JAPAN'S ONSEN CULTURE

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today we head over to Japan and we'll be looking
at the on Sin culture. On Send cultures o n sen.
Its natural hot springs have been used for centuries for relaxation, healing,
and spiritual renewal. Many people are familiar with the tranquil
baths nestled in mountains or by the sea, but fewer
know that some on Sen regions are located in areas
with natural geysers. The word onsen literally means hot spring.

(00:24):
In Japan's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire gives
it abundant geothermal resources, so as rain water seeps into
the ground, it is heated by volcanic activity and then
rises to the surface as thermal springs. These waters are
rich in minerals like sulfur, iron and hydrogen carbonate and
are believed to offer therapeutic benefits for the skin, joints
and circulation. While most onsen tap into underground reservoirs to

(00:47):
fill their baths, some regions are also home to natural geysers.
They're rarer phenomenon in Japan. These guysers are uped with
boiling water and steam and create dramatic displays of nature's power.
Instead of being nearby onsen facilities harnessing the same geothermal
energy and safe and control way for guests to enjoy.
These are too hot for bathing and are treated as

(01:07):
natural monuments instead. One of the most famous regions where
guys in onsen coexists as Bepo or Bepoo, known for
its hells of Beboo. This area features colorful hot springs
and geysas that are primarily for viewing pools of cobalt
blue and blood red and bubbling mud. Some with guys
are like eruptions draw tourists from around the world, and
this is a practice that a lot of Japanese will do,

(01:29):
is go to the onsen to relax. Sometimes people feel
uncomfortable because they have to be naked. A lot of
times they're into these things. Guysas are not used directly
for bathing. They play a symbolic and geological role in
Japan's onsen tradition, but there are regions where you can
enjoy the onsend for that purpose itself. So that's it

(01:54):
for now.