I had the reverse culture shock when entering a sauna for the first time in Canada as a German, going in there and everyone turning in shock and horror to watch me as if I had three heads upon entering naked
@@lemursandpies In Finland, their public saunas usually have time for separate male and female bathing, but it can also be mixed. They don't wear anything, the towel is just for putting on the hot bench so that you don't burn yourself. Not unusual to see completely naked people emerging from saunas to jump in lakes or the sea or to roll in the snow.
@@banana9106 ah sorry i meant to reply for the culture shock in Canada. But since you say the Finnish sauna was a lot, what is the norm for the UK saunas? In Poland in public saunas in larger cities it's common to be yelled at if you enter in a bathing suit. You can be totally naked on a towel, or wrapped in a towel. As long as there's no direct body contact (including feet) on the wood. In smaller towns people don't usually care what you enter the sauna in. My biggest culture shock in Germany was people just walking around naked/relaxing naked. I feel like you can be naked in the sauna, the pools etc. But when just walking around and relaxing in the sunlight i think it's respectful to wrap your towel around you.
If you go to Baden Baden in Germany, they have lots of baths and spas there. They have gender specific areas and gender mixed as well, and also special days. All naked of course and they give you scrubs and special treatments and you go through a whole regimen and at the end they do more and then you get wrapped and take a nap! The experience is quite something… Baden means Bath.
Before the US influence on Japan, the baths in Japan were also mixed. The Americans brought their prudishness to Japan. Between the 70's and 2000's Germany was also more open to nudity, but in the 20's Germany and Europe too is becoming more and more prudish. This is also due to the very high number of immigrants
well to be fair the "american prudishness" comes from our English puritanical heritage. also, scholars believe these issues are being exacerbated by an overly litigious society when it comes to sexual interaction in trying to remove the sexual connotation from all social interactions (work, school etc) Its actually probably one of the biggest problems we face in the US as a society. It should be a very simple concept to understand that nudity does not always equal sex, but many fail to see it.
I had the same experience when I was at a German sauna in Bavaria. Believe me when I tell you, the average person is not really that interesting to look at in the nude, and after about two minutes, you just get used to it. As the saying goes, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all.” 😂
i have always the feeling, those with the least interesting body types are those who run around naked the most. its probably true, if you show off your beautiful body parts... someone will steal them by starring them away!!
I went to Austria in September and stayed at a spa resort in the Thermenland area south of Vienna. There, too, they had a very large sauna area which was mixed genders. Even the locker rooms and showers were unisex. My experience was similar to yours - it is awkward at first but it wears off and becomes very freeing. Nobody really cares what you look like and nobody stares. It's just very natural - men and women, singles, couples, and families.
In my faith we have nudity like this and nobody stares at anyone. It's just a part of culture. We take baths and lay around as we eat and visit. You get use to it
@@rorykeane7527 It's really not like that in other cultures. It would be like someone in a country where men don't wear shorts being shocked to see bare legs in America and saying, "But don't you find it a bit shocking seeing men in shorts?"
If you are visiting Munich, you should try Königliche Kristall-Therme (more traditional style) and Therme Erding. Those 2 have some of the best rituals (Aufguss program) you can find!
Awesome video!! I wanted to do the same thing for the area i live in Upper Franken, North Bavaria. Around where i live there are many Therme(hot springs) and these places are local and visitors attraction for the cold winter we have here and they are truly affordable. The places I go mostly are in Weißenstadt (Sieben Quelle) and Bad Steben (Therme Bad Steben). Yes, most Asian countries will be in a world of culture naked shock call FKK Freikörperkultur (nudeism mostly at Lakes in the eastern areas, like Leipzig). Many countries have problem being naked in public without thinking is some perversion, but in Germany, areas that are FKK friendly, its like being in the Garden of Eden. Everyone is naked and carefree of anything. My 1st time going to one of these lakes with my wife and daughter, I was in shock but free minded comfortable at the same time. After going many times, it just become normal and this is why I really love about the German culture. They are not sticklers like Hollywood had made them out to be. The quality of life here is extremely high and they know how to party and take care of business!
This was presented very well. I’ve visited Germany twice and was not aware of these saunas. I fully intend to visit Germany again and look forward to trying a sauna. Thank you.
You should try Netherlands wellness center. It’s (probably) the same as in Germany but it’s always nuked in sauna and baths as well. Many centers (even the new ones) proudly announced there’s no swimwear days or women days. I got the green light from my wife only because the baths was nuked … yeah, my wife is Japanese and never liked swimwear. Anyway, it is totally comfortable to be naked in the Netherlands spa even mixed which is not true unfortunately in Japan.
I went to the sauna in Maastricht which is nearby Aachen, called 'Thermal 2000'. It was a huge sauna on a hillock, with both indoor and outdoor pools with log huts and dry and wet saunas. There, too it was for mixed genders. Likewise, the locker room and showers too were unisex.For a shy person like me i felt extremely awkward in the beginning , since nobody was bothered i felt little relaxed later. its just getting use to.
I have not been in Japan, but in South Korea many times. The natural spas with saunas in the country side are great, simple, quiet, comfortable, for women and men seperate, so l felt relaxed. At the entrance you left all your belongings, got 2 towels and a bathrobe. No posh interior like in Aachen, all in nature, grass, trees, and stones. The pools had different temperatures, some very hot, steamy, indoors, and outdoors. The saunas were compartments only for one person. And the best thing was, no-one spoke. One heard only the water, and saw smiley faces. The local women came too, to wash and clean themselves in an extra section. I also enjoyed each time a full massage from divine hands. Every time l came back to Seoul from this Spa bath in this village , l felt rejuvenated, and happy. A heavenly experience, because one thing l do not like in our Western Spas, saunas is the chatter. The mouths are never still. Despite l have not been in Japan, one of my favourite authors Haruki Murakami described in detail perfectly a natural spring bath in a village in the mountains, where the protagonist met a monkey he befriended, who could speak, that l could see the scenery before my eyes. Murakami is a master in story telling, describing characters, moods, landscapes, and illusions. Thank you.
Come to Norway, we have a lovely one here that looks surprisingly like this one. It didnt take long to get used to mixed naked bathing. Many wear official bathing suits that you have to buy at the facility (and can reuse). Very relaxing. The one near me is called The Well and is in a town called Kolbotn, just outside the parameter of Oslo
As an American it just took me one time to get use to it. I have been to several Korean Spas in San Diego, but it was not co-Ed. I learned if you think someone is looking at you, you’re looking at them. The Germans think nothing of nudity in public. It’s simply part of their culture
Indeed. Germans call it FKK (Frei Körper Kultur or free body culture) and consider it healthy for body and mind. Apart from Spa's there are beaches where nudity is a common culture. Such beaches are also found in many resorts in Europe, mostly in the more remote locations.
This may be something specific to Germany. They have something there called "Freikörperkultur" or FKK. It's basically the idea that it's okay to be naked in the outdoors. Sometimes you will just see sunbathers completely naked in public parks! To the English and especially Americans, this is probably as weird or weirder than it is to Japanese.
Not in Portland Oregon! We have many nude people around, on bikes, taking walks, ect. you have to put clothes on to go eat at a restaurant or to go into a shop but otherwise, naked is normal so long as your just relaxing or doing sports.
@@lynnpayne6262 ...and parts of California, too. There are exceptions, of course, but I would suggest the vast majority of the English speaking world would find _Japanese onsen_ embarrassing, never mind the sort of baths you'd find in Germany.
FKK is sadly dying in germany. young people do not do it anymore or much less. back in the day FKK was some kind of activism. it had ideology behind it. germans actually are pretty shy and ashamed. sauna culture is a phenomena but definitely not representive for the whole population. i wouldnt call clothfree thermal baths as FKK though. FKK usually is in public areas like parks and beaches. i wish this would get a revival and doig things clothfree would become more a thing. for example also in non sauna areas.. like sliding and normal swimming. it feels so good to swim and do things cloth free. people cannot understand until they try...
@@meggi8048 you are right. smartphone-filming and shaming has something to do with it, i guess. that many people are afraid to go naked in public.... if everyone only knew how good it feels....
I was 19, living in Germany. My boss decided the whole department would go to a spa. At age of 19, sitting there with all my colleagues (including the ultra hot receptionist), was something I wasn’t prepared for (I was glad to jump into cold pool, put it that way)
1) If you're in Berlin, I can highly recommend the vabali spa near the Hauptbahnhof, it's really, really nice there! You have a lot (!) of infusions there, some with free peelings, nice waterbeds, pools, steam baths, Mineral Relaxation Pool with several ceremonies a day. in total there are 13 saunas, 6 relaxation rooms, 3 lounges, 2 Fireplace room, 1 restaurant, 1 bar, pools, and more:D
You forgot to Tell us, that there are some „unspoken“ Rules in Saunas in Germany. By the way this is the finish sauna Tradition. You dont have to take seat without towel, normally when Walk around you have to wrap arround It to your hips, use bathing shoes. Dont stear at anybody. And at usal there is an womens only day in every sauna.
Many newbees in germany are shocked cause we don't wrap our towels around our hips. Just walk nude. Maybe wear the towel over one shoulder or in our hands while walking around. No hiding. 🤗 But if you sit down anywhere, you should better sit on your towel. Otherwise we stare at you more than usual. 🤨
Almost exactly forty years ago in a sauna in the Austrian Alps I was talking to the man who was in charge there when a woman came out of the sauna, naked as everyone else there. She was complaining that there was a pervert in the sauna among them: turned out an American had his swimming trunks on. He had to leave immediately.
Went to the biggest spa I’ve ever seen in Berlin located on the top of a shopping mall. Amazing, loved it on swimsuits were in the pop but everywhere else nudity, flip flops and towels over the shoulder. Wonderful experience. I am from Montana where there are several hot springs, thank you to the caldera in Yellowstone National Park.
In Japan, there are also Onsen for both, and traditionally, not separated. As Japanese and Chinese do not necessarily share all the cultures, there are differences among Europeans.
I've been to two "mixed gender" onsen in Japan. At one, we were all required to wear short white robes even in the water. At the other, the women wore a large towel or short blue dress (500円 at the entrance) even in the water while the men didn't wear anything in the water, but wore a small towel around their waist (or held it in front of them) until they got in.
Sauna is Finnish word and sauna culture comes as you saw in Germany comes from Finland. We use birch branches to hit our self or others, to clean and get more hotter in the sauna. Being naked and mix saunas are normal, but now a days there is more and more separated saunas. We have more saunas in Finland than cars and it is common to even have rental apartment with sauna in it. If you don't have own sauna, every apartment housing have shared saunas for monthly fee.
@@go4it764 sauna used to be for families. Also sauna was place where women gave birth, and dead ones had their last wash. Times change, and so it is more proper to have gender safe places to use sauna. No matter which gender person feels to be.
You might have missed out on the best part of the sauna ritual - a dip in an ice-cold bath or tub after the hot sauna and then resting. The blood surges around the body and re-invigorates you!
While there are quite a few hot springs spas throughout Europe not all of them have high sulfur content water (smells of rotten eggs). Aachen does have high sulfur content in it's spring water and according to medical trivia Charlemagne had gout and found that the high sulfur content baths provided him with significant relief from his symptoms. This is allegedly or perhaps one of the reasons why he chose Aachen to be the center of his Holy Roman Empire. A beautiful town that was heavily bombed during WW2. Parts including the cathedral were beautifully restored though some of the stained glass windows were irreparably damaged. I spent the years 1971 to 1978 studying at the RWTH Aachen University. Fond memories. Thank you for this nice video.
Are these public spas clean and sanitary? Are the people there clean and healthy? I don’t bathe with strangers or even the majority of people I do know so this whole concept sounds like a wet warm germ inoculating experience to me. We’re all so different.
Hello Wes I m belgian living in Paris. I follow your videos.. Amazing.. I saw the one in Bruges Great (of course my country lol) I like to listen your comments too. I wille give you news from here sometimes
Hello Nomadic Wes, i living in the near of Aachen, in the north eifel at Cologne! The nature of the eifel is a wonderful place too, but the landscape of Japan is a dream of beauty, the mount fuji i find so is very great!
How do you even know any of this? That Aachen is a hot spring place. And that the cathedral and its history. I'm from Germany and I don't know any of that HAHAH
I met an attractive lady in the sauna and we had a nice conversation. We decided to go for a drink afterwards. When she came out dressed, the attraction vanished. Her style was absolutely not mine. 😊
The funny thing is, the warderobes and showers are gender separated, but the sauna area itself is not. The "feeling uncomfortable" is especially true for teenagers, who still are unsure about their body, that's why Sauna guests are usually somewhat older. 20-85. But sometimes some 6-10 year olds inbetween.
That makes sense in a facility like Karolus-Thermen, where there is a clothed area with pools as well as the sauna area for an additional fee. But in pure saunas, yeah, weird. Liquidrom in Berlin has a common changing area
usually onle people at a certain age are allowed in clothfree areas... sometimes its 14+ , or 16+ or even 18+ ... though they do not controll it that hard. you can get into it with 14+ if only 16+ is allowed. i think this is more to ensure "quiet" and noise free in that areas... as younger kids tend to be noisy.
Trust me that southern Europeans and most British or North Americans would find it unusual as well. That's not a European thing. It's a Nordic\Scandinavian and Germanic thing.
I have lived in both Germany and Japan, and have gone to saunas/public baths in both countries. Try the nude area at the public parks in Germany! Not just sunbathing, but people playing soccer in shoes ONLY!
So true. We have family in Germany, and I so wish American culture could adopt the German mindset of non sexual public nudity. But the American entertainment industry chasing the sex dollar will always hyper sexualize nudity for $$$$ Making it difficult for Americans, especially young adults, to see nudity as anything other than sexual.
I was surprising too, when went at first time at german sauna too with mens and womans fully naked. It was in 1989. At first time I was thinking that people makes a bordel there, but was wrong, they are well behaved :)
The awkward thing about sauna nudity is 99% of us look perfectly hideous naked. The other awkward thing is when the 1% who are perfect are there, they are very interesting.
well, sometimes we need to experience such culture shock to learn the dynamics of human beings. Culture is relative. I myself had a culture shock when I visited Tokyo in 2018.
People talk about “the west” but there are lots of cultural differences between “western” people. Nudity is one of the areas where there are vast differences in attitude between countries.
I can tell you that the Dutch sauna’s are exactly the same. There are some special days when people can bathing suits but most of the time its the costumes of Adam and Eve. And there are a lot of saunas in Germany. Just ask Google maps.
Hahaha! I thought my German friend was joking when he told me that the sauna was mixed. Until we met up outside of the changing room n found out he was fully naked!
I understand that men and women in Japan bathed together without any clothes until the arrival of western missionaries who imposed their prudish values upon the country
I just found this video and waited to be horrified over some German misconception(s) about saunas. I lived namely in Germany for six years and commented on many occasions about their "saunas". But ... NO! It is really right to be naked in saunas (this is not the rule everywhere in Germany), but this waving of towel is really strange - but I can see the positive effects. Here I should mention that I am from FINLAND!
Actually it funny that he showed pictures of a geothermal area in New Zealand in the beginning where you must touch the water because it is caustic and toxic.
Well, I would say just get used to it. It's the same in saunas in Scandinavia, Holland and other countries in Europe. Did you try the nude beaches already?
You may be confused in Czech saunas! Some are in the German style - mixed genders and everyone is naked. Other saunas are reserved for either men or women (naked) during certain hours. And some saunas require wearing swimsuits inside. It is better to ask the staff at the entrance.
This sounds like a wonderful experience that I would really like to try myself. I would prefer being nude in the pool as well as I don't like wearing a swimsuit. Thank you for the video.
Hi Wes thank u fir sharing all your travel experiences. Naked saunas are fantastic . Separate saunas for men and women in Asia are fantastic and I have to get used to mixed gender but I’m sure I will truly enjoy it as I experienced it before not in a too crowded places. 👌👏👍
I have belonged to various gyms in my life and I have always enjoyed the saunas and steam rooms nude. Of course they are gender specific, but ever since my 20’s til now (I’m 70), I always bring a towel to sit on and go naked. I think I’d feel faint if I had to wear a bathing suit. The last time I was in a sauna, a couple of weeks ago, several young women came in all in bathing suits. I was surprised, but assumed they were perhaps going into the pool after. They spoke a different language (Farsi)? So maybe from their culture, nudity is uncomfortable. I think they were surprised at me. I’m pretty fit, so I don’t have body issues, which I’m grateful for. 🇨🇦
To be fair - the basics of Sauna culture should be taken from the origin Finland, and then apropriate it to match the cultural setting you wanna place it in. The basic shouldn't be a shocker, it should be thought of, as how it originally is, the schocker should be the cultural settings way of apropriating the experiance...
There are big differences within Europe when it comes to nudity in places like saunas. When it comes to saunas, you should come over to the home of the sauna - Finland. Usually the saunas are separated by gender in Finland, but there are mixed saunas as well. It also depends on if the sauna is public or private. Usually you're supposed to be nude in the sauna, but in some saunas it's quite common to have your swimsuit on. Especially if tourists are common in that particular sauna.
Sauna mit Badebeckleidung ist nicht gut für den Körper . Wenn schon Sauna dann immer gemischt . Bis 1990 war auch an der Ostsee ,im Osten , FKK mehr verbreitet wie heut . Sehr schade .
Yeah, Europe is always very different from the Americas. It’s the Americas where more people are shy to be in a public nude place, unless the purpose of the place is for different reasons, or are a cultural experience brought from Eurasia.
In Sweden, public saunas can be found in many neighborhoods in the larger towns and cities. Some Swedes have private spas in their homes. I once was a guest of a Swedish friend in northern Sweden, and he took me and three of his friends to a family sauna in one of their homes. I was surprised when they fully undressed, but they were close friends, so I followed their lead so as not to spoil the mood. As we sat naked together in the sauna, each one in turn laid down on a bench, and the others gave him a massage head to toe, front and back. I was more surprised that they were so comfortable with physical intimacy. After the four of them had received a massage, they look at me invitingly, and I lay down on the bench. The biggest surprise was that I became aroused by feeling their hands touching me. They continued as if it was natural and gave me a massage with a surprise ending.
You did not say if you enjoyed this experience. I can do the naked sauna only with women. Here in Australia, Melbourne, we have a big natural spa resort in Rye, also with sauna, but we leave the swimsuit on with mixed genders. Private in homes with family is different.
@@judykraska400 I was ambivalent at first. I felt embarrassed, and I also felt freedom and pleasure. My embarrassment did not last long, and my pleasure increased. On balance, I enjoyed the whole experience, but I would not do it with strangers.
Wherever there is bathing involved and a bit of space for privacy, there is an area reserved for nudity, like at the beach or a lake. That's how you can bathe naked in the central park of a big city lol or simply sunbathe. I personally like that.
I am scared of Japan's onsens, because the water temperature is soooo hot! I would take an hour to get into the water and probably broil like a lobster! I would need our Japanese tour guide friend here to help me survive! 🙄😳🐨☺☺
If that was already a culture shock, don't visit Munich and go through one of the parks... There's a fairly high chance at least a few people will be sunbathing completely naked 😇
I think the whole body shame and embarrassment in a western phenomenon ... I have never had a problem with nudity in either female or male company. I guess everyone is raised to either be comfortable in their own skin, or not. Which ever way they feel I always respect boundaries and cover up when I know the individual is uncomfortable with nudity in any form.
Your view of "western" culture when it comes to nudity is way off. Europeans in general don't really care but the North Americans especially the Americans are very upright and conservative. There's another famous spa town called Baden, you should try
I had heard about men and women being nude together in German Spas. I'm from the U.S., and I think a lot of people here are very self conscious about body image and therefore wouldn't go nude around others, even the same gender. When I was athletic and in my 20's, I wasn't self conscious, but I'm old and fat now, so I wouldn't go to a nude public spa.
My shock wasn’t at the co-ed nudity (which I was prepared for) but by the pungent body odor of some individuals which they manage to maintain even inside a wet area
Question: were there any spa areas that allowed bathing suits, or did all of them require full nudity? Also, was there an age requirement to go into the spa in Germany?
In the swimming section,there is no age reqirement.In the spa section(nudity required) age requirement is mostly 16(years)alone,or 14 accompanied by parents(adults).This is,because the spa is seen,as to relax in peace,without noise.
In some of the bigger german saunas, like Therme Erding by Munich, there's a "swimsuit" sauna section. But for the most part the sauna/steam room part is without swimsuits for hygienic reasons. In the Netherlands, they're all without swimsuits except some have a select swimsuit day once a week or once a month. Most saunas will have an age limit somewhere between 12 and 16 in order to ensure a relaxing environment.
@@fish3977 I agree! You are in the sauna to sweat out impurities and then shower to wash it all down the drain. A swimsuit would soak up all the dirt and smell. It would be like sitting in a filthy diaper!
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I am from México. I love those SPA’s in Germany. Everything is so natural and relaxing like Mother Nature. They’re wonderful
I had the reverse culture shock when entering a sauna for the first time in Canada as a German, going in there and everyone turning in shock and horror to watch me as if I had three heads upon entering naked
Don't try that in the UK either, we are not that open minded either. My ex dared me to go in the sauna in Finland, I took in a very large newspaper!🤣
So were they wrapped in a towel or sauna "dress" or just in bathing suits?
@@lemursandpies In Finland, their public saunas usually have time for separate male and female bathing, but it can also be mixed. They don't wear anything, the towel is just for putting on the hot bench so that you don't burn yourself. Not unusual to see completely naked people emerging from saunas to jump in lakes or the sea or to roll in the snow.
@@banana9106 ah sorry i meant to reply for the culture shock in Canada.
But since you say the Finnish sauna was a lot, what is the norm for the UK saunas?
In Poland in public saunas in larger cities it's common to be yelled at if you enter in a bathing suit. You can be totally naked on a towel, or wrapped in a towel. As long as there's no direct body contact (including feet) on the wood. In smaller towns people don't usually care what you enter the sauna in.
My biggest culture shock in Germany was people just walking around naked/relaxing naked. I feel like you can be naked in the sauna, the pools etc. But when just walking around and relaxing in the sunlight i think it's respectful to wrap your towel around you.
@@lemursandpies In the UK, people would enter in a bathing suit unless it is some sort of br0thel or s3x club.
thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. nice photography and narration
If you go to Baden Baden in Germany, they have lots of baths and spas there. They have gender specific areas and gender mixed as well, and also special days. All naked of course and they give you scrubs and special treatments and you go through a whole regimen and at the end they do more and then you get wrapped and take a nap! The experience is quite something… Baden means Bath.
I think you mean regimen. A regiment is a group of soldiers. Not sure you would want to go through that in a spa.
Thanks Patricia, haha… bad mistake!
Baden Baden has great spas, Friedrichsbad is the oldest in modern style bathhouse in Germany. The casino in Baden Baden is also amazing.
Before the US influence on Japan, the baths in Japan were also mixed. The Americans brought their prudishness to Japan. Between the 70's and 2000's Germany was also more open to nudity, but in the 20's Germany and Europe too is becoming more and more prudish. This is also due to the very high number of immigrants
That's interesting, I didn't know that
well to be fair the "american prudishness" comes from our English puritanical heritage. also, scholars believe these issues are being exacerbated by an overly litigious society when it comes to sexual interaction in trying to remove the sexual connotation from all social interactions (work, school etc) Its actually probably one of the biggest problems we face in the US as a society. It should be a very simple concept to understand that nudity does not always equal sex, but many fail to see it.
Honestly, I highly doubt a whole culture is built upon the American culture. Americans brought their prudishness, 😄, what a joke.
@@tigergreg8 no one said a 'whole culture".. american cultural influence in other countries however is very much a thing.
@@Wolfgame30 Sounds like weak minded people. Following the majority isn’t always a good idea.
I had the same experience when I was at a German sauna in Bavaria. Believe me when I tell you, the average person is not really that interesting to look at in the nude, and after about two minutes, you just get used to it. As the saying goes, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all.” 😂
i have always the feeling, those with the least interesting body types are those who run around naked the most.
its probably true, if you show off your beautiful body parts... someone will steal them by starring them away!!
I went to Austria in September and stayed at a spa resort in the Thermenland area south of Vienna. There, too, they had a very large sauna area which was mixed genders. Even the locker rooms and showers were unisex. My experience was similar to yours - it is awkward at first but it wears off and becomes very freeing. Nobody really cares what you look like and nobody stares. It's just very natural - men and women, singles, couples, and families.
In my faith we have nudity like this and nobody stares at anyone. It's just a part of culture. We take baths and lay around as we eat and visit. You get use to it
@@lynnpayne6262 Exactly. It didn't take long for me to become totally comfortable with it.
That exactly like it should be in tradition. So it’s no problem at all
I'm sure most people have a sneaky look though.....
Or maybe that's just me 😂😅
@@rorykeane7527 It's really not like that in other cultures. It would be like someone in a country where men don't wear shorts being shocked to see bare legs in America and saying, "But don't you find it a bit shocking seeing men in shorts?"
If you are visiting Munich, you should try Königliche Kristall-Therme (more traditional style) and Therme Erding. Those 2 have some of the best rituals (Aufguss program) you can find!
Awesome video!! I wanted to do the same thing for the area i live in Upper Franken, North Bavaria. Around where i live there are many Therme(hot springs) and these places are local and visitors attraction for the cold winter we have here and they are truly affordable. The places I go mostly are in Weißenstadt (Sieben Quelle) and Bad Steben (Therme Bad Steben). Yes, most Asian countries will be in a world of culture naked shock call FKK Freikörperkultur (nudeism mostly at Lakes in the eastern areas, like Leipzig). Many countries have problem being naked in public without thinking is some perversion, but in Germany, areas that are FKK friendly, its like being in the Garden of Eden. Everyone is naked and carefree of anything. My 1st time going to one of these lakes with my wife and daughter, I was in shock but free minded comfortable at the same time. After going many times, it just become normal and this is why I really love about the German culture. They are not sticklers like Hollywood had made them out to be. The quality of life here is extremely high and they know how to party and take care of business!
Wow. You've just given me a place to visit passing through Germany to Holland. Thanks. Good video.
These spas are beautiful! I really need to experience this! Thank you for an interesting vlog!
✌🏻😉✌🏻
Try Therme Erding ein near Munich. It is Germany's biggest.
This was presented very well. I’ve visited Germany twice and was not aware of these saunas. I fully intend to visit Germany again and look forward to trying a sauna. Thank you.
Look up Google Maps for "Therme". They are all over Germany, but in different sizes and style. The biggest is Therme Erding ein near Munich.
You should try Netherlands wellness center. It’s (probably) the same as in Germany but it’s always nuked in sauna and baths as well. Many centers (even the new ones) proudly announced there’s no swimwear days or women days.
I got the green light from my wife only because the baths was nuked … yeah, my wife is Japanese and never liked swimwear. Anyway, it is totally comfortable to be naked in the Netherlands spa even mixed which is not true unfortunately in Japan.
Nuked?
@@paulmichael5527 Yes. People disassociate nudity and intimate relation.
I went to the sauna in Maastricht which is nearby Aachen, called 'Thermal 2000'. It was a huge sauna on a hillock, with both indoor and outdoor pools with log huts and dry and wet saunas. There, too it was for mixed genders. Likewise, the locker room and showers too were unisex.For a shy person like me i felt extremely awkward in the beginning , since nobody was bothered i felt little relaxed later. its just getting use to.
I have not been in Japan, but in South Korea many times. The natural spas with saunas in the country side are great, simple, quiet, comfortable, for women and men seperate, so l felt relaxed. At the entrance you left all your belongings, got 2 towels and a bathrobe. No posh interior like in Aachen, all in nature, grass, trees, and stones. The pools had different temperatures, some very hot, steamy, indoors, and outdoors. The saunas were compartments only for one person. And the best thing was, no-one spoke. One heard only the water, and saw smiley faces. The local women came too, to wash and clean themselves in an extra section. I also enjoyed each time a full massage from divine hands. Every time l came back to Seoul from this Spa bath in this village , l felt rejuvenated, and happy. A heavenly experience, because one thing l do not like in our Western Spas, saunas is the chatter. The mouths are never still.
Despite l have not been in Japan, one of my favourite authors Haruki Murakami described in detail perfectly a natural spring bath in a village in the mountains, where the protagonist met a monkey he befriended, who could speak, that l could see the scenery before my eyes. Murakami is a master in story telling, describing characters, moods, landscapes, and illusions. Thank you.
Come to Norway, we have a lovely one here that looks surprisingly like this one. It didnt take long to get used to mixed naked bathing. Many wear official bathing suits that you have to buy at the facility (and can reuse). Very relaxing. The one near me is called The Well and is in a town called Kolbotn, just outside the parameter of Oslo
As an American it just took me one time to get use to it. I have been to several Korean Spas in San Diego, but it was not co-Ed. I learned if you think someone is looking at you, you’re looking at them. The Germans think nothing of nudity in public. It’s simply part of their culture
Indeed. Germans call it FKK (Frei Körper Kultur or free body culture) and consider it healthy for body and mind. Apart from Spa's there are beaches where nudity is a common culture. Such beaches are also found in many resorts in Europe, mostly in the more remote locations.
This may be something specific to Germany. They have something there called "Freikörperkultur" or FKK. It's basically the idea that it's okay to be naked in the outdoors. Sometimes you will just see sunbathers completely naked in public parks! To the English and especially Americans, this is probably as weird or weirder than it is to Japanese.
Not in Portland Oregon! We have many nude people around, on bikes, taking walks, ect. you have to put clothes on to go eat at a restaurant or to go into a shop but otherwise, naked is normal so long as your just relaxing or doing sports.
@@lynnpayne6262 ...and parts of California, too. There are exceptions, of course, but I would suggest the vast majority of the English speaking world would find _Japanese onsen_ embarrassing, never mind the sort of baths you'd find in Germany.
FKK is sadly dying in germany. young people do not do it anymore or much less. back in the day FKK was some kind of activism. it had ideology behind it.
germans actually are pretty shy and ashamed. sauna culture is a phenomena but definitely not representive for the whole population. i wouldnt call clothfree thermal baths as FKK though. FKK usually is in public areas like parks and beaches.
i wish this would get a revival and doig things clothfree would become more a thing. for example also in non sauna areas.. like sliding and normal swimming.
it feels so good to swim and do things cloth free. people cannot understand until they try...
@@meggi8048 you are right. smartphone-filming and shaming has something to do with it, i guess. that many people are afraid to go naked in public.... if everyone only knew how good it feels....
Thank you for sharing. Looks like a beautiful place.
You're a pleasure to watch !! your video's always just flow cheers from oz !!
I was 19, living in Germany. My boss decided the whole department would go to a spa. At age of 19, sitting there with all my colleagues (including the ultra hot receptionist), was something I wasn’t prepared for (I was glad to jump into cold pool, put it that way)
Probably got a little har don I guess
I used to visit many saunas in most of the prominent cities in Europe. They are the best place to relax. One will have a very different experience.
1) If you're in Berlin, I can highly recommend the vabali spa near the Hauptbahnhof, it's really, really nice there! You have a lot (!) of infusions there, some with free peelings, nice waterbeds, pools, steam baths, Mineral Relaxation Pool with several ceremonies a day. in total there are 13 saunas, 6 relaxation rooms, 3 lounges, 2 Fireplace room, 1 restaurant, 1 bar, pools, and more:D
You forgot to Tell us, that there are some „unspoken“ Rules in Saunas in Germany. By the way this is the finish sauna Tradition. You dont have to take seat without towel, normally when Walk around you have to wrap arround It to your hips, use bathing shoes. Dont stear at anybody. And at usal there is an womens only day in every sauna.
Many newbees in germany are shocked cause we don't wrap our towels around our hips. Just walk nude. Maybe wear the towel over one shoulder or in our hands while walking around. No hiding. 🤗 But if you sit down anywhere, you should better sit on your towel. Otherwise we stare at you more than usual. 🤨
@@alana8388 nah, the reason why people sit on their towel is that otherwise it’ll be a friggin’ hot experience
You are funny, and your facial expression reflects the culture shock you experienced. I would be, too, as an Asian myself.
i am from Belgium and you gave a good explanation guy
Almost exactly forty years ago in a sauna in the Austrian Alps I was talking to the man who was in charge there when a woman came out of the sauna, naked as everyone else there. She was complaining that there was a pervert in the sauna among them: turned out an American had his swimming trunks on. He had to leave immediately.
Hahahaha! 👍
Correct...😄...coz how possible b with cloths in sauna? No logic. U can only have a towel..
lol. I think that was me!
You made a nice video about my hometown ☺️
for me in middle east where we historically had public baths is also a shock :D
The sauna’s in the netherlands are the same.
My grandmother has a sauna in her house. It’s the best thing when I go visit her
Went to the biggest spa I’ve ever seen in Berlin located on the top of a shopping mall. Amazing, loved it on swimsuits were in the pop but everywhere else nudity, flip flops and towels over the shoulder. Wonderful experience. I am from Montana where there are several hot springs, thank you to the caldera in Yellowstone National Park.
In Japan, there are also Onsen for both, and traditionally, not separated. As Japanese and Chinese do not necessarily share all the cultures, there are differences among Europeans.
I've been to two "mixed gender" onsen in Japan. At one, we were all required to wear short white robes even in the water. At the other, the women wore a large towel or short blue dress (500円 at the entrance) even in the water while the men didn't wear anything in the water, but wore a small towel around their waist (or held it in front of them) until they got in.
面白かったです！Did you know, Charlemagne would bathe with sometimes over 100 people and would conduct meetings in large baths?
Very interesting video, thanks Wes! I loved your videos of my home of Italy, too.
Thank you! I miss Italy☺️
@@NomadicWes Understandably so; we both come from such beautiful places!
Sauna is Finnish word and sauna culture comes as you saw in Germany comes from Finland. We use birch branches to hit our self or others, to clean and get more hotter in the sauna. Being naked and mix saunas are normal, but now a days there is more and more separated saunas. We have more saunas in Finland than cars and it is common to even have rental apartment with sauna in it. If you don't have own sauna, every apartment housing have shared saunas for monthly fee.
Why are they becoming more gender separate?
@@go4it764 sauna used to be for families. Also sauna was place where women gave birth, and dead ones had their last wash. Times change, and so it is more proper to have gender safe places to use sauna. No matter which gender person feels to be.
This looked amazing, I'd love to try this and also a spa/sauna in Japan I think would be fantastic, Wes😀
You should try Japan's hot springs, I'm sure you'll love it😆
@@NomadicWes it's on my bucket list of things to do, Wes🥰
I would like to try if given the chance
You guys , lets form a travel group and let’s go. Wes will be our leader 👌👏👍
@@aleli6791 sounds like an adventure 👍
You might have missed out on the best part of the sauna ritual - a dip in an ice-cold bath or tub after the hot sauna and then resting. The blood surges around the body and re-invigorates you!
While there are quite a few hot springs spas throughout Europe not all of them have high sulfur content water (smells of rotten eggs). Aachen does have high sulfur content in it's spring water and according to medical trivia Charlemagne had gout and found that the high sulfur content baths provided him with significant relief from his symptoms. This is allegedly or perhaps one of the reasons why he chose Aachen to be the center of his Holy Roman Empire. A beautiful town that was heavily bombed during WW2. Parts including the cathedral were beautifully restored though some of the stained glass windows were irreparably damaged. I spent the years 1971 to 1978 studying at the RWTH Aachen University. Fond memories. Thank you for this nice video.
We like to dance in the sauna. Best song: Outkast - Hey Ya!
Are these public spas clean and sanitary? Are the people there clean and healthy? I don’t bathe with strangers or even the majority of people I do know so this whole concept sounds like a wet warm germ inoculating experience to me. We’re all so different.
I live in Aachen nice to See how you visit my city
Hello Wes I m belgian living in Paris. I follow your videos.. Amazing..
I saw the one in Bruges Great (of course my country lol)
I like to listen your comments too.
I wille give you news from here sometimes
Hello Nomadic Wes, i living in the near of Aachen, in the north eifel at Cologne!
The nature of the eifel is a wonderful place too, but the landscape of Japan is a dream of beauty, the mount fuji i find so is very great!
How do you even know any of this? That Aachen is a hot spring place. And that the cathedral and its history. I'm from Germany and I don't know any of that HAHAH
Greetings from Germany 😉😍
I think of the Caracalla Thermen in Baden-Baden. It looks like the Carolus Thermen.
I met an attractive lady in the sauna and we had a nice conversation. We decided to go for a drink afterwards. When she came out dressed, the attraction vanished. Her style was absolutely not mine. 😊
The funny thing is, the warderobes and showers are gender separated, but the sauna area itself is not.
The "feeling uncomfortable" is especially true for teenagers, who still are unsure about their body, that's why Sauna guests are usually somewhat older. 20-85. But sometimes some 6-10 year olds inbetween.
That makes sense in a facility like Karolus-Thermen, where there is a clothed area with pools as well as the sauna area for an additional fee. But in pure saunas, yeah, weird. Liquidrom in Berlin has a common changing area
When I was in Europa Bad and Vierortsauna in Karlsruhe, it was only 18 and above
usually onle people at a certain age are allowed in clothfree areas... sometimes its 14+ , or 16+ or even 18+ ... though they do not controll it that hard. you can get into it with 14+ if only 16+ is allowed.
i think this is more to ensure "quiet" and noise free in that areas... as younger kids tend to be noisy.
You will not see mixed public saunas in Canada where everyone is naked. Many public saunas in Canada expect people to wear shorts or a swimsuit.
Trust me that southern Europeans and most British or North Americans would find it unusual as well. That's not a European thing. It's a Nordic\Scandinavian and Germanic thing.
Is there any connection between these cultures?
I have lived in both Germany and Japan, and have gone to saunas/public baths in both countries. Try the nude area at the public parks in Germany! Not just sunbathing, but people playing soccer in shoes ONLY!
So true. We have family in Germany, and I so wish American culture could adopt the German mindset of non sexual public nudity. But the American entertainment industry chasing the sex dollar will always hyper sexualize nudity for $$$$ Making it difficult for Americans, especially young adults, to see nudity as anything other than sexual.
Visit Heidelberg , and find the way to the Schlopp
I have been in 4 Canadian naturist groups and the Spas and springs in Taiwan. It seems much more natural not having the wet bathing suit on.
Nice 👍 amazing
Never imagined visiting this city with the spa in my mind 😂
go to czechia and try one of the spas there.
East Europe Czech republic Poland Hungary etc. . is not beautiful
I want to try the japanese way.. i hope you to guide us😅
Great!!🎉🎉
The Rudas Baths in Budapest, Hungary are magnificent...buill during the Turkish occupation of the country centuries ago.
Excellent video as usual, I have heard of this before, Germans are different. When are you going to Berlin?
Thank you!!😆 Actually I'm already in Berlin haha
@@NomadicWes Excellent, would like to see your take on it, I haven't been there for many years.
I was surprising too, when went at first time at german sauna too with mens and womans fully naked. It was in 1989. At first time I was thinking that people makes a bordel there, but was wrong, they are well behaved :)
The awkward thing about sauna nudity is 99% of us look perfectly hideous naked. The other awkward thing is when the 1% who are perfect are there, they are very interesting.
well, sometimes we need to experience such culture shock to learn the dynamics of human beings. Culture is relative. I myself had a culture shock when I visited Tokyo in 2018.
I imagine so many foreigners have culture shock when visiting Japan as well!
People talk about “the west” but there are lots of cultural differences between “western” people. Nudity is one of the areas where there are vast differences in attitude between countries.
I can tell you that the Dutch sauna’s are exactly the same. There are some special days when people can bathing suits but most of the time its the costumes of Adam and Eve. And there are a lot of saunas in Germany. Just ask Google maps.
Hahaha! I thought my German friend was joking when he told me that the sauna was mixed. Until we met up outside of the changing room n found out he was fully naked!
I understand that men and women in Japan bathed together without any clothes until the arrival of western missionaries who imposed their prudish values upon the country
my favorite spa in germany is oase north of frankfurt.
I just found this video and waited to be horrified over some German misconception(s) about saunas. I lived namely in Germany for six years and commented on many occasions about their "saunas". But ... NO! It is really right to be naked in saunas (this is not the rule everywhere in Germany), but this waving of towel is really strange - but I can see the positive effects. Here I should mention that I am from FINLAND!
I can recomend Helsinki for publik saunas
Actually it funny that he showed pictures of a geothermal area in New Zealand in the beginning where you must touch the water because it is caustic and toxic.
Well, I would say just get used to it. It's the same in saunas in Scandinavia, Holland and other countries in Europe. Did you try the nude beaches already?
I've said this before -your English is good.
You may be confused in Czech saunas! Some are in the German style - mixed genders and everyone is naked. Other saunas are reserved for either men or women (naked) during certain hours. And some saunas require wearing swimsuits inside. It is better to ask the staff at the entrance.
He doesn't want to visit East Europe Czech republic Poland Hungary etc..
This sounds like a wonderful experience that I would really like to try myself. I would prefer being nude in the pool as well as I don't like wearing a swimsuit. Thank you for the video.
Hi Wes thank u fir sharing all your travel experiences. Naked saunas are fantastic . Separate saunas for men and women in Asia are fantastic and I have to get used to mixed gender but I’m sure I will truly enjoy it as I experienced it before not in a too crowded places. 👌👏👍
I have belonged to various gyms in my life and I have always enjoyed the saunas and steam rooms nude. Of course they are gender specific, but ever since my 20’s til now (I’m 70), I always bring a towel to sit on and go naked. I think I’d feel faint if I had to wear a bathing suit. The last time I was in a sauna, a couple of weeks ago, several young women came in all in bathing suits. I was surprised, but assumed they were perhaps going into the pool after. They spoke a different language (Farsi)? So maybe from their culture, nudity is uncomfortable. I think they were surprised at me. I’m pretty fit, so I don’t have body issues, which I’m grateful for. 🇨🇦
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. That‘s only natur!! It‘t the same in Switzerland!!! ☺️☺️☺️ diffrent coultur, my friend!!!!
To be fair - the basics of Sauna culture should be taken from the origin Finland, and then apropriate it to match the cultural setting you wanna place it in. The basic shouldn't be a shocker, it should be thought of, as how it originally is, the schocker should be the cultural settings way of apropriating the experiance...
There are big differences within Europe when it comes to nudity in places like saunas.
When it comes to saunas, you should come over to the home of the sauna - Finland. Usually the saunas are separated by gender in Finland, but there are mixed saunas as well. It also depends on if the sauna is public or private. Usually you're supposed to be nude in the sauna, but in some saunas it's quite common to have your swimsuit on. Especially if tourists are common in that particular sauna.
Sauna mit Badebeckleidung ist nicht gut für den Körper . Wenn schon Sauna dann immer gemischt . Bis 1990 war auch an der Ostsee ,im Osten , FKK mehr verbreitet wie heut . Sehr schade .
I was in sauna-spa today with my soulmate^^
In Saarland, Germany called ,, Saarlandtherme,,
It's in a maroccan-style.
Your japenglish is adorable 😊
Yeah, Europe is always very different from the Americas. It’s the Americas where more people are shy to be in a public nude place, unless the purpose of the place is for different reasons, or are a cultural experience brought from Eurasia.
In Sweden, public saunas can be found in many neighborhoods in the larger towns and cities.
Some Swedes have private spas in their homes.
I once was a guest of a Swedish friend in northern Sweden, and he took me and three of his friends to a family sauna in one of their homes.
I was surprised when they fully undressed, but they were close friends, so I followed their lead so as not to spoil the mood.
As we sat naked together in the sauna, each one in turn laid down on a bench, and the others gave him a massage head to toe, front and back.
I was more surprised that they were so comfortable with physical intimacy. After the four of them had received a massage, they look at me invitingly, and I lay down on the bench.
The biggest surprise was that I became aroused by feeling their hands touching me. They continued as if it was natural and gave me a massage with a surprise ending.
y'all said no homo afterwards tho, right?
You did not say if you enjoyed this experience. I can do the naked sauna only with women. Here in Australia, Melbourne, we have a big natural spa resort in Rye, also with sauna, but we leave the swimsuit on with mixed genders. Private in homes with family is different.
@@meeknuggets4860 Of course.
@@judykraska400 I was ambivalent at first. I felt embarrassed, and I also felt freedom and pleasure. My embarrassment did not last long, and my pleasure increased. On balance, I enjoyed the whole experience, but I would not do it with strangers.
Male friends only in that situation, right?
2:18 … Bierkönig😂
Wherever there is bathing involved and a bit of space for privacy, there is an area reserved for nudity, like at the beach or a lake. That's how you can bathe naked in the central park of a big city lol or simply sunbathe. I personally like that.
In Polish saunas there are also nude people, all woman and man.
I am scared of Japan's onsens, because the water temperature is soooo hot! I would take an hour to get into the water and probably broil like a lobster!
I would need our Japanese tour guide friend here to help me survive! 🙄😳🐨☺☺
If that was already a culture shock, don't visit Munich and go through one of the parks... There's a fairly high chance at least a few people will be sunbathing completely naked 😇
Great video !
Every location with a name starting with “Bad-“ should have a spa, Baden/Baden & Baden/Switzerland …
I think the whole body shame and embarrassment in a western phenomenon ... I have never had a problem with nudity in either female or male company. I guess everyone is raised to either be comfortable in their own skin, or not. Which ever way they feel I always respect boundaries and cover up when I know the individual is uncomfortable with nudity in any form.
Don't confuse shame with modesty.
Your view of "western" culture when it comes to nudity is way off. Europeans in general don't really care but the North Americans especially the Americans are very upright and conservative. There's another famous spa town called Baden, you should try
Im not fazed by nudity at all..either me being naked, or be around people who are naked.
Why BCE? I used to say BC...
Well done enjoy more of it
I had heard about men and women being nude together in German Spas. I'm from the U.S., and I think a lot of people here are very self conscious about body image and therefore wouldn't go nude around others, even the same gender. When I was athletic and in my 20's, I wasn't self conscious, but I'm old and fat now, so I wouldn't go to a nude public spa.
My shock wasn’t at the co-ed nudity (which I was prepared for) but by the pungent body odor of some individuals which they manage to maintain even inside a wet area
Question: were there any spa areas that allowed bathing suits, or did all of them require full nudity? Also, was there an age requirement to go into the spa in Germany?
Basically in all the sauna areas swimming suits were prohibited but I think there were a couple of woman-only saunas!
why would there be an age requirement to bathe?
and wearing anything to a sauna is just unhygienic and generally not cool outside of few edge cases
In the swimming section,there is no age reqirement.In the spa section(nudity required) age requirement is mostly 16(years)alone,or 14 accompanied by parents(adults).This is,because the spa is seen,as to relax in peace,without noise.
In some of the bigger german saunas, like Therme Erding by Munich, there's a "swimsuit" sauna section. But for the most part the sauna/steam room part is without swimsuits for hygienic reasons. In the Netherlands, they're all without swimsuits except some have a select swimsuit day once a week or once a month. Most saunas will have an age limit somewhere between 12 and 16 in order to ensure a relaxing environment.
@@fish3977 I agree! You are in the sauna to sweat out impurities and then shower to wash it all down the drain. A swimsuit would soak up all the dirt and smell. It would be like sitting in a filthy diaper!