Being a yoga teacher living in Japan, Myoko in particular, I thought that I’d blog about the area of Myoko Kogen, alongside yoga for snowboarders and skiers. If you’d like more free yoga for snowboarders and skiers click here.
This is something that I do daily, that has almost become a ritual, going to onsen baths, natural hot spring baths everyday. In the western world, a bath is considered something indulgent, what’s the likelihood that you have a bath every day though? That’s a lot of cleaning after and we’re all so busy, that a quick shower is all that we can fit into our days.
Having an onsen daily, is not only relaxing, but it also adds a little bit of self care, which is so trendy at the moment, into your day. I’d highly recommend having one daily, if you’re visiting Myoko or even if you’re working here for a season.
I’ve also created a ‘How to Onsen’ PDF that you can download, to make sure you know what the etiquette is and a list of ‘Myoko’s Best Onsen’ below, if you want to have a better idea of which are the best onsens to visit.
So if you’re visiting Myoko, or Japan in general, I would 100% recommend to go to a onsen. The Myoko area, from Akakura Onsen, to Seki Onsen, to Suginohara, Ikenotaira to Myoko Kogen town, all have onsen. Not only do all those villages have onsen, but they also each have a unique mineral property and each have a different colour.
Onsen, pronounced ‘On’ ‘se-n’, means natural hot spring bath, Japan being surrounded by mountains and volcanoes is pumping with natural hot springs. You must go to an onsen in Myoko, if you’re visiting!
The source is usually found in the mountains, this is then piped all the way down to the villages, you can onsen in Myoko at a hotel or public buildings that are onsen houses like Landmark Onsen Café.
Ok so first of all, I must warn you, that you will have to be Naked! Yes naked. This is a bath, this isn’t like the blue lagoon in Iceland or a Jacuzzi. You will have to get past that insecurity of getting naked, which I understand is difficult, but it is 100% worth it, as Onsen is so good!
Other than yoga to stretch out your sore body after a long day on the mountain skiing or snowboarding (check out my yoga schedule here if you’re in Akakura Onsen). A onsen will relax your whole body, soothe your sore muscles, its also a sociable time that you can spend with friends and family, plus you’ll be mighty clean by the time you come out of an onsen.
There are also minerals in the water, depending on which mountain source the spring water comes from. Some make your skin very soft, like those in Hakuba, some are more full of iron with a red colour and some are more sulphuric with a white/blue ish colour.
Also the main benefit during winter, which are cold and snowy in the mountains in Japan, is that you will warm up your body. Some onsens are extremely hot, the closer they are to the source like in Nozawa Onsen, while in Myoko the temperatures are a little cooler.
If you’re looking to relax, have a day off of skiing + snowboarding, come along to a yoga lesson, check out my schedule for winter here.
If you’d like to know the Onsen etiquette, I’ve written a list below for you, you can even save this onto your phone, in case you forget and want a little reminder.
Tip:
Depending if it’s a hotel or Onsen house, pay at the front desk
Usually the red curtain is for Women’s and Blue Curtain is for Men’s. If you’re unsure, I’d wait until someone walks into one of the onsens or as at reception to help you.
1. Enter the Onsen
2. Get Naked!
Yes you do not bathe in an onsen with any underwear on or a swimsuit.
Place your clothes into the basket provided in the changing area
3. Wash your body and hair
Bring your face towel/onsen towel.
As you enter the onsen, there are showers, you sit on the stool, shower your body and wash your hair if you need to. Men can shave at a onsen.
4. Get into the onsen
Do Not put your towel in the onsen water.
If you have long hair tie it up and out of the water.
Relax and enjoy.
You can hop in and out of the water, if you get too hot.
5. Finished with onsen,
Wash your body again (optional). Some onsens have strong mineral smell.
Before you walk into the changing area, make sure to take to towel dry yourself with your onsen towel.
6. Get dressed
Some onsens have hair dryers and you can get yourself ready before heading back outside.
I’ve updated the below prices (November 2023), as prices have gone up, but that may change when you visit each of these onsens.
Akakura Onsen
Ikenotaira
This place is a onsen rest stop, it has a restaurant, a convenience store, a gift shop, mangas, sitting area, overnight sleeping area, karaoke, ping pong tables, a kids play area upstairs and free overnight parking.
Suginosawa
Tsubame Onsen
Arai Lotte
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