EY Y03 L04 Hot Springs

  1. There are many types of hot spring. Name one. Which type is your favourite? Why?
  2. There are many rules for taking a shared hot bath in Japan. Explain one.
  3. There are many places in Japan that are famous for their hot springs. Name one. What kind of hot springs do they have there?
  4. Have you ever been there? If yes, how was it? Why? If no, would you like to go? Why?
  5. Does the prefecture where you live have hot springs? If yes, where is the nearest one? Which area or areas in your prefecture are the most famous? Are they good hot springs? Why? If no, what does your prefecture offer domestic tourists?
  6. It is claimed that bathing in hot springs can remedy all sorts of ailments and illnesses. Tell us about one therapeutic quality you have heard hot springs have. Do you believe bathing in hot sulphuric water can heal you? Why?

Question 1

One thermal spring that most Japanese people are familiar with is the sulfur hot spring. I have never been to one before so I can't say that I like one over the other.

Question 2

An important rule that pretty much everyone knows in Japan is to take a shower before entering a shared hot bath. Hygiene is of importance to everyone so it is imperative that one should be clean from head to toe before entering a hot bath.

Question 3

The Arima Onsen in Hyōgo prefecture seems to be very popular among locals and international travelers. Arima hot spring has two main types of water concentration, golden and silver. Golden being high in iron and silver in radium.

Question 4

I have not been to any hot springs in Japan. I would like to go just for the sake of experience but I prefer to go to a private one rather than a shared one.

Question 5

Kyōto has a lot of hot springs. One that is particularly famous is Kurama Onsen. It is pretty far from where I live but even tourists visit it multiple times during their trip to Kyōto.

Question 6

I have heard that bathing in hot springs can alleviate back and muscle pains. I personally have no experience regarding this so I can't really say from experience that it works. However, scientists have proven that different types of minerals are good for your body and the action of bathing in itself is ritualistic in some cultures.

Tough Vocabulary