Let’s talk about nudity

The first time I went to Japan it was with my little brother. We went to Hakone, a region known for onsens - hot water baths, usually situated around a volcanic area. I had not brought a bathing suit on that trip as it was in April and still Spring. When we learned that the hotel had an onsen, I went to the reception to ask if the gift shop had swimwear for sale. He barely spoke English, but indicated no by crossing his arms. 

As we approached the onsen we translated the set of rules on the door using our phone cameras, only to learn no tattoos were allowed and also no swimsuit, you had to go fully naked. 

Back then, I was just not open enough or ready to go full nude in front of strangers, and we ended up not dipping our toes in the warm hot springs. 

I went back to Japan later that year to work the ski season. The first time my roommate met me I was taking of my pants, let out a small scream and covered myself (kinda embarrassing to meet someone half naked for the first time). But the first time I met my roommate, she was also taking off her clothes, fully, without flinching. To when I learned that some cultures are way more relaxed around public nudity, may I say Aussies. 

But now it wasn’t Spring it was full on Winter, and the hot water was more tempting. Without a car, I walked alone to explore the area in my first few days full of excitement, I walked 45 minutes in the cold and in a blizzard to get to the closest onsen. I read the rules, which were the same as the one in Hakone, paid and made my way to the ladies lockers, where multiple japanese ladies were walking around fully in the nude. I grabbed a basket, put my belongings, and took a breath of courage to take off my underwear. Got in the onsen room, sat on a potty, and washed myself. To my surprise, no one looked, no one cared. It felt quite good. 

Later on in the season, onsens were now part of everyone’s daily routine. It could cure anything, a headache, a cold, a rut. We were now organizing onsens visits as off days activities. 

I had the deepest chats with my friends in the onsen. There is something really enjoyable about having spaces where only women are allowed, separating both genders. We talked for hours in all sorts of positions, sitting on a rock, and looking like snow monkeys. There is something very primal being all naked together, but also very liberating. 

I realized all bodies are beautiful. Of all forms and all shapes. The liberating feeling of existing without performing and without sexualizing nudity. We come from dust and back to dust we go. We borrow this body just for a speck of existence. It is our vehicle that carries us through life and what a beautiful thing to just be.