Drinking milk is practiced after bathing in onsen They created a beverage called "coffee milk" which took off in the 1940s. Another version talks about another dairy producer who had wanted to sell milk but decided to do so at bathhouses, where refrigerators could be commonly found, and the practice was born.
The ritual of drinking milk after Onsen bathing developed in Japan over fifty years ago, when the majority of the population were using Sento or Onsen facilities instead of home baths. After bathing, rehydration is not only necessary, but an enjoyable part of the Onsen experience.
Onsen food and drink
After your bath, you can try the Japanese cold milk after a hot bath. Take a sip of furutsu gyuunyuu (fruit milk) or koohii gyuunyuu (coffee milk) and try some onsen tamago (eggs slow-boiled in onsen water and steam).
A Little Taste Of Luxury
Milk had already been established in Japan as a rich source of nutrients. And now that it was available at sento, it became the perfect way to rehydrate and replenish the body after bathing.
The shortest answer to this, based on research on medical publications and articles in Japanese, doctors would in general not encourage you to go into an onsen while on your period. The most common reasons are that: It's unsanitary and disrespectful toward other people.
The frequency of bathing shall be at most 1-2 times per day, and when people get used to Onsen, they can enjoy 2-3 times per day. Duration of bathing depends on the temperatures of water, but generally it shall be around 3-10 minutes at one time, and can be extended to 15-20 minutes if you get used to it.
Refreshing “cider” is also a popular drink you will find at hot springs. For many people cider comes to mind when they think of hot springs! “After soaking in a hot spring I like to have a refreshing carbonated drink, especially cider,” said a man in his twenties.
Although onsen etiquette does not prohibit drinking alcohol before entering a hot spring, let alone during the experience, it can be hazardous; consuming spirits before entering a hot spring—let alone during the experience—increases the risk of thrombosis.
Allow yourself to soak and sweat in the bath. I recommend 20-30 minutes, taking sips from your water bottle throughout the process. When you get out of the tub, wrap yourself in a robe or towel, and get under some blankets. This will continue the detoxification process for about 10 minutes.
Take a shower before entering the baths. If you are at a hot spring, shampoo, body wash and towels will be provided, but if you are at a public bath, you need to rent or bring your own. Each shower has a stool and bucket. Take a seat, and pour hot water over yourself using the bucket.
However, hot water above 42 Celsius (109F) causes dry skin and also high blood pressure, so complete bathing for 10 minutes with a half-body bath method. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, better avoid taking a hot bath at 42 Celsius (109F) and higher.
Most onsen will not tell you explicitly that you cannot use the bath on your period. Some people will enter the bath with a tampon, but the topic is often debated. If you're worried, maybe sit this one out.
You won't find it written on the official list of healing effects, but some say that onsen can help stimulate metabolism and burn calories. Entering onsen of 42°C for about 10 minutes burns 70 to 80 calories which is only a little less than jogging for 10 minutes.
Onsen etiquette
It's best not to eat before bathing in the onsen, but you need to drink a lot of water before and after your onsen bath. Keep your bath to a minimum. Staying too long may cause dehydration.
It is recommended that you do not shower after bathing in an onsen, as rinsing your body will weaken the minerals' healing effects. However, taking a quick cold shower or bath upon leaving the bath, which has its own health benefits, has also been recommended.
Do NOT bathe in an onsen if you are at the active stage of a disease (especially if you have a fever); Onsen bathing imposes a large burden on your body, so avoid bathing in an onsen when you are weak and tired as the symptoms may become worse.
This prejudice is most clear in public bathing facilities, where tattoos are generally still forbidden, although there is no official ban on them.
Some hot springs may contain germs that may be harmful if ingested. In fact, onsen establishments must apply for permission to be recognized as drinkable onsen water. Also, because the minerals are directly entering your body, drinkable onsen may aggravate certain illnesses and health conditions.
For good clean fun, hit the shower before you soak! Relaxing hot springs pools feel like a luxurious bathtub soak. But they're not bathtubs. That's why you need to take a shower before you soak.
When you're suffering from the flu, it is natural to drink warm water during cold weather. But you can combine it with brandy as well. A soothing brandy with hot water may provide much-needed comfort. Its antimicrobial qualities aid in the treatment of throat irritation and other infections.
Many people report feeling dizzy or nauseous after their first few times after going to an onsen, and this is usually because of dehydration or overheating from staying in too long.
Inside the Onsen room, you will notice “cleaning stations” along the walls with mirrors, showers and buckets. This is the washing area. Choose a low stool and rinse it off before sitting down. With your small towel, thoroughly wash your entire body, including your hair, using the products provided.
High water temperature or long-time bathing in hot springs may result in insufficient blood supply, which may lead to hypoglycemia and blood pressure fluctuations, causing fainting.