If you ever come to Japan, there is one thing I really want you to experience.
Go to an onsen.
Not because I think one bath will magically transform your skin.
But because hot springs are such a natural part of Japanese life, and I think they represent something important about the way we think about beauty in Japan.
I am Japanese, I work as an esthetician in Osaka, and I genuinely love onsen.
For me, going to a hot spring is not only about bathing.
It is about switching off.
Bathing Is Part of Everyday Life in Japan
Taking a bath is a very ordinary part of life in Japan.
Of course, everyone has different habits, but for many Japanese people, bathing is not simply a way to wash the body.
We wash first, and then we soak in the bathtub.
Especially at night, that time in the bath can feel like the end of the day.
You get into warm water.
Your body relaxes.
Your mind becomes quieter.
And for a little while, you do nothing.
I think this is something that is easy to overlook when we talk about Japanese beauty.
J-Beauty is often introduced through products — Japanese lotion, cleansing, sunscreen or sheet masks.
But beauty is not created by skincare products alone.
How we rest is also part of how we care for ourselves.
If you are new to Japanese beauty, you can start with my guide: What Is J-Beauty? A Japanese Esthetician’s Guide to Japanese Skincare.
Japanese People Really Love Onsen
Then there is onsen.
Hot spring trips are completely normal in Japan.
We go with family.
With friends.
As couples.
Sometimes just for the day.
There are hot springs all over Japan, so depending on where you travel, it is often surprisingly easy to find one.
And honestly, I think you are missing part of Japan if you visit without experiencing one.
There is something special about getting away from your normal life, taking off your clothes, stepping into naturally hot water and simply sitting there.
No phone.
No work.
Nothing to do.
Just warm water and time.
CHIO FIELD NOTE
For me, this is one of the best parts of onsen.
When I am sitting in hot water with nothing else to do, my mind finally stops moving so fast.
I feel lighter when I leave.
That feeling of being able to reset yourself is one of the reasons I love hot springs so much.
Sometimes Beautiful Skin Needs Less Stress, Not More Skincare
As an esthetician, I spend a lot of time thinking about skin.
And one thing I have learned is that skin does not exist separately from the rest of us.
When we are tired, stressed and constantly busy, it can show.
So when I think about onsen and beautiful skin, I do not only think about the minerals in the water.
Of course, Japan has many hot springs known as bihada no yu, which means something close to “beautiful-skin hot springs.”
I love those too.
But I also think there is another kind of beauty benefit that is much simpler.
You relax.
You breathe.
You stop thinking about work for a while.
You feel refreshed.
Sometimes our skin also needs us to stop doing things to it and simply give ourselves time to recover.
To me, that is also part of J-Beauty.
If You Visit Japan, Look for a “Bihada no Yu”
If you are traveling around Japan, you will probably come across onsen without trying very hard.
But if you have time, go a little farther and look for a place known as a bihada no yu.
Different hot springs have different types of water, and the way your skin feels afterward can be surprisingly different.
Some leave the skin feeling smooth.
Some feel almost silky while you are still in the water.
You do not need to understand every mineral written on the onsen information board.
Just experience it.
That is probably the most Japanese way to enjoy it anyway.
My Personal Favorite: Hotel Urashima in Wakayama
If I had to recommend one place personally, one of my favorites is Hotel Urashima in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama.
There is a hot spring inside a huge natural cave, and this is the one I especially love.
You soak inside the cave while looking out toward the sea.
The sound of the waves.
The rocks.
The steam.
The sea in front of you.
It does not feel like an ordinary hotel bath at all.
It feels completely removed from everyday life.
Hotel Urashima itself is a very large hotel, and there are several hot springs inside, so you can enjoy moving around the hotel and trying different baths.
For me, this is exactly the kind of place where onsen, Japanese atmosphere and beauty come together.
Your skin feels good.
Your body feels good.
But more than anything, your head feels clear.
That feeling is one of the reasons I keep wanting to go back.
This Is Also J-Beauty to Me
When people outside Japan hear the word J-Beauty, they often imagine beautiful bottles and Japanese skincare products.
I love skincare, of course.
It is my work.
But Japanese beauty is bigger than what we put on our faces.
Taking a bath at the end of the day.
Warming the body.
Taking time away from stress.
Going to an onsen and doing absolutely nothing.
These small habits are also part of the way we care for ourselves.
And sometimes, beautiful skin starts there.
This idea also connects with the simple habits I wrote about in Japanese Skincare Routine: What We Actually Do in Japan.
And if you want to understand why hydration is such a natural part of Japanese skincare, read What Is Japanese Lotion? Why Hydration Comes First in J-Beauty.
So if you come to Japan:
Eat good Japanese food.
Walk around our cities.
Visit the temples and shrines.
But please make time for an onsen too.
And if you can go a little farther for a beautiful-skin hot spring? Even better.
ARIGATO for reading.
CHIO
Skin, the Japanese Way
Esthetician in Osaka, Japan
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