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Onsen 温泉

N5 · Beginner

Everyday words and customs.

N5 Reading · 10 lines

温泉とは

What is an onsen?

Learn what hot spring water is, why onsen are popular, and the customs for bathing at a rotenburo or ryokan.

Read in Japanese
N5 Dialogue · 10 lines

温泉での会話

Conversation at an onsen

A guest asks the staff about towels, opening hours, and the bath temperature in a simple, practical dialogue.

Read in Japanese
N5 Illustrated lesson · 9 steps

はじめての温泉

Your first onsen visit

Practice Japanese for nine steps of an onsen visit, with illustrations, furigana, audio, and optional English explanations.

Read in Japanese
N5 Culture guide · 10 lines

温泉のルールとマナー

Onsen rules and manners

Ten beginner-friendly lines about washing, towels, voices, photos, and enjoying the bath respectfully.

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N5 Reading · 10 lines

温泉に入ったあとにすること

Things to do after an onsen bath

Learn about drying off, getting dressed, having a drink, relaxing, and buying souvenirs after a bath.

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N5 Kanji guide · 20 lines

湯 Kanji

Hot water, baths, and everyday words

Learn the meanings and readings of 湯 through twenty sentences about hot water, steam, baths, and household items, with furigana and English translations.

Read in Japanese

N4 · Next step

Build confidence with longer readings and practice.

N4 Reading · 4 passages

温泉の種類

Types of onsen baths

Learn about indoor and outdoor baths, using a private bath, and enjoying a relaxing foot bath while exploring an onsen town.

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N4 Onsen manners · 10 lines

かけ湯

Rinsing before an onsen bath

Learn how to rinse before a bath, use a bathing bucket, and avoid splashing others, with furigana and English translations.

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N4 Picture description · 5 paragraphs

温泉の脱衣所

Describe the picture: changing room

Describe an onsen changing room, then read an N4 example with furigana and English translations. Practice on your own or with a tutor.

Describe in Japanese

N4 Destination readings

Explore onsen towns

Discover a different side of Japan, one hot spring town at a time.

Around Japan

有名な温泉地 Four places to discover

Map of four famous onsen towns in Japan A schematic map showing the approximate locations of Kusatsu, Hakone, Kinosaki, and Beppu hot spring towns.

From mountain springs
to seaside steam.

  1. 草津温泉 Kusatsu · Gunma The town of the Yubatake. Explore Kusatsu
  2. 箱根温泉 Hakone · Kanagawa Lake views and mountain springs. Explore Hakone
  3. 城崎温泉 Kinosaki · Hyogo Seven baths, one charming town. Explore Kinosaki
  4. 別府温泉 Beppu · Oita A seaside town wrapped in steam. Explore Beppu
Photo credits

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

Kusatsu: くろふね · CC BY-SA 4.0.

Hakone: Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0.

Kinosaki: 663highland · CC BY 2.5.

Beppu: FIND/47 project, photographer unknown · CC BY 4.0.