Components

Point of interest: 温泉(おんせん)

POI
温泉(おんせん)  Japanese hot springs
389 words
The
おんせん
温泉
are one of the most delightful parts of the Japanese experience. A hot spring visit, and its domestic counterpart the お
ふろ
風呂
(bath), are a quintessential feature of daily Japanese life. A trip to Japan would not be complete without a stay in one of the hundreds of hot spring towns.
Since
おんせん
温泉
are such a central custom, there are many traditions and of course associated vocabulary. Some of the key terms to know include:
0
noun
spa; hot spring; onsen
(click the word for examples and links)
- an onsen, literally a 'hot spring'
1
noun
bath-house; public bath
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
- a public bath house, found in almost every Japanese town
0
noun
open air bath; rotemburo  (yojijukugo)
(click the word for examples and links)
- an outdoor hot spring, often with a spectacular view
1
noun
1. hot water  (see also: )
2. hot bath; hot spring
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
- hot water; this kanji will be drawn on the entrance to a hot spring, and usually on the curtains marking the entrance to the changing rooms, usually accompanied by
だん
(male) or
じょ
(female)
0
mixed bathing
(click the word for examples and links)
- unisex hot springs (literally 'mixed bathing'). While communal hot springs are much rarer than their gender-specific counterparts, it is worth watching for these kanji to avoid surprises!
0
noun
yukata (light cotton kimono worn in the summer or used as a bathrobe)  (see also: 湯帷子)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, examples and links)
- a type of dressing gown worn to walk around a hot spring town or inside a bath house
1
noun
(hand) towel
(click the word for examples and links)
- a towel, to be wrapped around the waist while walking around
1 2
noun
slipper; slippers
(click the word for examples and links)
- slippers, for use while walking around indoors
0
Most common form: 石けん
noun
soap
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
- soap, which must be applied while showering before entering the hot spring (a crucial point of onsen etiquette!)
0
noun
1. geta; Japanese wooden clogs
2. turn (in set-type proofing); upside-down character  (see also: 伏せ字; later printed as 〓, resembling the teeth of a geta)
(click the word for useful expressions, examples and links)
- geta, a type of wooden slipper customarily worn outside in hot spring resorts. Walking in them takes some practice!
noun
denkiburo; bath which includes an electric current, allegedly for health reasons
(click the word for examples and links)
- a type of hot water bath with an electric current flowing through it. It can be quite a shock in more ways than one!
0 5
noun
bath heated directly from beneath, with a floating wooden lid on which the bather sits causing it to sink (named after the robber Goemon Ishikawa, who was boiled to death in one)
(click the word for examples and links)
- a cold water bath, often used as a 'refresher' between sampling hot baths of various temperatures
0
noun
ryokan; Japanese-style lodging, usu. professionally-run  (see also: 民宿)
(click the word for examples and links)
- a traditional Japanese inn
0
noun
pension; guesthouse; bed and breakfast; private home providing lodging for travelers (travellers)
(click the word for examples and links)
- a less formal and cheaper alternative to a ryokan
3
noun
toilet; restroom; lavatory; bathroom
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
- literally 'hand washing room', but used as the polite word for restroom / toilet
For advanced hot spring connoisseurs, there are in fact three types of hot spring:
noun
pumped hot spring  (see also: 掘削自噴, 自然湧出)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
dug hot spring  (see also: 動力揚湯, 自然湧出)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
spontaneously erupting hot spring  (see also: 動力揚湯, 掘削自噴)
(click the word for examples and links)
Thanks to Kanshudo user Mark Kennedy, a resident of Oita in Kyushu, for pointing out these terms. Apparently people in Oita are quite particular about this distinction! For more on life in Japan by Mark see his blog Real Gaijin.

Kanji used in this point of interest

オン   あたた warm, genial   あたたかい warm   あたたまる to get warm   あたためる to heat   
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セン   いずみ spring   
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フ   フウ   かぜ wind   かざ-    
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リョ   ロ    spine   
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セン   ぜに money, coins   
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トウ   ゆ hot water   
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ロ   ロウ    public, open   つゆ dew   
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テン   あめ    あま- heaven   
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ダン   ナン   おとこ male, man   
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ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
コン   まぜる to mix   まざる    まじる to be mixed   こ to be crowded   
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ヨク   あびる to shower, to bask in   あびせる to pour on   
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イ   ころも clothes   
セキ   シャク   コク   いし stone   
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ケン    saltiness   
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カ   ゲ   した below, under   しも bottom part   もと under (influence)   さげる to lower, to reduce   さがる to be lowered   くだ to descend   くだ to judge   くださる to give   おろす to drop off (passenger)   おりる to get off (train)   
ダ    pack horse; worthless, burdensome   
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デン    electricity   
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キ   ケ    spirit   
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ゴ   いつ-    いつ five   
ウ   ユウ   みぎ right   
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エイ    defense   
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モン   かど gate   
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リョ   たび trip   
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カン    building   やかた castle, mansion   
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ミン   たみ people   
宿
シュク   inn   やど an inn   やど to lodge   やど to give lodgings   
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シュ   hand   て    た-    
セン   あら to wash   
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