Nudist Beaches in Asia: What are the alternatives for getting naked?

I have just joined a gay social networking and news media site for men in Asian called Fridae.com - one of their tribes (discussion groups) is the Nudist and Naturalist Networks. Here is what I added to several responses concerning: Where in Asian can a guy go to a nudist beach?

In Japan, there are only two places where guys (mostly gay men) go as a nude beach (one in Chiba, and the other is a deserted spot on Shonan Beach). Neither are well known by the general public partly because they are so hard to find, and far from Tokyo. Also, it's not like Black's Beach or ones in other Westernized countries, people get naked very discreetly even on a supposedly nude beach. They generally wear swimwear when walking around or when in the water, but remove their clothes while lying in the sun.

The next best thing to a nude beach then is a hot springs resort or a public bathing spa, the latter of which there are over 50 in Tokyo. In these, men and women have separate bathing areas. Often, there is a small outside areas (enclosed by a fence for privacy) where the naked men can soak in a pool of mineral waters or lounge naked or draped in a towel. Inside, there are various types of baths, but the men are usually totally naked when walking to and from each pool and when they sit on stools at individual showers for washing body and hair. Many of them have wet and dry saunas.

So, despite their being little interest in nude beaches, Japanese are often fond of such warm mineral baths, and even travel to stay in the many areas of the country where there are nice resort hotels grouped around these hot springs, such as Hakone.

However, you don't have to go far from any metropolitan area to enjoy the same atmosphere of men enjoying being naked. Formerly, there were the old-fashioned public baths or 'sento' in every neighorhood, which have just about disappeared these days, being replaced by large, more modern and luxurious: bathing resort (or 'onsen' - hot springs bath or spa).
 The water has a higher content of minerals, particularly sodium (salt) and it's either brought in or created, but in sometimes comes naturally from the ground as Japan is a set of volcanic islands, also prone to earthquakes, as everyone knows.Well... for those in Malaysia or Singapore, and other places where there are not naked places, you can do what I often do: Make your own nude beach by just getting naked where the general public cannot see (easily).

I love being naked outdoors and often do so when there is a patch of land or a bushy area along side a river or a section of recreational land. If men are already sunbathing someplace, then just find a more hidden place in the same area and take it a step further: remove all your clothes and cover your privates. When no one is around, you can remove the covering.

In my trips to Thai, Singapore and Malaysia, I can recall a few places where this might happen, such as Sentosa Island, or a bit further afield - take a ferry or boat to one of the Indonesian islands not far from Singapore. There are surely some deserted beaches as well along Malaysia's southern coast, perhaps on Tioman Island (as there are plenty of foreigners), and also in East  Malaysia (Sarawak), I was able to get naked inside the Bako National Park both inland and at any of many deserted beaches. Guides on individually hired boats can take you to a certain point, and pick you up later.

I realize that an important element may be missing when you simply go out and get naked alone. One of the most fun things about nude beaches is not only about being seen in the nude. It's also the chance to see others (especially men) in all their naked glory. You can't always do both at the same time. There must be places and events where men in various Asian countries are naked or dressing / undressing so take advantages of those spots even if you can't be naked yourself at the same time.

However, you may get a chance to see both nature and men doing things in nature and completely naturally that you didn't expect to see, such as guys having sex or masturbating because they think they are alone, like in this photo from a voyeur site above. Or scenes like the ones below - where everyday Asian guys just enjoy finally being able to get completely naked in public.

A young gay asian guy from the Philippines takes a walk every Saturday afternoon, but not because he is in love with nature, but because he loves to be naked outdoors. Sneaking out of his house on Saturday, he heads into the forest.   As soon as he is out of sight of his home his clothes start to come off. Walking down the path the leaves and branches brush against his thighs, causing him to get very horny. The silky feeling of the brush against his skin causes his cock to get hard. It's not long before his cock is ready to explode in a massive cum shot.   Come inside and see our gallery collection of Jaycee (Jecee) on his naked nature walks.

 

Japanese Society in Cameo: Glimpsed from snapshots of guys in a hot spring

This entry is a related follow-up to the previous post and also earlier on my Kelly's Second Life (blog). It was sparked in part because I had recently given the issues involved some deep thought, but also because I'm fascinated by scenes depicted in these photos: guys being naked around other clothed (semi-naked), and nude guys - especially here in Japan, where I am a member of an extreme social/racial minority: foreign white gay married father among 125 million Japanese.

[ This entry was also posted one of my other blogs: Otoko - The Japanese Male and on my Tribe and JustUsBoys blogs. The reason for that is because nowadays I never know when my blog and my user id will be deleted without warning. Yahoo! is infamous for doing so, but I've recognized recently that Google may being trying to 'clean up' its own house - so to speak. Dozens (that I know) of amateur 'monetized' blogs with explicit sexual gay content have disappeared from Blogspot in the last few weeks.]

Some of these photos of Japanese men emerge from a hot springs (mineral baths) or 'onsen' were highlighted on ********** not long ago. I can't resist showing them again. It's just THE Japanese thing to do - and seems to be especially popular with groups of male college friends, intramural sports teams, or company excursions. They usually spend a night or two at the hot spring resort - one of the most famous - as well as accessible to Tokyo - is Hakone (near the Mt. Fuji Lakes area). Invariably, they have a nice meal - (that's a whole other story) and gulped down lots of beer, sake, and even whiskey or strong imported Chinese liquor.

They're all wearing the traditional 'yukata' - thin, cotton kimono-like coat - with (hopefully) nothing on underneath. When the alcohol, good food and camaraderie take effect, they start dancing sometimes in the buff or provocatively draped, they sing (karaoke) or do stunts (handstands, etc), and then everybody heads down to the communal baths in the resorts - usually downstairs and many times facing outdoors - a river, wooded stream or even the ocean. Those who can no longer stand - due to the alcohol- might be helped by to their rooms, and fondled or groped or even much more (I only know what I would be doing if my buddy had passed out half naked). Back in the baths, the antics usually escalate - naked men are scrubbing each other's back, and there's the relentless teasing about the size of somebody's dick (often teased that he's too big), and sooner of later somebody passes out from heat exhaustion and too much liquor. A few erections may emerge from under the suds or hidden while squatting in the thigh-deeper hot pools of volcanic mineral waters.

All in all.. it's a great time for everyone.

Japanese men are horny a whole lot of the time and - in my opinion - the repressive nature of their society actually only deepens and heightens the sexual tensions for the average company worker. The stress of so many social and work responsibilities is sometimes almost too much to bear: 'fetch this' and 'do this now' is the only thing workers hear all day and half the night since they almost always work overtime for NO (or little) pay.

Without much recourse or with little leeway for arguing back, they submissively accept what they have to do, and go about it quietly (or at least only mutter out of earshot) or complain to their 'real' friends later.

All this comes bubbling to the surface when the drinks and relaxation reach the max at big group parties out in the country.

The months of repressed desire also come bubbling to their consciousness - well.. at least it would in mind. Japanese men are generally dissuaded from 'flirting' in public - especially in an office situation. In fact, it use to be true that inter-office affairs and romantic relationships were so frowned upon that a worker risked getting transferred or - in the worse case - fired for dating a co-worker. It really is much less true nowadays because of the changes occurring in the society and in the economy. However, to some extent interoffice romance is discouraged. In that kind of environment, young men (ages 22- 35) before marriage didn't have many avenues for sexual or romantic release -except Japanese anime and pornography, and the nightly jerk-off once they crawled in to bed after midnight when they got home from a couple of 'mandatory' rounds a the local pub with the office gang - that often included their immediate superior (who was bucking for promotion or for leverage to support his pet projects).


The trips to the onsen (hot spring resorts) and the pub crawls after working later are rather like R & R for the troops in an army that's on dangerous duty. This was (and still is in some cases) the Civilian Military - (Japan Incorporated) because that was exactly how the typical Japanese factory or company used to operate. The new ones were the recruits -- called upon to have to endure all kinds of hardships (working 12-16 hour days for example was expected), so these 'trips' were probably a natural way to help relieve a lot of stress.. some of it under the belt line - so to speak.

There is no doubt in my mind that many a young company employee (male or perhaps more so the females) was 'defrocked' while on one of these onsen excursions organized by his (her) company or social group.

The situation has ameliorated to some extent. It is not easy to determine how much though. Japan still has the highest rates of suicide of any industrialized (first world) nation, and the numbers continue to swell. Over 30,000 per year end their lives and by estimates, nearly 4 times as many try to do so.

Japanese has a massive social networking infrastructure long, long before the days of the Internet - or Facebook. I could write a book on this and related topics... but - in reality - much of it is coming to an end. Today's young people do not want to participate to the same degree as before. The number of 'freeters' - young people who refuse to get a full-time job, who often still live at home on their parents' dime, and are content with having little money - but lots of freedom and tons of free time to work part-time at as many as 3 jobs, quit when they get tired of one, go out with friends to sing karaoke or drink or just hang out, and play PS3 games or windowshop all night long.

 

 

Japanese onsen and bathhouses: healthy, wet and gay?

Wondering if any of you have had any experience on trying the Japanese Onsen or hot springs?

     

* Originally, some of this discussion was posted on a Dudesnude discussion forum in August 2010

by occa 10 Aug 2010, 21:52

Guys, wondering if any of you have had any experience on trying the Japanese Onsen or hot water spring? any tips or hints on what should you do in there? i could google it but I wanted to know and hear the first hand experience from all of you who had tried it. I heard that for uncut guys it is a no no if you keep your cock head covered with the foreskin...is it true?. Well, would love to hear from you as I will visit japan next month and might have the chance to try one of the onsen or bath houses. . First time experience for me to be naked around other men. Can't wait.

Follow up: Ernie
10 Aug 2010, 22:23

I lived in Japan for several years and it was a real treat to go to the Onsens/Sento. There's a lot of etiquette to observe but the main one is to wash before you get into any bath. It doesn't have to be a thorough washing as you usually have a good scrub/shampoo after you soak anyway...but you never get into a bath without a bit of a 'token' wash. The main thing is NO soap anywhere near a bath. 
I found the Japanese a little peculiar when it came to foreskin - it's considered infantile to publicly 'display' your foreskin so most men keep them skinned back - I didn't have to worry about that!

I had Japanese friends who didn't care either way so don't fret about it.
I got so used to seeing knobs on display that a couple of times when other 'foreigners' were bathing, I got quite shocked to see long floppy skins!
Hope you enjoy it, it's great getting naked with other men and throwing water everywhere.


Follow up: jax2nola
10 Aug 2010, 22:57
Remember that Japan is still very much a closed society, not terribly tolerant of outsiders. At the mainstream onsens, you might not notice it much. There is a great one at Odaiba, a touristy island in Tokyo Bay, called Oedo Onsen that is made up to look like a Japanese 1800s village with huge indoor and outdoor bathing areas. At the gay baths (24 Kaikan in Tokyo was one we went to), you might feel a little ostracized. Also know that if you have tattoos you might not be welcome at all, as the Japanese associate tattoos with the yakuza or mobsters. Have fun!

Follow up: spunkhole

10 Aug 2010, 23:59
people take a small towel into the communal bathing area with them (leave your big towel outside in the changing area). most guys hold this over their cocks when walking around, though not always so careful to hide everything. a token effort is enough to be polite. this little towel is used to wash yourself and to wipe most of the moisture off before you leave. dry off in the cooler changing area. the baths are usually hotter than westerners are used to, so it takes a while to cool down a bit.

the onsen are great (so many to choose from), especially in remote areas and in winter when there's snow on the ground. the same etiquette applies here as in city bathhouses, which are also good for a visit. many now have saunas installed too,which gives a better opportunity for very discreet cruising.

Reply by sunbuns99

What the difference between an onsen, a public bath, and a gay sauna or gay bathhouse?

Let me remind you that there are several types of 'baths' in Japan.

There are 3 main types. The first two are for everyone - either for relaxation or healing as is the case of onsen, or for cleasing of the body, which is what 'sento' (or public bath) is for. The third are saunas (or health spas) while many are straight and just for relaxation or health self-treatment - a lot of these later ones are for sex -- some are for gay men.

-1. onsen 'hot spring' baths . There are both natural ones and man-made ones.
The owners pride themselves on the mineral content and temperature of their natural hot springs - so the man-made ones try to imitate those qualities.
These 'onsen' are normally (and almost always now) divided into male and female dressing rooms and the baths themselves are separate, but until only about 15-20 years ago, it was still possible to find conjugal ones (where men and women got into the same bath - after changing in separate room). I use to go to one like that at Ikuho on Mt. Haruna in Gunma Prefecture. Ikuho is one of the oldest commercially operated hotsprings resorts in Japan.

So you can travel to certain locations that are famous for their 'onsen' or you can sometimes find one in a major hotel or resort (man-made) - even in big cities. For example, there is an 'onsen' in the ritzy chic shopping district of Azabu Juban (not far from Roppogi).

One interesting variation is the 'rotenburo' - or open-air hot springs bath. In some onsen resorts (and even the man-made ones - like Odaiba mentioned above), part of the hot springs bath is in the open air (outdoors) - while usually divided by gender, that is not always the case so you'll need a towel handy to keep covered for modesty in mixed baths.

Noboribetsu in Hokkaido is a famous example, but there are some in most onsen resort locations (such as Hakone, about an hour by express train southeast of Tokyo).



One of my favorites was the free public open-air outdoor hot spring bath right on the beach at Shirahama, Mie (about an hour south of Osaka). It's really fun to be able to sit in warm water right next to the cool ocean water - or to take turns soaking in each. (P.S. I have no idea if it is still operating).

2) 'Sento' are public baths. There used to be one in every neighborhood but as times have changed and indoor plumbing virtually universal in Japan (except some places in the countryside), public bath (or sento) are pretty much few and far between.

Those that are still operating successfully have usually upgraded their facilities and offer onsen-like features like a dry sauna, and open air bathing or have installed mineral baths, which actually piped in artificially-made hot mineral water.

Yet, there are a few of the old-fashioned ma & pa 'sento' (Japanese public baths) still around. In these, you pay when you come into the dressing room, where an older man or woman sits atop a high seat that overlooks both the male and female dressing rooms. Don't worry - he or she has seen it all a million times - meaning your nudity is not going to shock them - albeit you may be shocked to have to undress in front of a withered old woman or man. The 'sento' that do still operate are usually frequented by the old-fashioned types who just enjoy the naked camaraderie (or 'skinship') of a good soak in a large hot tub, but more likely by those who must live in cheap or communal apartments that do still exist even in Tokyo.

 They are young men (or women) with low paying jobs who probably couldn't finish high school, older day-laborers, or one of the few foreign blue-collar workers who lives cheaply in order to send part of his earnings back to his family in his native country.
I can't tell you how many times I have enjoyed watching one of these young hunky workers peal back his foreskin for a good cleaning or wash his butt hole. Somehow it always seemed that they were just preoccupied with their mundane chore to notice the wide-eyed onlooker sitting opposite them, partly hiding his growing erection behind the low mirrored partition that separated us.

3) The saunas or health spa ('herusu') are the third type. Of these, there are 3 basic types: A. a genuine sauna for straight people; B. a gay bath house; and C. a straight sex club where men can pay for sexual favors - usually a soapy hand job from a female 'attendant'.
I don't know much about the A or C, but I've been to the gay bath houses in Tokyo and Osaka several times. The major ones in Tokyo are the 24 Kaikan (there are several, but the one in Shinjuku is probably the best). I found Hokuokan in Osaka to be even bigger and better, but maybe it only because it was new for me (I rarely get to visit Osaka).

Info about the gay district in Tokyo on my own Travel with Sunbuns (blog)
sunbuns.blogspot.com/2007/06...kyo.html

Popular gay spots in Tokyo:
utopia-asia.com/tokymasa.htm

Info about Tokyo's 24 Kaikan (gay bathhouse):
www.juno.dti.ne.jp/~kazuo24...glish.htm

Info about Hokuokan gay bathhouse / sauna in Osaka:
www.gayscout.com/queerlife...-and-Sauna

That's enough info for now.  P.S. Can you find me in one of the photos above?

Kelly (sunbuns99)

 

Making a visit to Japan: Gay men's perspectives

This blog entry was created in response to the posting (just below) on a gay message board. I often get inspired to write a long article once I've taken on the task of responding to someone's request for information (Photo: In Wolverine's latest X-men movie, there are many scenes of a hot springs bath in Japan.)

13 Jan 2015, 06:44   I am planning a trip to Japan for 8 days. Thinking about  getting the  unlimited rail ticket to see more than just Tokyo. Has anyone  done it  before, or do you have some suggestions?
     
 
 13 Jan 2015, 15:13  The Japan Rail pass is an excellent value.  There are so many places worth seeing. At this time of year  (winter), the hot springs are great value.
 There are lots to choose from, but if you like an outdoor bath surrounded by  snow,  head north from Tokyo to the Tohoku area. I once went to a hot  spring  with a geyser just a couple of meters from the outdoor bath and  snow all  around. I think it was in Miyagi prefecture, but I can't  remember the  name of it right now.  If you hate the cold, head to Kyushu: Nagasaki and Kagoshima and Kunisaki peninsula. For culture and history, check out Kyoto and Nara, only a fairly short train ride apart, and not so far from Osaka and Kobe.

 
 A lot of the Japanese hot springs are in hotels, so  they're for the  hotel guests, but they often have day visitor rates for people not staying at the hotel who just want to use the hot springs.  Of course, there are some baths run by local  city or town  administrations. These don't usually have much of a rest  area, just a  space for changing.

 But there's a big variety in style and cost, so  look around. Ask a  information offices (at railway stations etc). Last  time I was in Japan back in autumn, there were a lot of flyers offering  inexpensive packages at  hot spring hotels. It's worth checking each  place out a bit before  committing yourself.

   I just tried searching for "japan hot spring guide" on amazon.com, and it looks as though they have some useful options.
     
23 Jan 2015, 10:01
    If you visit Nikko (Toshogun Shrine, Chuzenji Lake and falls), or  Hakone, a lake near the foot of Mt. Fuji,  both of which are just a  couple of hours by train from Tokyo, you can still have time to squeeze  in a quick visit to a hot springs.   Some of the onsen resorts  nationwide  have outdoor hot spring baths, called 'rotenburo,' which  gives you the thrill of being naked outside, relaxing in the hot water,  and getting to see nude Japanese men (most often draping the ubiquitous  long hand towel in front).

Actually, a few public baths still  operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly  the same experience for under $5.  Take your own towel, and toiletries.  

 
Japanese love bathing in groups so much  that many hotels in urban areas have 'ofuro' which they call 'onsen'  (hot mineral springs) - although the water is usually piped in or the  minerals are added on

site.

   You can get the feel of what a traditional hot springs bath is like  without having to go so far afield. In a few cases, there are 'onsen' in  urban areas, and also at ski resorts or recreation areas where you  might be going to visit anyway.


Actually, a few public baths still  operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly  the same experience for under $5.  Take your own towel, and toiletries.  

Finally, if you're interested in having or seeing gay sex. You  might consider visiting one of the all-male saunas in either Tokyo or  Osaka (there may be some in smaller cities as well). In Tokyo, 24-Kaikan  is the most famous, and the one is Shinjuku 3 (san)-chome is clean and  active. It's also a hotel so you could even stay the night  - although  there are shared bunk bed rooms which your $24 locker (12 hour stay)  will allow you to rest. There is a large Japanese style bath in most all  the sauna, but also showers stalls with glory holes.  The largest one  in Osaka is called Hokuokan, and could be said to be bigger than Tokyo's 24 Kaikan gay bathhouse.

  I have written about the baths, saunas, onsen (hot springs), and  collected what others have said here　before (because it disappears) on  one of my blogs. You can find links to those two gay saunas mentioned,  and more detailed information by going to blog:
 http://sunbuns.blogspot.com  

To find that entry and others about Japan in my blog, type 'key words'  in the top left-hand search box, such as, Tokyo, Japan, sauna, onsen,  etc   .
There are actually several different entries.  One explains about the gay scene in Tokyo.

The  photo here isn't mine, but represents how Japanese men, especially young and  frisky ones, like to play around in the onsen spa resorts. You can  often find groups of friends, college students, or company employees in  the onsen; they make the trip to build up group cohesion and camaraderie  - which can be a highly homoerotic situation (at least from a gay's man  perspective).

Enjoy your visit...

Kelly