Skip to content
safa·yafa

Onsen

Slow down, settle into the water, and find the words for a restorative soak.

N5 · Beginner

Everyday words and customs.

N5 Reading · 10 lines

温泉とは

What is an onsen?

Discover hot spring water, outdoor baths, and a few bathing customs.

Read lesson
N5 Dialogue · 10 lines

温泉での会話

Conversation at an onsen

Ask about towels, opening hours, and the temperature of the bath.

Read conversation
N5 Illustrated · 9 steps

はじめての温泉

Your first onsen visit

Follow nine steps of an onsen visit with illustrations and spoken Japanese.

Start lesson
N5 Manners · 10 lines

温泉のルールとマナー

Onsen rules and manners

Learn the customs for washing, towels, and enjoying the bath respectfully.

Read guide
N5 Reading · 10 lines

温泉に入ったあとにすること

Things to do after an onsen bath

Find out how to dry off, get dressed, and unwind after a bath.

Read lesson
N5 Kanji guide · 20 lines

湯 Kanji

Hot water, baths, and everyday words

Explore 湯 through words and sentences about hot water, steam, and baths.

Explore kanji

N5 Listening practice

Audio lessons: Guided conversation

6 lessons 18 useful phrases

Open playlist

Choose a lesson

3 phrases each

  1. 初めての温泉

    Your first onsen

    Say it’s your first visit and ask for a little guidance.

    2:51

  2. 日帰り入浴

    Day-use bathing

    Ask about day-use bathing, say it’s just you, and check the price.

    3:06

  3. お風呂と脱衣所

    Finding the bath and changing room

    Ask where to go and politely get someone’s attention.

    3:01

  4. タオルとロッカー

    Towels and lockers

    Borrow a towel, find a locker, and ask how things work.

    2:51

  5. 入る前に

    Before you get in

    Wash first, rinse off, and keep your towel out of the bath.

    2:41

  6. お湯の温度

    Talking about the water

    Say the water is hot, just right, or a little lukewarm.

    2:54

N5 · Speaking

Speaking practice

Listen to your tutor, speak aloud, and watch your words light up.

N5 Lesson 01

営業時間を聞く

Checking opening hours

Ask whether the onsen is open today or tomorrow, and check opening and closing times.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking
N5 Lesson 02

露天風呂に入る

Trying an outdoor bath

Ask about the outdoor bath, check whether you can go in, and enjoy the view.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking
N5 Lesson 03

貸切風呂を予約する

Booking a private bath

Ask about a private bath and make a reservation for two people at three o’clock.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking
N5 Lesson 04

お風呂の設備

Checking bath amenities

Find soap and a hair dryer, identify shampoo, and check whether something is free.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking
N5 Lesson 05

もう一度お願いします

Asking for clarification

Ask someone to repeat, speak slowly, or write it down, then show you understand.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking
N5 Lesson 06

休憩と飲み物

Resting and ordering drinks

Find a place to rest and ask for water or a bottle of coffee milk at a staffed counter.

4 phrases · About 3 min

Start speaking

N4 · Next step

Build confidence with longer readings and practice.

N4 Reading · 4 passages

温泉の種類

Types of onsen baths

Explore indoor, outdoor, and private baths, plus a relaxing foot bath.

Read lesson
N4 Dialogue · 10 lines

温泉での会話

Conversation at an onsen

Find the bath, borrow towels, and ask about opening hours and bathing safely.

Read conversation
N4 Manners · 10 lines

かけ湯

Rinsing before an onsen bath

Learn to rinse before bathing, use a bucket, and avoid splashing others.

Read guide
N4 Picture · 5 paragraphs

温泉の脱衣所

Describe the picture: changing room

Describe a changing room, then compare your Japanese with an N4 example.

Describe the picture
N4 Photo story · 8 scenes

温泉へ行こう。

Let’s go to an onsen.

Explore open-air baths, changing seasons, and onsen towns.

Begin the journey

N4 Destination readings

Explore onsen towns

有名ゆうめいな温泉地おんせんち Famous onsen towns

Map of four famous onsen towns in Japan A schematic map showing the approximate locations of Kusatsu, Hakone, Kinosaki, and Beppu hot spring towns. 1 草津 2 箱根 3 城崎 4 別府
  1. 群馬県 Gunma 草津温泉 Kusatsu Onsen Steaming Yubatake channels and the yumomi tradition.
  2. 神奈川県 Kanagawa 箱根温泉 Hakone Onsen Lake Ashi, Owakudani, and an easy train ride from Tokyo.
  3. 兵庫県 Hyogo 城崎温泉 Kinosaki Onsen Bathhouse hopping in a yukata along a willow-lined river.
  4. 大分県 Oita 別府温泉 Beppu Onsen Eight hot spring areas, rising steam, and the Jigoku Meguri.
Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons; resized, converted to WebP, and cropped for display.

N4 Listening practice

Audio lessons: Listen and solve

6 lessons 22 questions

Open playlist

Choose a lesson

Each scene plays twice

  1. まだ入れますか

    Can I still enter?

    Tell the closing time apart from the last time you can go in.

    2:33

  2. どのお風呂にしますか

    Which bath will she choose?

    Match a guest’s two wishes to the one bath that fits both.

    2:48

  3. まず何をしますか

    What should I do first?

    Follow the staff’s instructions in the right order.

    2:37

  4. タオルを忘れました

    I forgot my towel!

    Work out which towel was bought, which was rented, and what goes back.

    2:41

  5. 貸切風呂の予約

    Booking a private bath

    Catch the final booking time and how long the bath is yours.

    2:27

  6. 温泉のお知らせ

    An announcement at the onsen

    Hear which bath is closed, why, and until what time.

    2:59

Watch onsen videos

Short animated scenes with Japanese subtitles.

N5 Video · 7 lines

熱すぎる！

Too hot!

The water is too hot! Learn ぬるい, かけ湯, and ゆっくり as two bathers ease into an outdoor onsen.

Watch video