Asan: Oldest Hot Springs in Korea

My friends and I were in need of another get away (and wanted to try something Korean without the risk of being seen by someone we knew!) So, we started asking our Korean assistants at work what were popular “Korean” things to do. Eventually, we decided to check out a Hot Springs area in Korea.

A simple google search led us to various areas of Korea and various Hot Springs Water Parks, Resorts, hotels, etc. So, we again asked our Korean friends for some advice and they told us to check out The Onyang Hot Springs in Asan because they are the oldest and most famous in Korea.

Asan is only 30 minutes, South East from Seoul, by KTX train. We grabbed doughnuts and soju and boarded an 11 a.m. train. We arrived in Asan not much later and headed to the hotel that was suggested to us.

Onyang Hot Springs at the Grand Hotel in Asan was founded more than one thousand years ago and has been used my many kings and other famous figures. There was even a photo of Jimmy Carter visiting the springs! The hot springs waters are naturally 57 degrees Celsius (about 134 degrees Fahrenheit). The natural hot springs waters are supposed to be great for the skin, body, and mind. It is also supposed to cure various ailments.

You can enter the spa, also known as “Jimjilbang” for only 5,000 won ($4). They are separated by male and female, so the four of us ladies had to leave Dan to fend for himself. Once you enter the locker room, you are given a key to a locker and you walk into a room full of lockers and naked women. It is Korean tradition to enjoy the spas completely nude. The four of use mei-gooks were somewhat nervous, but we decided to give it a go. We stripped down, locked up our stuff and timidly strutted into the spa area.

In the spa area, there were many different areas. There was a wet sauna, a soaking pool, an herbal pool, a cold bath, and even an outdoor hot springs wading pool. There were women of all ages, shapes, and sizes completely nude. It was fairly quite, and everyone seemed extremely comfortable. We embraced the situation, although we were immediately became the center of attention. We tried our the majority of the pools. It was a great experience-VERY RELAXING. After a few moment, the nudity didn’t even phase us. We each spent time together, alone, and just rotated around to try everything. One friend and I decided to indulge in a VERY Korean experience, being a “scrub down”. After soaking in the hot water, it is popular to have a Korean worker use a special type of soap and mitt to scrub the dead skin off of you. This is also done while you lie on a table naked. The women really use some muscle to scrub and scrape every inch of your body! It was a little bit awkward, but well worth it. Afterward, my skin was smooth as silk and shined! After a few hours, we put our clothes back on and went to get dinner!

I think I am definitely a fan of the Korean jimjilbang tradition! I’m glad I had the gall to do it! I think I’ll be getting a monthly scrub from now on!