Foreign Student (hereinafter, FS): Onsen (hot springs) are one of Japan’s biggest tourist attractions.
How many onsen are there in Japan?
Teacher (hereinafter, T): As a volcanic seam lies under the Japan archipelago, there are approximately 3,000 onsen.
These days boring technology has advanced so much that it’s said that if you dig to a depth of approximately 1,500 meters, you’ll hit a hot spring.
Because of this one can now enjoy onsen in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka.
Each region has an onsen of nationwide renown, with each having its own unique ambiance.
FS: What are their individual characteristics?
T: The color, scent and water temperature differ depending on the onsen.
The various colors include milky white, blue, green, and transparent.
In addition, each onsen has its own benefits.
These differ according to the spring water. Some waters are even drinkable.
FS: You enter an onsen naked. Is that correct?
T: You might be embarrassed at first as you’re with total strangers.
However, once you get used to it, you won’t mind anymore.
Though mixed bathing is available, generally men and women bathe separately.
Custom dictates that you wash your body before getting into an onsen.
FS: Is there something special about hot spring ryokan?
T: Of course, each ryokan has its own hot spring, many of their tubs are made of materials such as rock or Japanese cypress that create a sense of natural harmony.
Bathtubs can be indoors or outdoors with a view of the sea, mountains, or a Japanese garden.
Yukata are laid out in guest’s rooms.
Once you change into one, you’ll feel much more relaxed.
FS: I’ve heard that meals are included at onsen ryokan.
Is this correct?
T: Along with its onsen, dishes cooked with locally sourced seasonal ingredients are part and parcel of a ryokan’s charm.
Unlike hotels, ryokan tend to be unique, with each resembling a Japanese style small theme park.
However, in line with the development of transport networks, more and more ryokan offer the use of their onsen without lodging or meals included in the price, for those on day trips.
Furthermore, in big onsen resorts such as Kusatsu in Gunma Prefecture and Beppu in Oita Prefecture, there are public onsen that you can use free of charge or for a very low fee.
FS: There are so called “one day onsen” in urban areas or along major highways.
What are they?
T: They have many different types of bathtubs and because admission costs around 1,000 yen, here it’s possible to get a taste of the onsen experience for a reasonable price.
Onsen are defined according to their water temperature and composition.
Therefore, there are facilities that are not officially onsen.
Up until a few decades ago, there were public baths called sentou everywhere.
They’ve fallen out of use because most houses have their own baths these days, so more and more public baths have been converted into one day onsen.
留学生
ryuugakusei
foreign student
(以後、留):
igo, ryuu
hereinafter FS
温泉は
onnsenn ha
hot springs
日本観光の
nihonn kannkou no
Japan’s tourist <sightseeing>
最も大きな
mottomo ookina
biggest
温泉地は
onnsennchi ha
onsen
あるのですか。
arunodesuka.
are there ?
(以後、先):
igo, senn
hereinafter T
日本列島
nihonn retto
the Japan archipelago
の地下には
no chika niha
under
火山層が
kazannsou ga
(a) volcanic seam
3,000の
sannzenn no
three thousand
近年は
kinnnennha
these days
掘削技術が
kussaku gijyutsu ga
boring technology
進み、
susumi,
has advanced (that)
1,500メートル
senngohyaku me-toru
one thousand five hundred meters
掘れば
horeba
if (you) dig (to a depth of)
温泉は
onnsenn ha
(a) hot spring
出てくる
dete kuru
(you)’ll hit
いわれます。
iware masu.
it’s said
そのため、
sonotame,
because of this
楽しめるようになりました。
tanoshimeru you ni narimashita.
(one) can now enjoy
各地には
kakuchi niha
each region
全国的に
zennkokuteki ni
nationwide
温泉地があり
onnsennchi ga ari
(an) onsen (of) with
それぞれ
sorezore
each (having)
独特の趣が
dokutoku no omomuki ga
(its) own unique ambiance
特徴が
tokuchou ga
individual characteristics
あるのですか。
aruno desuka.
are their?
水温が
suionn ga
water temperature
異なります。
kotonari masu.
differ
乳白色、
nyuuhakushoku,
milky white
透明
toumei
and transparent
さまざまです。
samazama desu.
various
各温泉には
kakuonnsenn niha
each onsen
温泉
onnsenn
(the) spring water
異なります
kotonarimasu
differ
温泉もあります。
onnsenn mo arimasu.
some waters are even
温泉には
onnsenn niha
(an) onsen
ですよね?
desu yo ne
is that correct?
見知らぬ人たち
mishiranu hito tachi
total strangers
かもしれません。
kamo shiremasenn.
it might be
慣れれば
narereba
once you get used to it
気になりません。
kini narimasenn.
(you) won’t mind (anymore)
混浴の温泉も
konnyoku no onnsenn mo
mixed bathing
男女別々が
dannjyo betubetsu ga
men and women
一般的
ippannteki
separately generally
体を
karada wo
(your) body
温泉に
onnsenn ni
(an) onsen
入るの
hairu no
getting into
エチケットです。
echiketto desu.
custom dictates
温泉地の
onnsennchi no
hot spring
何か特別なものが
nanika tokubetsu na mono ga
something special
あるのですか。
aruno desuka.
is there?
各旅館には
ryokann niha
each ryokan
温泉が
onnsenn ga
hot spring
湯船は
yubune ha
(their) tubs
自然と調和するように
shizenn to chouwa suru youni
(that) create (a) sense of natural harmony
桧
hinoki
Japanese cypress
造られています。
tsukurarete imasu.
are made
日本庭園が
nihonn teienn ga
(a) Japanese garden
眺められたりします。
nagameraretari shimasu.
can be with a view of
用意されています。
youi sarete imasu.
are laid out
着替えると
kigaeru to
(once) you change into (one)
くつろげます。
kutsuroge masu.
(you)’ll feel relaxed
温泉地の旅館は
onnsennchi no ryokann ha
(at) onsen ryokan
食事つきと
shokuji tsuki to
meals are included
聞きました
kikimashita
I’ve heard (that)
そうなのですか。
sou nanodesu ka.
(as) is this correct ?
その土地でとれる
sono tochi de toreru
with locally sourced
旬の食材を
shunn no shokuzai wo
seasonal ingredients
使用した
shiyou shita
cooked <used>
旅館の
ryokann no
ryokan’s
大きな魅力の一つです。
ookina miryoku no hitotsu desu.
are part and parcel of a charm
ホテルと異なり
hoteru to kotonari
hotels unlike
個性的で、
koseiteki de,
(tend to be) unique
一軒一軒が
ikkenn ikkenn ga
with each
和のテーマパーク
wa no te-ma pa-ku
(a) Japanese style theme park
のようです。
no youdesu.
resembling
交通網
koutsuumou
transport networks
発達
hattatsu
(the) development
日帰りできるようになった
higaeri dekiru you ni natta
for (those) on day trips
温泉地
onnsennchi
[onsen resorts]
食事を
shokuji wo
meals (included in the price)
温泉
onnsenn
(their) onsen
利用できる
riyou dekiru
(the) use of
増えました。
fuemashita.
offer more and more
群馬県
gunnmakenn
Gunma Prefecture
大分県
ooitakenn
Oita Prefecture
温泉地
onnsennchi
onsen resorts
無料、
muryou,
(you can use) free of charge
低価格
teikakaku
(a) very low fee
利用できる
riyou dekiru
[can be used]
公衆温泉が
koushuu onnsenn ga
public onsen (that)
都心
toshinn
(in) urban areas
街道沿いには、
kaidou zoi niha,
along major highways
「日帰り温泉」が
higaeri onnsenn ga
one day onsen
ありますが、
arimasu ga,
there are
どのようなものですか。
donoyouna mono desu ka.
are they?
さまざまな種類
samazama na shurui
many different types
入場料が
nyuujyuoryou ga
admission
千円
sennenn
one thousand yen
ほどです
hodo desu
around costs
気軽に
kigaru ni
for a reasonable price
温泉気分を
onnsenn kibunn wo
a taste of (the) onsen experience
味わうことができます。
ajiwau koto ga deki masu.
(here it)’s possible to get
水温
suionn
their water temperature
定義されます。
teigi sare masu.
are defined
温泉でない
onnsenn denai
(that) are not officially onsen
浴場施設も
yokujyou shisetsu mo
[bath] facilities
昔は
mukashi ha
up until a few decades ago
公衆浴場が
koushuu yokujyou ga
public baths
いたるところに
itaru tokoro ni
everywhere
ありました。
arimashita.
their were
ほとんどの家に
hotonndo no ie ni
most houses
風呂が
furo ga
(their own) baths
利用客が減り
riyoukyaku ga heri
(they)’ve fallen out <decrease> of use so
日帰り温泉
higaeri onnsenn
one day onsen
改造する
kaizou suru
have been converted
公衆浴場が
koushuu yokujyou ga
public baths
増えました。
fue mashita.
more and more