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Serenity Now


    My Friday afternoon ritual is visiting my local onsen. Something I have never been frugal with is self-care. I believe it has to be a priority, and cannot be negotiated. The only thing that trumps my weekly onsen visit is a vacation!

    Onsen or public baths are deeply rooted in Japanese tradition. Someone explained it to me in simplest terms: first you cleanse your body and then you cleanse your mind.

    Basically you are issued two towels and a locker. You undress-yes this is NO CLOTHES experience-lock up your belongings and take one of the towels into the bathing area.   In the bathing area you bathe hair washing is optional (see poster). After cleaning your body you go into the different hot mineral baths and relax.

    There are several rules you must follow, as you move through the different indoor and outdoor baths. most will have a cold bath and a sauna.  First you must take a shower in the common area.  You are not required to wash you hair, however your body must be clean.  No clothes are bathing suits are allowed in the bathing area.  After showering your hair must be up, and not allowed in the water.  When you walk around you should use your long thin, rectangular usualy about 8 x 24 inches, to cover your body.  It is typical to see women walking with the towels covering their breasts and letting the towels hang down to their hips.  When you enter a bath you wrap the towel on your head.  It is important that the towel never hits the water.  

    My weekly visit takes me about 45-60 minutes. As soon as I step outside and into the outdoor bath I can literally feel the week's stress and fatigue leave my body! I sit there and take in the scenery, notice the seasonal changes in the garden and listen to the water falling into the bath.  
After hopping around to the different hot baths I take a quick dip in the cold bath (24 Celsius) and then 15 mins in the sauna!Afterwards I return to the dressing area, dry off, get dressed and dry my hair.  I take a weekly picture from the outside lookout, and feel totally and completely at peace.   
The perfect ending to a week!
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