Floating

pariwisata_sumut from northern Sumatra's Berastagi:

Pemandian Air Panas Sidebu-debu, di kejauhan terlihat Gunung Sibayak. Sudah pernah kemari?oto: @iceteaworld | #pariwisatasumutnet

I'm trying to find a common theme for this issue of soaking news from the Southeastern Asia region. I can't.

Even more surprising, is that most info concerns non-regional issues.

ThinkGeoenergy reports (Oct. 21) from China:

'Last week, China’s First International Seminar on Hot Springs and Climate Health Tourism was held in BeiBei, Chongqing. Hot springs and climate experts, scholars and related entrepreneurs came from various countries such as China, Italy, Russia, and Japan (in total approximately 350 attendees) came together to discuss the topic of hot springs and climate health and how to transform Chongqing into a hot springs travel destination.
...
Throughout the seminar, Chongqing signed a number of hot springs and climate health tourism projects. These projects cover areas such as hot springs, leisure reports, and industrial research and utilization'.

Here's the website of the seminar.

world

On Sunday, people in Yichun, Jiangxi province in China, took part in a chili-eating competition in a hot spa filled with chilis. A woman named Yi Huan won the contest by eating 20 chilis in a minute, earning the title of “Chili Queen.” 🌶👑🔥 (📷: Getty)-#chili #chilis #chilli #pepper #peppers #spicy#spice #hot #food #foodie #instafood#foodlover #foodstagram #eat #eating#hotspa #spa #hotspring #hotsprings#competition #woman #women #yichun#jiangxi #china #chinese #辣椒 #溫泉 #宜春 #江西

Chongqing is also where you can experience the above. South China Morning Post (Oct. 19) comes with more info:

'Chongqing has unveiled a new hot spring bathing area that looks like a bubbling hotpot. The novelty bathing spot in the city’s Shapingba district even has bright red water coloured with Chinese medicinal herbs, floating plastic “vegetables” and giant chopsticks for bathers to snap selfies with.
The pool opened last Friday and is shaped like a traditional metal hotpot container divided into four sections filled with hot “broth”, according to a Pear Video clip posted on the weekend'.

Diving
Vogue (Nov. 26) goes to the spa. And notes some international etiquette: European sauna's, banya's, onsens, hammams and Anglo Saxon massage.

A great find, the US based Soakpodcast:

'The Soak is a podcast about how we [Alana and Aimee] get clean. It is equal parts anthropological investigation, travelogue, and excuse for us to experience other cultures through one of humanity’s most mundane rituals: the bath'.

Five episodes as far, forest bathing, seaweed baths, bathing and arts, Korean spa's and US public pools.

v.gurujiii at Ardent (Camiguin, Philippines)

post-hike chill @ the hot springs 🔥 fired up by the volcano itself 🌋 #feelcamiguin #ringoffire

Looking a bit a wider issues in the wider region.

South China Morning Post (Oct. 21) reports on tourists behaving badly in Kyoto, Japan:

'A recent report in The Sydney Morning Herald added dive-bombing into onsen, ...'

While on Japan, there's also the non-soaking experience (Sunstar Cebu, Nov. 21):

'And our guide, Amy, in between regaling our group with stories on creative bento boxes and Japan’s high-tech toilets, which play music to muffle the sound of one’s labors inside the cubicle, dangled nightly the prospect of respite from the freezing cold with the onsen, the traditional Japanese hot spring bath.
The only catch was: “You have to go in naked—with other people,” she said.
The onsen was out of reach. For as tantalizing as the idea of thawing was, baring our flesh in public went against everything we had learned in Catholic school, though the bigger reason we gave the onsen a wide berth was the fear of running into anyone we might know there'.

inasetsfire

Hätte nicht gedacht, dass heiße Quellen so fies stinken 😅 und trotzdem war es unglaublich schön dort 😊

Haben eine Quelle gefunden welche nicht auf den Karten für Touris eingezeichnet ist, so waren wir dann allein dort und hatten den Pool für uns. Bei 31 Grad quasi in eine heiße Badewanne zu steigen ist einfach verrückt 😂
Direkt an der Quelle ist das Wasser sogar verdammt heiß, man kann nur kurz einen Finger rein halten 😅
#freethenipple #backpackingsoutheastasia #paithailand #hotsprings #heißequellen

Further afield, a guide to Idaho's best clothing optional hot springs, slightly dated (Apr. 22, 2015):

'There are 130 to choose from, and below you’ll find 5 of the best, where au naturel is the soaking style of choice.
Important note: Please remember to keep your footprint light — stay on trails and pack out everything you bring to the hot springs. Working together helps us keep these special places clean and safe for years to come'.

Inspired
More mundane.

The NZ Herald reports (Oct. 25) on one of the nation's better known hot spring thermal parks being closed down:

'Landowners have cancelled the lease and changed the locks on the doors at Waiwera Thermal Resort after a history of default payments.
The cancellation notice was issued by landowners Waiwera Properties Limited (WPL).
The land has been used as the site for the Waiwera Thermal Resort and Waiwera Thermal Bottling plant, both of which fall under the Waiwera Group owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Khimich.
Khimich's company purchased the leasehold interest in the property in 2010'.

While in NZ, there's also this hot news. Peninsula Springs of Australia are investing overseas as the Maruia Springs sees new owners (Stuff.co.nz, Oct. 12):

'In the 1990s the business was bought by Japanese owners who turned it into a Japanese-style onsen or hot spring resort.
"They were running it as a hotel with bathing; we want to run it as bathing with a hotel."
The 4ha site was on the market for some time before the new consortium of owners got clearance to buy it from the Overseas Investment Commission in late 2015'.

Jakarta Post (Sep. 20) as yet another article on onsen bathing in Indonesia:

'Visiting an onsen (Japanese hot spring) is a must while in Japan. The traditional bath is believed to have many health benefits as it uses hot spring water.
Those who want to experience the unique tradition can do so at Genki Onsen in Batu, East Java.
...
In regard to hygiene, Adista explained that Genki Onsen changed the water every day.
However, unlike traditional Japanese onsen, where guests are required to bathe naked, Genki Onsen provides disposable undergarments and camisoles or boxers'.

keichabon at Please-keep-this-place-a-secret (Japan). Bit strange to post this then ...

秘湯・野湯巡り♨️ 知る人ぞ知る感MAX、妙高高原の山中某所にある名も無き秘湯♨️白濁の硫黄泉が岩盤から溢れ出てそのまま沢に流れ込んでいくポイントに土嚢や岩で湯船を作ったワイルド野湯💨 普段は放流状態で入る時に栓をして湯を溜め、帰りには栓を抜き放流するという入湯ルール。いつでも無料で浸かり放題だけど、場所は公開出来ないので悪しからず💦
撮影地：新潟県妙高市
#露天風呂 #温泉 #温泉好き #野湯 #温泉巡り#nature #お写ん歩 #日本 #hotsprings #野天風呂 #visitjapanjp #♨️ #おんせんきょ#instagramjapan #入浴 #instagram #japan#onsen #混浴 #温泉巡り #enjoylife #tohoku #新潟 #妙高 #温泉好きな人と繋がりたい 好きな人と繋がりたい #秘湯 #温泉行きたい#openairbath #outdoorbath #wild

Bitter

Over to the region.

• Malaysia

Laceybunny (Sep. 8) has a list of 15 Malaysian hot springs:

'We’ve compiled a list of 15 hot spring spots in Malaysia, so the next time you’re looking for a relaxing weekend activity, just refer to our list for whichever is nearest to you!'

Freemalaysiatoday (Nov. 30) has a feature on Sungai Serai soaking springs:

'Some of Malaysia’s hot springs have been turned into health spas such as the luxurious Banjaran Hot Springs Retreat in Ipoh.
Sungai Serai on the other hand, has been left more or less in its natural state and looks like a large puddle with a few plastic chairs placed in it.
...
The owners of the land on which the spring is located have started charging admission of RM1 per person and another RM1 for parking.
They are using the proceeds to make various “improvements” such as the breeze-block toilet cubicle which unfortunately has been built rather too close to the pond.
Hopefully they won’t encase the whole hot spring in concrete which has happened in so many others in Malaysia'.

 

bunnyrabbids at Kuala Kubu Bharu:

Malaysian style hotspring. Nice to relax and chill. #hotspring #onsen

Yearofthedurian takes a look (Dec. 22) at Mererap hot spring, over on Sarawak (Malaysia):

'The hot spring has always been there, and has always been called Merarap as far as Alfred [Alfred Padan, the regional manager of the Samling Timber Company] knows. The hot water bubbles naturally out of the ground into a series of small pools on land that traditionally belonged to his family and the Lun Bawang Tribe.
...
In January 2004, 10 years after the durian farm was planted, Alfred decided to build the Merarap Hotspring Lodge. It’s even more remote than the durian farm and is one of the only places to overnight if you decide to drive to Ba’kelalan or the Indonesian highlands.
Visiting the hot spring is also the only way you can get access to the durians, since Alfred and family don’t sell the old-tree, organic, bitter durians to anyone but friends, family, and guests of the Merarap Hot Spring. You can choose to stay overnight in the lodge, but our group chose the day trip package, which may or may not have been the best choice'.

• Thailand

Hot springs and waterfalls in Chiang Rai province by Adventureswechase (6 Sep.).

Mychiangmaitravel has an overview (Nov. 6) of Pai's (Mae Hong Son) hot springs. Very informative.

lady_lookkaew at Rock Valley Hot Spring and Fish Spa (Khanchanaburi):

#relax 👫 #แต่งรูปวนไป
#picoftheday #saturdayvibes #traveling#thailand #lifeisgood #เที่ยวเมืองไทยไม่ไปไม่รู้#mybetterhalf #husbandandwife #slowlife#เพ้อเก่ง #hotspring

The ever excellent Travelfish (Oct. 16) has updated their Klongthom / Emerald pool (Krabi) chapter:

'We shared the pool with perhaps 200 others, which felt crowded but not to the point that we weren’t able to swim around without colliding into people. Expect the pool to be busier during high season, especially on weekends when locals join the many foreign visitors. Arriving early in the morning or after 15:00 would give you a chance of averting the crowds. While the pool is refreshing and the landscape striking, we wouldn’t say that it ranks among the best mainland attractions in Krabi province, especially when considering the crowds'.

Onsen / spas in Bangkok? Tripcanvas (Nov. 26) has the answers:

'Onsens may cost you a bomb elsewhere, but you’ll be surprised at what you can get in Bangkok!

Stay with us as we journey to find the most value-for-money and affordably luxurious onsens and spas in this bustling city!

...

Kashikiri Soda Onsen

Here, private onsens are provided, so there’s no need to worry about any awkwardness soaking naked in a hot tub with strangers. But if you would like to enjoy a romantic moment with your loved one, you can opt for a couple onsen or a tub for two!

yuii_kultha at Kashikiri:

 เวลาเรายืนมองเขาอยู่ในมุมของเรา บางทีก็รู้สึกนะว่า “เออดีแล้ว .. ที่เขาอยู่ตรงนั้น เราก็ดีแล้วที่เราอยู่ตรงนี้” ☀️🌆🎋🎋🎋🛀🏻💦😊 #นั่งโง่ๆอยู่ในอ่าง

Swayed

• Vietnam

Blisssaigon (Dec. 1) has 6 hot springs to choose from when on a road trip in Vietnam. A good read.

Viet Nam News reports (Nov. 2) on Tram Tau district (Yen Bai) hot springs:

'What could be more pleasing to travellers in the northern province of Yên Bái after conquering Tà Chì Nhù Mountain? Soaking in hot mineral springs with a picturesque landscape laid out in front of them.
Located around 2km from Trạm Tấu District, the springs in Hát Lừu Commune lie under a small valley, surrounded by terraced fields and hills of pine forests that sway with the gentle breeze. Travellers can also choose to stay overnight at a homestay next to the spring to enjoy a night in the mountains'.

sofianguyen64

Mặt hí hửng, tắm tiên Ngọc Chiến - bản Lướt - Mường La - Sơn La, Hí hí.#famtrip #ngọcchiến #sonla #mocchau#nudebath

• Indonesia

Tripcanvas (Nov. 21) has 11 soaking choices in and around Bandung, all not very natural. 
It (Nov. 16) also has 5 hot springs on Bali:

'Where better to soak your tired bones and indulge in one of Earth’s natural remedies, after a long day of hiking, or as a holiday reward for months of hard work?
We bring you a selection of Bali’s best hot springs, in both luxury-chic and back-to-basics rural settings that will delight you more than a hotel spa ever could'.

ucensurbakti__

UDAH PERNAH
#karo#berastagi#airpanas#karokaro#surbakti#karonese

Not all good news from Semangat (lead photo above this entry). Jakarta Post reports (Dec. 2) on a landslide at Semangat that killed 7 tourists.:

'... the 16 students were spending the night at the Daun Paris Raja Berneh hot springs resort when part of a cliff in the area collapsed at about 6 a.m. local time following heavy downpour in the region the night before'.

• Philippines

insights looloo (Nov. 20) has 5 Filipino soaks for the cooler months: Ardent, Asin, Puning Maquinit and Manleluang.

stephen092 at Batasan, Cotabato, Mindanao:

OHANA 💓💓

Then finally, did anyone miss the regional top 10 of Southeasian soaks? 
Sorry, I seem to have insufficient time for this. You'll have to make do with the above.

Neglect

steftk28 

Recovery time! #jellylegs #poringhotsprings #borneo

When compiling a Top 10 of Southeast Asian hot springs, it's always exciting to see which hot spring comes out on top.

Well, it's not. 

Every year there's a slight change in how the list is compiled but the result remains the same.

Above was the starting text accompanying last years Southeast Asian Top 10, literally. I am allowed to copy and paste it, because this year, again not much change ...

Need I say Poring hot spring tops the 10? While searching for  the lead photo above, it's surprising how many hashtagged photo's simply reference the surroundings rather than the soak itself; possibly the winning formula? 
Poring hot springs is a nature park with pristine jungle, waterfalls, short walks, a canopy walk and even an opportunity to view a Rafflesia plant. 
Oh, and it's the source of a natural hot spring, though witness, the surroundings are nothing natural ...

As usual, a Tripadvisor reference to a recent guest:

'I have been to a number of hot springs and these are the saddest looking springs I have seen. The place was very sad looking and unkempt the baths and changing rooms dirty nobody around doing any cleaning at all. Cold taps were not running and eventually found a grumpy man who really didnt care. Come on Malaysia you can do so much better with your tourist areas! The springs area was so neglected it doest take much to make it a relaxing place to be'.

Not so tops.

Challenge

hasanah_nuie 

Si krucils pada kepanasan😂👫dah lama ja gak mau udahan😧 neneknya nyengir aje😹

📷foto by @hartareni #sariaterhotspring#berendam#pulosari#familyholiday

Last years star soaks have failed to challenge the top. 

In all honesty, the hot spring of Pai (Thailand) has fallen away, largely due to the fact that it's now sensed as having two separate hot springs: a sedate national park affair (flag bearer Tha Pai) and a rambling free for all packed with backpackers soak (Sai Ngam); together they would have pushed Pai close to the top 5.

I also looked at an international comparison using the same method. Internationally re-known hot spring resorts such as Peninsula (Australia), Tabacon (Costa Rica), Blue Lagoon (Iceland) or Takaragawa (Japan) would beat Southeast Asia's top ranking soak (Poring) big time.

The list for 2016:
1. Poring, Sabah, Malaysia (2015: 1)
2. Maquinit, Palawan, Philippines (2)
3. Banjar, Bali, Indonesia (3)
4. Ardent, Camiguin, Philippines (4)
5. Mainit, Luzon , Philippines (10)
6. Sari Ater, Java, Indonesia (9)
7. Banjaran, Perak, Malaysia (6; photo below)
8. Puning, Luzon, Philippines (7)
9. Sungai Klah, Perak, Malaysia (-)
10. Thap Ba, Nha Trang, Vietnam (8)
 

daphfinitely 

Major withdrawals. 💚

Just bubbling under the top 10 are the hot springs of Fang, Tha Pai (both Thailand), Sembawang (Singapore), Tambun and Annah Rais (both Malaysia). 

Anyway, what the above have in common, are structures with little resemblance to nature and often visited to the extent that one would say they are overcrowded, maybe it's more a list of hot springs in Southeast Asia to avoid ...?

caustic302 

The True Philippino Breakfast 3

Breakfast in volcanic sulfur river :) Сидеть в горячей вулканической серной речке под дождем с чаем в руке, поглащать вкусный завтрак и таращиться на джунгли... Что может быть лучше? :) #breakfast #philippines #mango #food #tea #hotwater #hotsprings #dauinhotspring #river #jungle #forest #granola #negrosoriental #negros #tropics #whitesulphursprings #whitesulfur #sulfur

Treats

annaashbarry 

#Bali #hotsprings @bensingleton66

Just a short photographic whirlwind through the region. 
Above Bali's Angseri hot springs with a waterfall as backdrop, below a geothermal hot mud bath in South Vietnam.

vungtautravel 

Binh Chau Hot Springs. Горячие источники "Binh Chau" #вьетнам #турыизвунгтау #экскурсииповьетнаму #горячиеисточники #минеральныеводы #лечебнаягрязь #путешествия #туризм #vungtautravel #binhchau #hotsprings #mud #travelling #relaxation

Crossings

trippingsince95 

Hot Springs Krabi #hotsprings #krabi #travel #thunderstorm #thailand

Thailand always haves a perfect hot spring just waiting for you; above near the southern tourist hub of Krabi. Following another agreeable hot spring in the for Thai famous hot spring town of Ranong, though not so many foreign tourists visit.

To wrap up the chapter slightly further afield in Taiwan a more rustic experience 9and locally popular) from Wulai.

 

tob_maneesri

น้ำแร่ร้อน น้ำเย็น น้ำแร่ร้อน น้ำเย็น วนไปครัช #งานลงน้ำด่วน #บิ้กซีมีทุกอย่างที่ระนอง #เจ้าบ้านบอกต้องลองเองไม่งั้นจะขายของไม่ได้ #TacB #onsenranong #onsenthailand #ranong #thailand #blumonkeyhotels

agentralph

#hotsprings

More fun

bangbangseth 

This chika galor moment while in the hotspring. I wanna go back @suecorleone 😭💦🙈👙 #hotsprings #pulangbato #redrockhotspring #itsmorefuninthephilippines #travel #byaherangseth #bucketlist 💯✅💋👣

Besides Thailand, both Indonesia and the Philippines are jam-packed with hot springs. Malaysia (the last photo in this paragraph) is less so fortunate, though the Banjaran is probably top-notch though also possibly overclassed ...

 

heyitsmisschey

 42 Grad und es wird noch heißer! 🌞🌋 #hotsprings #therapeutic #neverstopexploring #Cebu #Visayas #Philippines #Pilipinas #itsmorefuninthephilippines #globelletravels #bisaya #Urlaub #Sommer

cantisz 

♨️ #birthdayretreat #banjaranhotspringsresort #hotsprings #ipoh #malaysia

Forests
Finishing off with a couple of Indonesia's forest hot springs.
 

p_anchito 

Vai di terme... #hotsprings #malanage #bajawa #nusatenggara #timur #indonesiantour #selfie #flores #likes #beardedman #holiday #gopro #inked

elviss.eve 

Family outing on a hot springs #nature #forest #tropical #river #hotsprings #mataair #hutan #sumatra #indonesia

Channeling

 Annah Rais Hot Spring is a few minutes' drive away from Annah Raid Longhouse, a Bidayuh settlement about 100km south of Kuching, at the foothill of Borneo Highlands near the mountains marking the border to Kalimantan. The invigorating hot water is about 40°C degree (sometimes reaching 70°C) and it appears in the middle of a cooling jungle stream surrounded by singing birds and chirping crickets. A truly unique experience. #annahraishotspring #annahrais #hotspring #bidayuhvillage #bidayuhlonghouse #longhouse #bidayuh #tropicalrainforest #rainforest #jungle #catcitykuching #beautifulkuching #junglestream #stream #kuching #sarawak #borneo 

source

Modern poverty
It's no doubt that progress and development are the main driving forces of the loss of natural hot springs. 
In Southeast Asia and in the wider world. 
Whereas in Southeast Asia money seems to be at the heart of this loss, a recent article blames social media. The article's author, Christine Adele, on diyphotography.net (Nov. 18) proclaims that social media is stimulating unwise use of protected natural lands, in her case specifically in the north of the United States.

'To them [as opposed to the author], the only purpose nature serves is to provide them with the shot that they can pump up in photoshop to gain more followers and impress their friends and family. They think about outdoing the shot the last person who visited got. They think about the now, and not about how their actions might affect these parks in the future. These actions continue to snowball as people do increasingly ridiculous things to outshine others'.

In this one can easily substitute the wider use of the definition of nature with hot springs. 
The plethora of social media and especially facebook and instagram (both with their culture of lookatme) are increasingly providing a stage for risk-takers to avenge on nature as well as letting better known secrets become famous. 
It's irrespective of where we are, be it Iceland (Hrunulaug), France (St Thomas), Italy (Viterbo), Thailand (Sai Ngam), Indonesia (Rinjani), New Zealand (Kerosene creek) or the U.S.A. (Umpqua / Skinnydipper), the lure of a natural soak in a natural surroundings with little or no visitor management and advertised on social media is encouraging more visitors to do likewise. Or to abuse the natural conditions or stretch the capacity of nature to cope with those visitors.

Or is it?

Social media can also capture the beauty of an area, it can also educate the visitor, it can also promote the opportunity to be at one with nature. Sites being overrun are more often than not zero-managed (and thus open to (ab)use not seen elsewhere) or as in Southeast Asia open to exploitation by touring companies.

Christine continues:

'It’s hopping fences, going into closed areas, feeding wildlife, picking flowers, camping illegally, using drones, using sparklers for light painting, swimming in protected waters, bringing our pets into protected backcountry.

It can be hard for some to understand how just one person doing these things could possibly be a big deal. The problem is, its not just one person- its hundreds of people influencing thousands of people influencing millions of people'. 

Nevertheless, her solutions are a call to ignore abuse. Hardly a solution.
Better would be to use social media to initiate change, to create affirmative action and to highlight the creative forces behind nature.

Comments on this article:

'There have always been knuckleheads in National parks. Social Media just makes them more visible'.

'Let's be clear: social media is not making people commit these acts, they make the decisions themselves. As someone stated, social media may be exacerbating the problem, but it is not the root of the issue. People are making very poor decisions, unfortunately, and it's important to remember that we're all responsible for our own actions'.

Continuing, giving locals a say, as a way to create a collective responsibility. The U.S. Forest Service has been gaining info on the future of Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs (Statesmanjournal, Nov. 5):

'The most popular ideas for the future of the site — as indicated in the survey results — show a preference for stone soaking pools, a network of trails and a small campground.
Other popular ideas include keeping the site low-impact and natural while including amenities such as a pit toilet, picnic tables and bridge across the river. The response also showed an openness to paying a small fee if the funds were used to keep the area clean and safe'. 

It does seem to be at odds with other initiatives from the same service making public access to soaking sites elsewhere in the U.S.A. more difficult ...

Co-existence

Over on soakersforum a discussion on the (de-)merits of geothermal exploration. If feasible, will geothermal exploitation lead to the loss of hot spring soaking opportunities?

The discussion seems to think not: all what is happening is a pumping around of water. 

Then there are arguments from Japan:

'In fact, there are 27,405 identified hot spring wells and over 21,000 combined hot spring spas and inns, according to 2014 data published by the nation’s Ministry of Environment.

Over 126 million people visit Onsens annually, spending considerable amount of money at spas, hotels, restaurants, and shops at hot springs. Because of the significant economic activities related to tourism, local communities didn’t think that Onsen business and geothermal power plants could co-exist'.

Several examples are given from the U.S.A. of hot springs drying up / dried up.

Then the crux which seems to follow the lead of this posting:

'We have lost far more soaks to irresponsible users and lack of respect than we have to geothermal power'. 

And the use of binary geothermal systems will probably not affect the springs themselves.

Read more below in the Philippines section on how pumping hot water for soaking is affecting soaking ...

Sticky

Japanese owners of onsen are apparently hoping that their lowering of standards concerning visitors with tattoos will reap more money courtesy of foreign tourists paying a visit. 
Well, actually the national tourism organisation is hoping this will happen and is nudging the owners in that direction. So reports the South China Morning Post (Nov. 5):

'With visitor numbers soaring but mindful of not upsetting the company’s Japanese guests, Hoshino Resorts has taken a more proactive approach to the problem.

“For small tattoos, we provide guests with a sticking plaster that they can use to conceal it before they go into the hot spring,” said the company official, who declined to be named.

“We do understand that tattoos have become fashionable in other countries and we really did want to do something that would be acceptable to everyone,” she said. “We believe this will mean that everyone will be able to enjoy our onsen.”

Not all of Japan’s operators have been as quick to keep up with modern realities, however, which has caused confusion among foreign visitors who had no idea that they would be refused access to an onsen if they had a tattoo.

A study carried out recently by the Japan Tourism Agency revealed that 56 per cent of hotels and inns across the country do not permit anyone with a tattoo to use their communal bathing facilities and have no provisions to help bathers conceal a tattoo.

Just over 30 per cent said they will not turn someone with a tattoo away, while a further 13 per cent say they will grant someone with a tattoo access under certain conditions, such as having it covered up".

While on the subject of soaking habits: the Shanghaiist (Oct 5) has this odd piece of news:

'Officials at the Huaqing Hot Springs in Shaanxi province have urged visitors to please, please kindly refrain from taking pictures of themselves feeling up a statue of an ancient Chinese beauty after it stopped being funny a long time ago'.

Thanks for the memories [heart_eyes] #vietnam #bath #hotsprings #piscine #nature #backpackers #explorers #landscape #beautifulday #morning #river #holidays #massage #instatravel #hmong #authenticity #ramenezmoilabas Crédit [camera] @guillaume_40

Afoul of the Vietnamese public scrutiny? Source

Vietnam also seems to be struggling with tourist antics. Apparently they are also awakening to the naked foreigner phenomena: posing in nature.

And Vietnam does not like. Thanhnien News (Dec. 29):

'A recent photo of three foreigners standing completely naked on Fansipan, Indochina's highest mountain in northern Vietnam, has received strong reactions on social media.

...

The foreigners were disrespectful to a Vietnamese location deemed by many as a national icon'.

However it was deemed less obscene by many of the comment contributors, which seems evidence of a more healthy attitude.

Carrying on. What might allude many, is how Thai tourists are increasingly visiting Japan and many seem OK with the onsen culture. Or even wanting to experience this traditional custom as authentic as possible. 

This is evidenced on instagram where I see many Thai language reactions / comments on onsen photo's. Take the example of the more famous onsen of Takaragawa, where bathing al fresco is the way to go:

Onsen Time ท่ามกลางหิมะ ☃ ☃ กับสาวน้อย @nene_nunoo #happytime #happytrip #tokyuagain #ของขวัญปีใหม่ #เรื่อยเปื่อยทัวร์

 source

Maybe it's just the snow and hot bath which elicits the need to photo one self. Very foreign to Thailand. Pretty picture btw and one of many examples.
 
Finally back to China. With temperatures dropping in China, it seems a bit contradictory for the Shanghaiist to report (Nov. 30): 

'But, in Chongqing, when conditions start to get a bit nippy, that's when the nude swimmers come out to play'.

Estimation

Taiwan lies on the border between Asian free for all and the Japanese art of onsening. Travelmomo notes Taiwans penchant for private hot springs in Yilan:

'In their hearts, Taiwanese are shy to go naked in front of other people. If possible, they prefer private bath (I think that's most people). That's why Hot! Spring Onion only offers private rooms of different sizes and designs for friends and families'. 

Not such a natural experience though ....

From Naked At Monuments: 

Lisong Hot Springs, Taiwan

The country is increasingly becoming a great hot spring destination. 
On a recent blog entry (Dec. 2015) My Taiwan tour highlighted Taiwan's soaking capital of Beitou:

'The entrance to Beitou Park (北投公園) is just across the street from the metro station. There are a number of small Beitou Stream waterfalls within the park. “Early on, before many facilities were developed, Japanese nationals would come here and soak in the pools below the falls – naked, in the Japanese fashion. This caused quite a stir with locals, and Japanese officials thought it best to stop the practice, to maintain Japanese dignity and esteem.” (Today only foot-soaking is allowed in the stream.) Small inns and baths began to pop up'.

A good site for more info on Taiwan's soak is a recent (Jan. 3) posting on rtaiwanr:

'Apart from night markets, hot springs in Taiwan are the must-see for many visitors. Hot springs are loved not only for their novelty, but also for their therapeutic benefits, as they provide relief to nervous, digestive, circulatory or organ disorders. This is because hot springs emerge from the very depths of the Earth, meaning that their waters carry a powerful mix of natural minerals and chemicals that are beneficial to our health. Today, many resort-style hot springs have taken advantage of this, creating luxury spa and health centres where customers can take advantage of hot spring hydrotherapy. However, many Taiwanese still prefer to go and have a good soak in the much untouched hot springs, as their ancestors once did'.

 Life in color. Stop racism! #pemandian #air #panas #angseri #tabanan #bali #stop #racism #nature #green #hotspring 

source

Lessons

How to learn from / about Japan and Japanese customs? From anime (artifice.com)? 
Concerning the onsen:

'does anime teach viewers about how to use bath houses? There is a very specific way to use an onsen and every one will have slightly different rules so it can be helpful to look for a sign'.

Not much assistance. 
A Japanese onsen (and anime) could also teach us about body acceptance and concepts of shame. 
Alas the author only notes that not wearing shoes inside is a rule one learns from onsen culture in anime!

Then something different, but also a wise lesson.
From Reuters (27 Oct.), a two minute feature video on how a man made disaster could possibly be less of a disaster. Named Lupindo after the company that caused the mud stream to start, there might be some way to gain from attracting tourists. 
Plausible, though the mud is noted as poisonous. 
And it could be another 100 years before the mud stops flowing (source). Check for a scientific based discussion on wikipedia.

Advisable
A quick ramble through the region:

• Burma

Finding a hot spring in Burma by guymaclaury (in photo above):

'At the end of the day, as the sun was getting ready to set, we found the hot spring. Our group dwindled from 6 to 4 because of sickness and the heat.

We were lost while searching for this hot spring when a local who didn't speak English guided us to it. Perfect way to end a long, arduous day on bicycles in the heat'.

Fear not, there are more sophisticated soaks in Burma than the puddle above. Example:

#Shvitzing in the #hotsprings #myanmar #inlelake #mountaintop

source

• Indonesia

Aroengbinang has a couple of recent blog entries on the hot springs of Tirta Sanita Ciseeng and Ciparay, both in the vicinity of Bogor, Java.
On the Tirta Sanita Ciseeng hot spring:

'One of the VIP soaking tubs at Tirta Sanita Ciseeng Hot Spring compound which can only be used by one person at a time. Please be advised that a couple is forbidden using the VIP soaking tubs at the same time, even though they are legitimate husband and wife. It is probably better that way to avoid any bad impression and abuse of the facility'.

Quite an interesting blogger he has other entries on the hot springs Kuningan Sangkanurip, Walini and Gunung Pancar.

An introduction to Guci hot water in Tegal regency.

 

#hotsprings #samosir #sumatra #indonesia

source

• Malaysia

A map of Malaysian hot springs. Misses half I think.
 
Here's another not included hot spring. Malaysian Traveller (Dec. 28) visits Dusun Tua hot spring, Selangor:

'There is no entrance charge at present but there is a donation box where visitors can contribute to the cost of maintaining the changing rooms, toilets and other facilities'.

Recent other vists include Kuala Kubu, Selayang and Hulu Tamu.

Di Malaysia pun ada Onsen la. Kalau agak agak jammed otw kerja tu singgah jap la kolam air panas , kasi buang toksin dalam badan biaq tak malas jaa, buang penyakit badan then buang semak kat kapla biaq tak serabut. Kalau nak buang penyakit hati lagi senang, zikir je, Masyallah. #onsen #kemalaysiakekita #jejakmalaysiamiyul #selayangkusayang #kolamairpanasmenggelegak #bolehmasaktelur #jgnminumnntmabukpiau #takpanaske #akuygmandikoygpanas #kodahkenapa #hdr 

Selayang, source

One of Malaysia's more well-known hot springs, is that of Bentong. It however is not a commercial for soaking. 

Azrin went there last October and was not bowled over by his stay at the newish Suria hot spring resort nor by the soaking opportunities at the hotel:

'Waterwise, kids pool, flipping cold. Not even bluish. Unchorinated I suppose. Hot pools had water fed in, piping hot and I do not recall the natural pool being this hot, about 60'c or so I figure they recycled the water. No natural sulphuric smell but of my old school longkang back in Rulang. Anyway, I got my cheap fix. Not so cheap. My eyes are itchy from the haze too. Reminder to oneself, go to the natural pool'.

 泡 溫泉之寧靜心靈，一切歸零。 [herb] [leaves] [fallen_leaf] [hotsprings] [high_brightness] #hotdippingpot #geothermalwater #relaxingtime #happyday #haveanicedayahead #happiness #happy #holiday #lovelife #natural #goodmood #hotsprings

Yes, you guessed correctly, it's Banjaran got spring. Source

• Philipines

Mainit Spring in Malabuyoc by outoftownblog:

'The entrance fee was only twenty pesos. The tourist spot consists of multiple springs of flowing water naturally heated by underground sulfuric rock. One mini-spring had the highest temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius. Dipping my finger to test the temperature, the water was indeed very hot'.

 

2014 - 2015 Year Ender Mainit Hot Spring Photo Taken: April 12, 2015 #vscoph #vscocebu #vscocam #springs #hotsprings #nature #malabuyoc #cebusouth #cebu #igers #igerscebu #wanderlust #choosephilippines #igtravel #travelph #travel #pinasmuna #cebukeepsmegoing #ig_philippines #bestshots_ph #vscophilippines #iluvcebu #travel_philippines #mobilephotography

source

A scientific study ((Jago et al., 2015) Science Direct, Dec. 21) on pumping hot spring water in Calamba and Los Baños in the Philippines. Note they refer to both towns having together more than 500 (!) hot spring resorts / spa's. 
Part of their conclusion:

'Hot spring water resorts and spas in Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna are estimated to consume a large volume of groundwater which could result to over-extraction and decrease in groundwater quantity. However, monitoring of actual usage is difficult as most of these resorts do not have water use permits. The Water Code of the Philippines requires water users to register and apply for permits for water allocation, but still many resorts have not yet registered with the NWRB. If groundwater extraction is left unregulated, water availability for the resorts industry and for other uses in the future, will be negatively affected'.

• Singapore

Trying to recreate the real thing. From the ikeda spa site:

'As the hinoki wood comes in contact with hot water, it releases a unique type of skin-soothing oil that is widely used in Japanese skincare products. The spa waters are infused with interestingly-scented onsen (hot spring) bath salts to recreate the ultimate onsen experience'.

 

[heart_eyes] Who needs to go Japan when you can onsen like at @ikedaspa [bathtub] #throwback #filming #ikedaspa #onsen #relax #channelu #clarkequay #prestige #japan  

source

•  Thailand

 

Murky #onsen #hotspring water #ChiangDao, #ChiangMai, Northern #Thailand  

source

Note: 

Jago, K.A.B., F.P Sirignan, R. Balangue-Tarriela, M. Taniguchi, Y. K. Reyes, R. Lloren, M.A. Peña, E. Bagalihog (2015) Hot spring resort development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in water use regulation. Science direct: Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Vol. 4, Part B. Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.