big onsen fan

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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onto today’s topic: big onsen fan ♨️

staying at an onsen inn / town was pretty high up on my japan bucket list, and it has definitely lived up to its reputation.

once i got over the culture shock of no swimsuits allowed, i was instantly hooked. public baths and onsens are a pretty big part of japanese culture, especially further away from the big cities, and it’s evident from the thoughtful user experience and seemingly standardized etiquette across the 3 onsens i’ve visited so far.

i’m currently hiking the kumano kodo iseji trail along the coast with philip, and we’ve been staying in onsen hotels each night. the opportunity to soak in fresh springs while gazing at the ocean is pretty crazy.

onsens are an entire experience, from massage chairs to different heated tubs and a generous display of lotion and soap. funnily enough, i’ll also always find an icecream vending machine nearby to cool off. 😋 i only manage to stay for like 45 minutes anyways so those added thoughtful aspects are even better … i’m not built for the heat.

i also appreciate the strict culture here of bathing thoroughly before entering any of the facilities. public swimming pools or tubs in canada or america pale in comparison — both from a hygienic and enjoyment standpoint.

i just hit up an outdoor onsen again after today’s hike and had the best view of the stars. i’ll go again tomorrow morning to see it under the sun. ;)

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