Instant Onsen at home!
Posted by: kirin on 
Nov 28th, 2008 | 
Filed under: Daily Life
|
Bathing is sort of pastime to me at the end of a day. Especially using instant Onsen powder or aroma oil makes me feel so relaxed.
Most of Japanese people take a bath every night, which is so different from that people from most of other countries take a shower in the morning. Also, bathroom is so different, as we make the bathtub full of hot water as in the photo and when we are inside it, the hot water stays around the shoulder hight. We wash our body outside the tub, hence it is always that bathroom consists of 2 areas; tub & wash space. Half & half. The hot water is to be shared with all the family members, and there are many housewifes who re-use the hot water for washing laundry next morning. (The hot water is tepid water by that time) I am one of those These days I sometimes sleep in a bathtub because it’s so comfortable and I’m too tired. Bathing takes time and sometimes tiresome but it’s inextricable part of life to me. When I skip this bathing at night before sleep, I sometimes feel cold or my brain keeps working even after I get into the bed. But I will fall asleep in a second, very relaxed and warmed with little bit fatigue from bathing just like after doing some sports. BTW, the water is colored because of the Onsen powder Am I too addicted to bathing? Won’t you think you would be like me if you can enjoy this kind of bathing every night? |
Do you wonder if I scoop up small amount of water and repeat that 10-20 times? No! The washing machine has a pump from the beginning (because reuse of the bath water is so common) and when I choose the reuse course and sink the hose into the bathtub and turn the switch on, the washing machine starts pumping. I just wait until it lets me know when finished.
What I like about it is that there are so many kinds of Onsen powder released from many brands and companies. The scent, color, modeled onsen type is all different, and it gives me another reason that I don’t wanna skip bathing!
Tags: 
November 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Kirin !! what a luxury !
Most of us r rushing thru making dinner n getting a hot shower to take the chill off the bones (especially now with winter), catch the 8pm news, go thru stacks of mail, browse thru trade journals/magazines n be in time to catch our 8hr sleep so that we r rested for yet another day !
Having said all that, I do admire u for being able to set aside time for a nice, warm, relaxing soak
November 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I love a nice bath if ive been out in the rain or are very tired, but i normally just shower in the morning, easier.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
@Dutchie,
I think I am one of the bathing addict, but it’s quite common to have a bathing like that every night for any Japanese people even though we are known or criticized as “worker drone” in the world. At the same time though, not many of us can keep 8 -hour sleep. That’s what you’ll see how many people sleeping on the train! hahaha…
@Joe,
I wish I could save time with quick shower and instead use the time for something different, but once you do a Japanese, you’ll see. I think I am not specialized bathing freak. (I hope….) Thanks for the comment
November 30th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Wow!!! I rarely takes baths – only showers. I never have time for baths. After I come back from work. I jump into the shower, sing Shimizu Shota’s アイシテル, and DOUBLE’s Life is Beautiful, then run out in 20 minutes. Eat my dinner. Chat online. Watch some anime, if I have time. Then sleep. And I can’t even catch 7 hours of sleep. T___T
December 1st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Bathing is cool
I thoroughly enjoy bathtime with my son.
Though there would be no complaints if you uploaded further pictures of your bathtime.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
@Contamination,
Bathing with your son…that sounds fun!
Oh~no, there’s no further pictures. That sounds like Oyaji comment.
December 7th, 2008 at 6:39 am
an onsen powder addict? reminds me of a classmate. never used one though- a warm shower is enough for me.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I very much miss the bath tub I had in Japan. I think I would enjoy long baths more often back home if the tub was the same depth. As it is, western tubs are too long (can’t sit comfortably) and too shallow (I like my shoulders to keep warm!). I didn’t know about the washing machine/bath tub option, but it sounds really smart to reuse the water like that!
December 12th, 2008 at 1:49 am
@papu,
Maybe this feeling is something special that Japanese people have. It was very fresh for me to read how others would think about this style of bathing, because I found many people are just OK with shower. And, I was way too addicted to bathing, when compared internationally. But when I look at comments from people who now or used to live in Japan, they seem to feel that bathing in a tub means something.
Thanks for your comment!
@Lisa,
Just as I mentioned above, it was very interesting for me to learn how you (who used to live in Japan) would feel about bathing in a tub. I think that most of people are just fine with shower, and you used to be so, didn’t you? In that sense, I’d be happy with shower if only I didn’t know this bathing style!
September 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I've always wondered this… but aren't you terribly cold washing outside of the bath? Do you have to rush because you're cold? And how do you wash and rinse your hair outside of the bath?
September 8th, 2009 at 12:13 am
No, not at all. Why? Because the bathtub allows hot water as much as the height of my shoulders when I just sit inside. The hot water maybe around 38-42 celsius (sorry I don't know fahrenheight) and when I stay there for 20 minutes, for example, my body can be heated so well that I don't feel cold while I wash my hair and body outside the tub.
Can you imagine what I mean?
Because of this, bathing makes our blood circulation better, and so good for our health. I LOVE bathing! Especially winter, I cannot live without it. It's also good for beauty, because of good blood circulation, we can get rid of dropsy and hot humid steam can also open pores.
If you have a chance to experience Japanese styled bath, you will see what I mean.
March 26th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I wanna find more info about this, anybody could?
July 13th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I love the modern Japanese bath. When I first visited my in-laws, I was so very surprised when I saw my MIL reusing the previous night's bathwater for laundry the next morning> haha. In our culture I think soaking in the bathtubs for adults are not quite an everyday affair, more like once or twice a week, just for some pampering and relaxing time. Afternoon baths are best. Most countries in Asia don't bathe inside the tub. I think it's only the west that does that. Correct me if I am wrong.
July 13th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I'm not sure other part of Asia but I'm sure people in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia where the climate is very warm, they only take a shower, and most of them don't even have a bath tub at home. I hear that our bathing culture is originally from Turk and via silk road. It's so interesting to find the roots of the culture. Also our culture is so much related with the one of Jewish. Basically most of our culture is influenced by China and Korea, but I'm not sure if they take a bath just like we do.
Add A Comment