Get naked. Onsens typically are separated into men's and women's bathing areas, and everyone is expected to be nude while bathing. Bathing suits are perceived by the Japanese as dirty and inappropriate. You will be provided with a small washcloth that you can use to cover up a bit, but generally no one does even that.
Wash up. Prior to entering the hot-springs area, you will encounter a washroom with showers and soap. Scrub your entire body thoroughly, including your hair.
Keep your voice down. The onsen is a place where the Japanese go to relax, similar to a spa. If you are visiting with a friend, speak quietly to one another so as not to disturb other visitors.
Leave the camera in your hotel room. As a tourist, you may have the urge to capture every minute of your experience. But cameras are strictly forbidden at onsens, for obvious reasons.
Do as the Japanese do. Showering and bathing in the nude in front of strangers may seem off-putting at first, but keep in mind that one of the best things about traveling is getting to experience how people in other areas of the world live. Plus, the Japanese are famously polite and would not be caught dead staring. You may find that the hardest part of being nude is having the discipline to keep from staring at them!
