Japanese+Traditional+Bath

Hakone is a very traditional place in Japan. Even the way they bathe is traditional and is probably unusual to most. For one, they bathe in public! This might seem very weird, but to them, it is totally normal. The rest of their bathing traditions aren't as weird to us as bathing in public.

The Japanese people of Hakone don't usually use the same bath tub as you and I may have at home. They use public baths made of hot springs. These hot springs are naturally heated pools of water. These are great for bathing, which people in Japan take advantage of. Ryokan are also available to the people of Hakone. Roykans are places where people can relax and enjoy an authentic Japanese lifestyle. In these places, people take their baths together. They see each other fully naked! If we did that here in America, it would be so wrong and extremely provocative. In Japan, it is normal and a traditional custom.

The people in Hakone don't think anything of publicly bathing in hot springs. They don't think it is odd, or bad, or gross. It is part of their daily lives and is what they know. They are very comfortable with bathing together. Maybe if us Americans went there, they would look at us a little weird if we walked into their public baths.