Shirihoudai

So bite me!  Mixed onsen are rare, but you can find them.  For those not in the know, onsen are hot springs, and Japan is full of them!  It’s one of the great pleasures and should be on your “to do” list if you visit Japan during the cold seasons.   I’ve been to a few onsen in Gunma-ken, Saitama, Tokyo area and Hakone.  Hakone is definitely the best.  Found a nice list of onsen ryokans in Hakone here. I forget what the name was called but the place we stayed was like log cabins next to a river with an outdoor private onsen that you can reserve for yourself and whomever you wish to partake the hot water with.  Food is usually excellent so don’t be afraid to splurge for the most expensive course.   What can be better than snow falling, great food, tons of beer and sake, and you running naked around a cauldron of boiling volcanic water?

Being surrounded by naked members of the opposite sex, of course!  Granted, naked obachans (grandmas) and ojiichans (grandpas) are the ones with no shame and most likely to be run into, but there are some mixed onsen which cater to the younger crowd.  You just have to know and/or ask the proprietor the average age of their customers.   Which brings me to this story on the Mainichi.

In Aomori-ken (always wanted to visit, but not sure now), they are starting a campaign to STOP men from staring at women at the hot spring!  The nerve of some people! Not talking about the people staring - they paid their money and are entitled to viewing the people around them.  I’m talking about the people who call themselves Konyoku wo Mamoru Kai (Protect Mixed Bathing Association)!  What the hell?  You go to a “mixed” onsen and you should know that your private bits are there for all to see.  As long as the “look but don’t touch” rule is in effect, I don’t see the problem.   Also the “no picture taking” rule should be in effect, although I did bring my camera in to get evidence of the hyjinx that my teachers and myself got into one trip.  Want a picture of my bare ass?  Too bad, not gonna happen!

Anyway, here is the original story on Mainichi.

And here is what you have to look forward to when you get to Sukayu: