When Western travelers first encounter Japan’s onsen (hot springs) or sentō (public bathhouses), they often focus on etiquette, steam, and the soothing warmth of mineral water . But amid the rituals and rules lies a deeper cultural concept that goes far beyond cleanliness or simple relaxation. This idea is encapsulated in a Japanese phrase: Hadaka no Tsukiai . Translated literally, “Hadaka no Tsukiai” refers to the act of spending time together naked — not in a sexual way, b
