Alo Japan All About Japan
My First Japanese Onsen Experience (Hot Springs)
In Travel

My First Japanese Onsen Experience (Hot Springs)



Exploring the peaceful hot spring town of Zao Onsen in northern Japan and talking about my first time going to a Japanese onsen (hot spring).
Support Gabriel’s videos on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gabrieltraveler
Planning a budget traveling trip? “Gabe’s Guide to Budget Travel” is a guidebook that’s packed with practical travel info. For more info click here: http://amzn.to/2hRlQFi
Or check out “Following My Thumb”, Gabriel’s book of adventure travel stories: http://amzn.to/2EaWk7Q
More books: https://www.amazon.com/Gabriel-Morris/e/B001JS0KOS/
Need gear for your adventures? Visit Gabriel’s Amazon e-store for ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/gabrieltraveler
Want to book a hotel? I recommend this site: https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1724899
Get a Gabriel Traveler t-shirt: https://www.bonfire.com/gabriel-traveler/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrieltraveler
Gabriel’s travel page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabrielTravelerVideos
Join the “Love of Travel” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/224985807515334/
Essays and travel stories: https://medium.com/@gabrieltraveler
Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gabrieltravel

Music during the video (in order):

“Kotojitoro” by Joseph Beg
&
“Cherry Blossom Tree” by Mandala Dreams
&
“Concussion” by Nihoni
&
“You’ve Got Me Falling (Midnight Cycler Remix) (Instrumental Version)” by Blanches
&
“The Road Home” by Joseph Beg

Need some good music for your Youtube videos? I use and recommend Epidemic Sound. To get a free 30-day trial click here: http://share.epidemicsound.com/sSvpV

Video created by Gabriel Morris, who is the owner of all video or photo content. Filmed with a DJI Osmo Action: https://amzn.to/3gSi8rA

**Disclaimer: Gabriel Morris is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, Gabriel earns revenue from qualifying purchases.

Need travel insurance? Here’s the company I use, for adventurous travelers:
https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-insurance?affiliate=Gtravel&subId=weblink&affiliateTrackingId=c80d8993ff184026ab81b7a78a1fbc72&utm_source=Gtravel&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Affiliate&utm_content=weblink

Gabriel is a world traveler and travel writer who has been adventuring around the world off and on since his first trip to Europe in the summer of 1990 when he was 18 years old. He is author of “Gabe’s Guide to Budget Travel”, “Following My Thumb” and several other books available on Amazon.com and elsewhere.

Thanks a lot for watching and safe journeys!

33 Comments

  7. Sander Fitzwilliam

    Perhaps useful to know: You can be refused in onsen when you have tattoos. In Japan, tattoos are traditionally associated with crime. Now ive read that in recent years Japan has become more relaxed regarding foreigners, because people are not stupid and understand that in the west tattoos are quite normal, so you might be ok. Just know that its always a possibility that you are kindly requested to leave. My advice is to cover up any you might have as much as possible to avoid any awkward situations.

  9. David James

    The shrubs along the trail look like rhododendrons, a popular garden plant here in the UK. I imagine that they'd be spectacular in spring when they're in flower.

  10. M F

    Thank you for taking us to places some of us will never be able to go to. I'm sure in my life, I will never be able to be on top of the mountain in Japan. So cool.

  11. Japan trip

    I was surprised that Zao Kogen was covered with snow at this time. Soak in the hot springs and warm yourself up.

  12. wanderer

    If you need more info on many other onsen check Bapa Shota chanel they travel in RV acros Japan

  13. Gold Shine

    Gabriel watch this Japan Railway Pass, Japan on budget…Maybe you need JR Pass???
    Or watch this Suica card Japan.What is the best card for Tourist

  15. coconutpanda

    Interesting thing about the eyeglasses on the sign-post. If you come across a lost/dropped item like a glove, hat or in this case eyeglasses, it's common for Japanese people to place the item somewhere nearby where it will be noticed so the person who lost it will see it if they return to the area.

  16. Jeremy Brahm

    Food in rural ryokan is usually included for both dinner and breakfast. The meals are usually a little higher end than you would expect. Meaning you might get some higher end meat or fish for dinner (also multiple courses).

  17. Jeremy Brahm

    Onsen as a term is hot spring. If you stay in some hot spring locations, there are a number of private hotels that have their own hot springs. Some of them have decided to give rooms their own private onsen in your room. Onsen that are shared are separated by sex. However, if you have a private one in your room you can have a bath with your significant other. Whereas in a shared on you cannot.

  18. Jeremy Brahm

    Also with onsen you have to watch if you have tattoos. Even small ones are frowned upon in onsen as in Japan as tattoos are often thought of with the Japanese mafia or yakuza. Hence having your own private bath May be best for those with tattoos

  19. L B

    Many houses and hotels including ryokans tap into the volcanic steam to heat up their bathtubs, that’s what you get in your ryokan, some onsen’s are mixed, and some public baths in Japan even electrify the water to give mild shocks

  20. km mash

    Hi Gabriel, Welcome back. Someone mentioned about the admission fee ' didn't he ? I'll show you Japanese Kanji number. 一 is one. 二 is two. 三 is three. 四 is four. If the admission fee is eleven hundreds yen, nobody comes. There are a thousand Onsen in Japan. I hope you will recover from the fatigue of your long journey. I always enjoy your movie. Thank you.

  21. Ma sa

    日本に住むためには日本語覚えないとかなりきついやろね。
    まぁ大半の人が観光目的やけど

  23. l

    6:57 the public bath costs you (adult) $1.37 (200yen) and kids $0.68(100yen) per person, not 8 dollars. anyway a nice video for even a Japanese thank you .

  24. SC

    Any bed bug experiences of your world travels of staying in different beds to tell?

  27. Neal Cowan

    You need to pay a visit to a "Rotenburo", dude.

    In Japan, a "rotenburo: is an OUTDOOR hot spring. Sometimes the setting is artificial. Other times more natural. Either case far superior, in my estimation, to a typical onsen.

    By the way, I happened to have resided in Japan for 5 years straight. The last 2 years of which were up in Hokkaido.

  28. Loren Henmi

    you have to be careful roaming around in the woods….wild feral pigs and huge brown bears

    night time is more dangerous

  30. ああ

    I am Japanese, but I would like to visit such a traditional hot spring in the countryside. I also heard that many hot spring towns used to be prosperous, but many of them have closed due to lack of successors.

Write A Comment