The art of Onsen-ing

One thing that i have come to love while here is being able to go to an onsen when i have the time.

For those of you who don't know what an onsen is it's: natural hot spring's in Japanese. Japan being an island and formed by volcanos there are onsen to be found throughout the country.
And it's not like the hot springs spa places back home.
There are outdoor and indoor onsens.
most importantly you must be naked to partake in these wonderful onsens.

There are set guideline that one must follow when you go to an onsen.
You must bring a change of clothes or at least underwear and you MUST bring your own towel and a small one for you hair (you can take this one w/you into the onsen).
The area's are separated into two: male and female.
You go to the bathroom if you need to, pick a basket or locker to put your stuff in and take off all your clothes. Leave your towel on top of everything else for easy access when you come out.
Wash your face first if you have make-up.

Open the sliding doors and walk into the bathing spot. You must shower first before you can go into the onsen bath. Pick a open shower spot, wash your hair and body, rinse. splash some hot onsen water on your self and then walk into the onsen. they usually have the hot water and the not as hot water marked. Put your hair up using the small towel or just tie it up (your not supposed put your hair in the water)
You sit in the water and then relax and talk to others around you (if you want). If there's an outdoor onsen too, you stay in the indoor one for a while before trying the outdoor one.
When you're done soaking in the water and want to come out (you're not supposed to stay in the onsen longer than an hour, some no longer than 30 min) rinse off using the shower and walk out. Dry yourself off and put your clothes back on.

At one of my favorite onsens, there's a cave onsen (the cave enclosure with the coolest of water) a sauna, a normal indoor onsen and an outdoor onsen.
Me and Rebecca try to go at least once a month to that one (she only goes in for 300 yen since Ueno residents get half off...i have to pay 600 yen-_- oh well, it's one of our favorites, she usually buys me a snack to make up for it)

Every time i travel around Japan i check out their onsens...some don't beat the ones we have up here in the boonies of Gunma.