日本語한국어English中文

Sixty onsen terms — a dictionary for reading signs, notices and analysis charts

Know the difference between 'gensen kakenagashi', 'kasui' and 'junkan' and you can read water quality. Sixty terms across venues, water, bath areas and fees.

1. Types of venue

TermReadingMeaning
旅館ryokanInn with tatami rooms and meals
湯治場tōjibaCure-bath town for long therapeutic stays; often has self-catering wings
共同浴場kyōdō yokujōLocally run communal bath; roughly the same as sotoyu
外湯sotoyuPublic bath in an onsen town, as opposed to an inn's own 'uchiyu'
日帰り温泉higaeri onsenDay-use bathing facility, no lodging
立ち寄り湯tachiyori-yuDrop-in bathing offered by an inn to non-guests
スーパー銭湯sūpā sentōLarge urban bath complex; not necessarily a hot spring
秘湯hitō'Hidden spring' — a lone inn deep in the mountains
足湯ashiyuFree foot bath
砂湯・蒸し湯sunayu / mushiyuSand bath (Ibusuki), steam bath (Beppu)

2. Reading water quality

TermMeaning
源泉かけ流し gensen kakenagashiSource water flows through once, with no dilution, heating or recirculation. The gold standard
加水 kasuiWater added to cool the source. Necessary where it's too hot
加温 kaonBoiler-heated. Necessary where the source is lukewarm
循環（ろ過） junkanFiltered and recirculated; usually chlorinated
消毒 shōdokuDisinfection (chlorine etc.); legally required for recirculated water
湧出量 yūshutsuryōLitres per minute. More means fresher
泉温 sen'onSource temperature. Legally 'onsen' if ≥25°C or meets mineral thresholds
pH≤2 strongly acidic (Kusatsu, Tamagawa); ≥8.5 alkaline ('beauty baths')
にごり湯 nigoriyuCloudy water — white, brown, green. Typical of sulfur and iron springs
湯の花 yunohanaMineral flakes floating in the water. Not dirt
泉質名Spring types: simple / chloride / bicarbonate / sulfate / sulfur / acidic / iron / carbon-dioxide / radioactive / iodine
適応症・禁忌症Conditions it's said to help / conditions that rule out bathing
美肌の湯 bihada-no-yu'Beautiful-skin water' — usually bicarbonate, alkaline simple or sulfate springs
温泉分析書Analysis chart, legally displayed in the changing room; lists everything above

3. Words you'll see in the bath area

TermMeaning
男湯・女湯Men's (男 / 殿, blue curtain) and women's (女 / 姫, red curtain). Watch for daily swaps
脱衣所 datsuijoChanging room
洗い場 araibaSeated washing area; karan = tap
かけ湯 kakeyuRinsing yourself before entering
内湯・露天風呂・野天風呂Indoor / open-air / fully exposed outdoor bath
貸切風呂・家族風呂Private bath reserved for one party
客室露天Open-air bath attached to a guest room
湯浴み着 yuamigiBathing wear for mixed baths
混浴 kon'yokuMixed-sex bath
打たせ湯 utaseyuWater falling from above onto the shoulders
寝湯 neyuShallow bath for lying down
壺湯 tsuboyuSingle-person ceramic tub
サウナ・水風呂・外気浴Sauna, cold plunge, outdoor rest — the 'totonou' trio
岩盤浴 ganban'yokuLying on heated stone slabs, clothed
清掃中・入替中Cleaning / changeover — closed
女性専用時間Women-only hours in a mixed bath

4. Fees and procedures

TermMeaning
入浴料 nyūyokuryōAdmission: adult / child (primary school) / infant
入湯税 nyūtōzeiBathing tax, about ¥150 per person per night, added to lodging bills
タオルセットFace towel plus bath towel, rented or sold
手ぶらセット'Empty-handed set' — admission with towels and amenities
湯めぐり手形 yumeguri tegataPass valid at several baths or inns
回数券 kaisūkenBook of 10–11 discounted tickets
券売機Ticket vending machine; ¥1,000 notes and coins
受付 uketsukeReception (also 'bandai'); you get a key and return it on leaving
下足箱 gesokubakoLockable shoe box, often ¥100 refundable
一泊二食 ippaku nishokuOne night with dinner and breakfast
素泊まり sudomariRoom only, no meals
チェックイン15:00・アウト10:00Standard ryokan times
日帰りプランDay plan: lunch, bath and room rest
定休日 teikyūbiRegular closing day; 不定休 = irregular
臨時休業 rinji kyūgyōUnscheduled closure — phone ahead