Unlike in the first epsiode, I did not fall asleep during this one, but I was not very tired to begin with, so this is probably not Angelina Jolie's or Jan de Bont's merit. Could they please get Indiana Jones out of retirement?

4 points

Public baths are very popular in Japan. The motivation here is not to get clean (although this used to be an aspect before every family had their own shower or bathtub) or to swim but to relax in hot water, usually laden with healthy minerals. There are many different types of these facilities depending on whether the water is coming from natural sources, on whether it is outdoor or indoor, on whether they allow peoples with tattoos, on whether it is used by men and women separately or together. If it is gender-separated that also means that you have to go naked (with a small towel), if it is not then you have to bring trunks (there is also a rare and very traditional third type, which has undressed men and women together).

The shiny new Toshimaen Garden Spa is surprisingly small at first, but then turns out to have everything anyway: warm, clear water with bubble jets, hot, muddy water supposedly good for your skin, outdoor basins, several kinds of saunas, a bucket shower, and even a pool of Dead Sea water (tastes horrible).