Distance Rules Learned in a Shared Bathhouse— From Surprise to Familiarity: Everyday Customs in Community Living 2026/5/13 (Wed) R8

Kanon
2026/5/13 07:48

My experience in the women’s bath at Matsuyama Eden no Sono started with surprise.

Each private room has its own bathtub and shower, but the shared bath is available freely from 16:00 to 21:00.

I originally assumed I could simply do a quick rinse and enter the bath, but I learned that the actual expectation is: “Wash your body first before entering the bath.”

I was also told quite directly, “Do not stand while using the shower—sit down,” and “Do not face the people while entering the bathtub—turn the other way.” At first I felt confused, but gradually I began to understand the atmosphere behind these instructions.

In the washing area, everyone naturally faces the same direction, and eye contact is minimized. It is not so much “not looking at others,” but rather a shared awareness of “avoiding unnecessary observation.”

At the same time, there was not only strictness but also everyday reality. One person was wearing disposable absorbent underwear and did not seem particularly embarrassed. Seeing that, I felt that “shame about being seen” and “acceptance of bodily reality” coexist as separate dimensions.

Interestingly, people are sensitive about gaze and direction, yet quite matter-of-fact about physical conditions. This is not a contradiction, but rather a difference in each person’s axis of modesty.

Through these experiences, I came to feel that this shared bath is not just a bathing facility, but a place where people learn the “rules of distance” needed for living in shared space.

From surprise, to gradual familiarity, I now begin to see the meaning of this environment. I continue to learn the importance of living while maintaining a gentle distance from others.

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