I was told you can do mixed gender bathing in hot springs in Japan today. Did they reinstate this after the Meiji Restoration or something?
Actually, I was also told by a German that there is mixed gender bathing in Germany, too.
Not having been to baths in either country I can’t say for sure.
Just had a PM from Cola who says I should check my facts, as he/she is absolutely sure that I’m wrong about Japan, as a simple search on the Internet will show.
So, here:
outdoorjapan.com/onsen/onsen-iwate.html says:
"Osawa Hot Spring
This simple onsen area faces the Toyosawa River and is known for its old-style rotenburo (outdoor baths). You can take an outdoor (mixed) bath …"
"Shidotaira Hot Spring
This hot spring is well-known for a large mixed bath (Sennen Buro)…"
"Geto Hot Spring
Geto Onsen features seven outdoor baths as well as four mixed baths…"
Also, asahi-net.or.jp/~ue3t-cb/index_e/index_e.htm
“Mujina-no-yu is an old hot spring in Tochigi-ken. Mujina-no-yu is mixed bathing. …”
And later, in the pages about Mujina, asahi-net.or.jp/~ue3t-cb/ind … noyu_e.htm
“Young/old men and women were soaking in the hot spring quietly…”
And at prweb.com/releases/2004/4/prweb118362.htm - this dated 14 April 2004
"Mixed-sex bathing is still practiced in some hot spring spas, but not in local public onsen. All resort spas have private baths for couples and families. [Regular TV promotional travel stories on the country
[quote=“shimmers”]
Perhaps Cola could post some relevant URLs.[/quote]
It looks like Cola was wrong. Thanks for the updates.
Sometimes, however, “mixed bathing” just means men and women in same bathing pools with their bathing suits on. I am not sure. Can you show us some pictures? I thought public nudity was a no no in Japan now, but having never been there, I wouldn’t know.
The article said , …and note the words REGULAR TV PROMOTIONAL TRAVEL STORIES …"[Regular TV promotional travel stories on the country
As I said before, I’ve not been to these places, I only checked on the Net as you advised.
You’ve made some good points as to whether there is truly mixed bathing - but I shouldn’t be the one to come up with a picture just to prove it, and certainly have no interest in doing so. In any case, I’ve yet to see a nude bathing facility which openly welcomes cameras.
I’m sure there are some on the Net if they do exist, or perhaps someone who has actually been to Japanese baths/hot springs/whatever can clarify.
As far as I’m concerned, there is some form of mixed bathing in Japan. I won’t be rushing over there just to see for myself, and I’m not asking you to believe me, either.
I would however be interested in knowing about the prohibitions against nude bathing in Japan, so any pictures or URLs you can provide would be most welcome.