What Not to Do at a Japanese Sento or Onsen: 11 Bath Don’ts

Information as of October 2026.

If you look up manners for Japanese public baths, you find a long list of “don’t do this, don’t do that.” By the time you finish reading, going to one starts to feel a little scary, right?

But it’s really not that hard. Almost all Japanese bath manners come from one simple reason: everyone gets into the same water. Once you understand that, the rest makes sense on its own.

But mistakes like these are easy to avoid once you know the reason behind them.

So this guide is a short list of the things you really shouldn’t do at a sento (a neighborhood bathhouse) or an onsen (a hot spring bath). At the end, I’ve also written about the things you don’t need to worry about. I hope that part puts your mind at ease.

If you want to learn the whole process from the front desk to the end, start with my step-by-step sento guide.

Why Japanese baths have these manners: shared water and slippery floors

In a Japanese bath, you share the same bathtub with strangers. That’s why keeping the water clean matters more than anything.

The other reason is safety. The floor is wet and slippery with soap. The hot water can make you feel dizzy.

Keep these two things in mind, and every item on the list below will make sense.

What not to do before you go in

1. Don’t bathe after drinking

This is less about manners and more about safety. Getting into hot water while drunk can make you collapse. Many places have a sign at the entrance saying they turn away people who are drunk.

2. Don’t take photos or videos

In the changing room (datsuijo) and the bathing area, taking photos is banned almost everywhere. Other people are naked, so it makes sense. Many places don’t even let you bring your phone in. Leaving it in your locker is the safest choice.

What not to do in the washing area

3. Don’t run

The floor is really slippery. Falling is dangerous. I often see kids getting excited, running, and getting told off.

4. Don’t spray water or soap on the people around you

In the washing area, sit down to wash. If you shower standing up, water and soap fly onto the person next to you.

5. Don’t use the shampoo on the shelf near the entrance

Some bathing areas have a rack (a shelf) near the entrance with small baskets of shampoo and soap on it.

These are other customers’ own things that they brought from home. They’re not supplied by the bathhouse, so don’t use them.

On the other hand, if you bring your own shampoo, you can leave it on that shelf, too.

What not to do in the bath

6. Don’t get in without washing, or with soap still on you

The bath is not “a place to wash your body.” It’s “a place to warm up a body that’s already clean.” Wash in the washing area first, or at least do kakeyu (pouring hot water over yourself with a bucket) before you get in.

After washing, rinse off all the soap. It often stays on your back or in your hair. Getting in with soap on you makes the water dirty.

7. Don’t put your towel in the water

This might be the best-known bath manner of all. Put your towel on your head, or leave it outside the bath. Look around and you’ll probably see someone with a towel on their head. (It’s a little cute.)

8. Don’t let long hair touch the water

Hair works the same way as towels. If your hair is long, tie it up with a hair tie or a clip before you get in.

9. Don’t swim or dive

I understand wanting to swim when you see a big bath. (That was me as a kid.) But it splashes water and bothers other people. Putting your head under the water is also a no.

10. Don’t talk loudly

Voices echo a lot in the bathing area. Talking with friends is fine, but keep your voice down.

What not to do when you leave

11. Don’t leave the changing room wet or messy

Before you leave the bathing area, dry yourself with your small towel, then go back to the changing room. A soaking-wet floor is slippery and dangerous, and it’s not nice for the next person.

Can you go to a sento or onsen with a tattoo?

How places handle tattoos is different everywhere. There are:

• places that let you in
• places that let you in if you cover it with a sticker
• places that turn you away

In general, people say neighborhood sento are relatively easy to get into, while many super sento, onsen facilities, and hotel baths turn people with tattoos away.

So the surest way is to check the place’s website before you go, or ask at the front desk before you pay. You can use the phrase card below.

What you don’t need to worry about at a Japanese bath

So far I’ve written about the things not to do. But there are also lots of things you don’t need to worry about.

• Covering yourself or not: You can cover the front of your body with a small towel, or not. Either is fine. Almost nobody is looking.
• Doing things in a slightly different order: As long as you’ve done kakeyu and your body is clean, people don’t care much about the exact order.
• Not staying in long: If it’s too hot, get out right away. It’s not something you have to endure.
• Talking quietly: In a quiet voice, it’s fine to chat with friends or family.
• Regulars talking to you: It happens sometimes. It might surprise you, but it’s almost always just kindness.

In the end, you only need to remember two things: be considerate of the people sharing the water, and don’t get hurt.

Cheat sheets you can use right away

1. Bath don’ts checklist

2. Phrase card for the front desk

Save this to your phone and just show the screen.

Read next

• Want to know the sento steps in order, from the front desk to after your bath? Read How to Use a Japanese Sento.
• Want to know how a sento, super sento, and onsen are different? Read Japanese Bath Types Compared.

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I’m Japanese, and I write my drafts in Japanese with help from AI to turn them into natural English. The experiences here are my own. Some photos are AI-generated. If something is unclear, or things are different where you live, please leave a comment below. I’ll reply there, so the next reader can find the answer too.

I also write about Japanese manners in Japanese on note: note.com/enjoyjapan