Do you need to get completely naked in the onsen pools? Find out here. By Mia Chenyze - 13 May As Singaporeans wait every day with bated breath for the announcement that Japan will finally be open, why not bring the Japanese experience to you? It's considerably large with a spacious 16, sq ft space, and a total of 11 onsen pools - 5 in the women's section and 6 in the men's. The onsen pools are segregated by sex, and located within the locker rooms.
So no, you can't book private or family onsen pools. Of course, you can top up for spa treatments too, but I'm really pleased that it's possible to have a great time without paying for anything more than the entry fee. The fee is quite comprehensive, really. Since it's not advisable to soak in the hot springs for too long, you can always take a break at the lounge more on that later to nap or read a book, before heading back to the pools again.
There's complimentary cold hojicha tea at the cafe too. Upon entry, you'll be given a towel and your choice of yukata from a selection of pretty patterns. That comes in useful when you want to head out for a massage treatment, get some food at the cafe, or nua at the lounge.
You'll also be asked if you are comfortable going commando, or if you'd like a set of disposable underwear. There's really no pressure either way, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the disaposable underwear were actually quite flattering for all types of figures!
They're black with a knit-like weave and resemble a bandeau-style bikini set; a far, far cry from the cringe-worthy undies that some spas provide. And of course, for the self-conscious ones, it's quite a relief that there's one less body image issue to grapple with. The receptionists at the locker room are very friendly and will gladly brief you on what to do if it's your first visit to an onsen. The lockers are reasonably large, but if you've got an oversized tote stuffed in, there isn't much space to really hang your clothes, so if you've got important work appointments afterwards, you'll need to plan your attire to something more wrinkle-friendly!
