Mixed-sex bathing in Japanese hot springs is popular; Chinese tourists criticized for lack of manners

Mixed-sex bathing has recently become popular again in Japanese hot springs, which is a characteristic of traditional Japanese culture. Some hot spring owners have said that male Chinese tourists always stare at the women visitors during mixed bathing, which is really impolite!

According to reports, in the past, some Japanese hot springs divided bathing times into male and female sessions, then allowed mixed-sex bathing after 9 PM. However, the water supply for hot springs is limited, so some owners decided to ensure high-quality water by reverting to mixed-sex bathing instead of dividing the space awkwardly. Unexpectedly, this retro style was warmly welcomed by Japanese women.

The report cited a message from Japan's Kyodo News: Yu Mizuho, a writer who has visited mixed-sex hot springs both inside and outside Japan, pointed out that "about 5 years ago, there was a trend for secret hot springs (mysterious springs), and action-oriented women who are very particular about water quality have increased. To enjoy high-quality hot springs, mixed-sex bathing became the natural choice."

However, one hot spring owner said, "In Japan, mixed-sex bathing was originally a normal thing, and it is also one of the characteristics of Japanese culture. It was because Japan wanted to become an international power and was influenced by the West that mixed-sex bathing gradually decreased. Now, we have restored mixed-sex bathing at our place. But I think what is truly uncivilized are the male Chinese tourists; they always stare openly at the female visitors during mixed-sex bathing. When entering or leaving the hot spring, they don't know how to use towels to cover themselves properly."

In fact, the Japanese way of bathing evolved from the primitive practice of co-bathing in rivers and lakes to co-bathing in artificial places like baths. Their hot spring bathing differs from the typical Chinese bathing experience, as soap is not used in the bath; people cleanse themselves before entering the water to enjoy the beautifying and health-enhancing effects of the hot spring. Hot spring pools are often located in scenic open-air spots, and the activity is more of a social gathering than just bathing.