5. Don’t get into a bathtub before showering first.
The baths at a traditional Kusatsu Onsen Boun in Japan.
Most Japanese homes have a bathtub that’s often already filled with heated water. These are reserved for having a relaxing soak and not for washing the body. This traditional Japanese bathtub called furo is often square in shape, and it’s smaller yet deeper than a conventional Western tub for this reason. Before slipping into the tub, a thorough scrub is required using a shower or faucet typically located nearby. If visiting a public bath or onsen, the same “shower first” rule is required before entering the communal bath. Other rules apply to the onsen: Bathing suits are not allowed, hair should be tied up to keep it out of the bath water, never let your towel touch the water, and don’t swim in the onsen.