Hoshi Onsen

Hoshi Onsen : A tast of the japanese bathing tradition

Hoshi Onsen is unique among all onsen in Japan. Originally built in the 1870's the onsenis mananged by the fifth generation of the Okamura family.

Hoshi Onsen is said to be one of the only 50 onsen sites built directly at the source, water flows directly up through a peble and rock aquafiltre. No water is added to cool down.

There are two inside bath the large one mixed and the other for ladies, open for day bath from 10:30 to 13:30 . Many couples meet at this place but some time too many men are soaking in front of the lady changing room door . In the water no towel are autorizide.

Soaking in the water inside the old building the view of the wooden structure is extraordinary. In this place you get a litlle tast of the japanese tradition of mixed bathing in the Edo periode. Enjoy and respect the rules

Adress: From Tokyo take the Shinkansen Joetsu to Jomokogen, the the public bus to Sarukyo and transfert to the Hoshi shutlle (calla before)

Sukayu : A new challenge for the mixed bathing

Sukayu Onsen : A new challenge for the tradition of mixed bathing :
A campain has started by agroup of concerned citizens to stop the stares of men at one of Japan's most famous Onsen resort that still practices mixed bathing.
The Konyoku wo Mamoru Kai (protect Mixed Bathing Association) has seen an increase of mento the Sukayu Onsen resort in Aomori. With the increase of men, they have also sen an increase of women complaining that men are leering at them.
The Sukayu Onsen has been visited for almost 320 years, and features a huge bath of 260 square meters. sukayu has signs for both men and women's bathing areas, but features no walls to obstruct the view when entering the bath.
Mentality evolution:In the past, before the Meiji era and the opening of the country to western influence, all bath were mixed. Kids from both gender were educated to share bath. Seeing the oposite sex naked was the rule. Under the presure of mostly the british and americans the bath became step by step separate by gender. Today there are a few places where mixed bathing it still the rule.But the gender ratio is often not very balanced, (two for ten) what makes the ladies unconfortable to share the pleasure of the bath.
Let me know your opinion on the subject and what you suggest to keep one of the greatest benefit of the tradional japanese culture