,000 m above sea level in Hachimantai,  “Goshougake”, the only inn in this neighborhood, surrounded by the nature, has 300 years of history.  As the saying goes “A man who came by horse leaves in sandals,” this place is famous for medical baths with the curative power.  Visitors can enjoy 7 types of baths including “hakomushiburo”, boxed steam baths, where you bathe with your head thrust, and a mud bath, which has aesthetic effects.)  Apparently, it was a glorious onsen experience, everyday anytime onsen.  For guests the onsen is open 24 hrs, and the general public may enter from 9:30 AM to 4 PM.  During the day, he did some sightseeing and photography.  Another rule in onsen is no pictures, but that is really a grey area, it’s meant to say don’t take pictures of others in the onsen.  Last year, one of our JDS workshop leaders got his first smartphone, and it’s now easier for him to take pics in onsen when there are no people.  And to be perfectly honest, he mentioned that he prefers a private bathing experience, or with family in a private onsen which is Japanese culture, and at least a week a year, he books into an inn with a private onsen in suite, plus he and his family are welcome to use the ryokan’s communal onsen.

On all of the JDS Japan photo tours, including the annual Hokkaido photo tour, all lodgings that we have our booking agent reserve offer the Japanese authentic onsen experience.  Males and females bathe separately, and some hotels offer the private onsen experience, and we can assure you after a long day of photography, there is nothing like a soak in the healing onsen.  But some guests prefer not to use the Onsen and we respect this, and we have our booking agent make sure all guests on our Japan photo tours have ensuite shower/bath and washroom, and private ensuite hot springs when available. 

In closing, by law, Japan Hot Springs must be tested several times a day for bacteria by staff, but this is mainly for hot springs that water is not continuously flowering fast with fresh  onsen water and the water is being recycled like a hot tub.  At these types of establishments, they have to change the bath water once a day, and these types of Onsens will have chlorine added to prevent infection, and most people can smell the chemicals and our workshop leaders mainly avoid  them.  99% of the time they bathe in purely natural unchlorinated onsens that do not need to recycle their water.  This is due to the Onsen water flowing fast and natural,  and the onsen bath water changes itself with fresh hot water two to five times a day or more, and they don’t need to add any chemicals, due to water always changing naturally, but they still have to test the water daily for any impurities.  Hot springs across Japan are highly regulated.