[Event Report] KIDS' Solo Hot Spring Debut

Hoshino Community Base holds lectures, workshops and events with the theme of "Enriching life in Karuizawa." This time, we will report on the "KIDS Solo Hot Spring Debut" event that was held as part of the program.

In recent years, the legal age for mixed bathing for children has been lowered nationwide, and in Nagano Prefecture's public bath regulations, mixed bathing is permitted only up to the age of 6. Once a child turns 7, boys can no longer enter the women's bath with their mothers, and girls can no longer enter the men's bath. Therefore, Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu held its annual "KIDS Solo Hot Spring Debut" event to encourage elementary school children to bathe alone.

The event consisted of two parts: a lecture in the first half and a hot spring experience in the second half. In the lecture in the first half, "Hot Spring Etiquette," the children received an explanation about manners, including a quiz. The children answered the quiz enthusiastically and at times listened with serious expressions. They learned important points that differ from bathing at home, such as not running or talking loudly, and tying up long hair before bathing.

Then, in the second half, it was time for the exciting hot spring experience: "Let's go into the hot springs!" At first, the children looked a little nervous as it was their first time entering a hot spring away from their parents, but they recalled what they had learned in class and, under the watchful eyes of the staff, carefully and happily experienced the hot springs.

When the children returned after bathing, they were heard exclaiming in excited voices, "One more person could go in!" and "I want to come and take a bath in the hot spring again!"

At the end of the event, a "Solo Hot Spring Debut Certification Ceremony" was held, and certificates were presented to the children. Parents also commented, "It was great to learn things that we don't usually teach our children," and "The children had fun learning manners and gained confidence."

Tombo no Yu hopes to continue planning events that allow children to become familiar with hot springs.

*Future event schedules and other information will be posted on the official Karuizawa Hoshino Area website.