‘A slice of heaven’: ‘Onsen’ bath house just outside Sydney provides a piece of Japanese culture in picturesque Australian bush setting
- Traditional Japanese bath house has remained a hidden gem from all but locals
- Blue Mountains gem is open again after the Covid pandemic shut it temporarily
- It has been called a ‘slice of heaven’ and renowned for its attention to detail
A slice of traditional Japanese culture can be found just outside Sydney, where an authentic bath-house has been built in the unlikely setting of the Australian bush.
The Japanese Bath House is located in South Bowenfels near Lithgow in the New South Wales Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, and while travel to Japan remains off limits to Australians due to Covid-19 travel bans, it provides a opportunity to experience one of the Asian nation’s cultural highlights without leaving home.
The tourist drawcard adheres throughout to the aesthetic of ‘shibusa’, or unobtrusive beauty.
The onsen includes scented public and private baths with views of Lake Lyell, spa treatments, a tea room, restaurant and traditional massage.
Just outside Sydney hides a touch of Japanese culture, a traditional bathhouse nestled in the Australian bush that has remained a local secret for years
The Japanese Bathhouse (pictured) is burrowed near Lithgow in the New South Wales Blue Mountains, west of Sydney
From twirling timber handrails, scented oils, twinkling lights and sparkling granite, every detail follows the aesthetic of shibusa, meaning unobtrusive beauty
The experience is a 40 minute drive from Katoomba and Sydney-siders can catch the train to Lithgow and taxi to the bathhouse
Many visitors have uploaded photos of the baths, describing it as a ‘slice of heaven’.
The experience is a 40-minute drive from Katoomba and a short distance from Lithgow.
‘From the first moment when I saw curling timber twisting wooden handrails and smelt the gentle essential oils in our private burro I was enchanted,’ one guest wrote.
‘There is such a sense of unhurried peace about this place that we left with more yet to experience but knowing we will definitely come back.’
One visitor with a broad experience of onsens said this Blue Mountains version was comparable with the genuine articles.
‘As a lover of Japan who has visited over 20 different onsens during my travels … This is pretty much what you would expect from a mid/high end onsen in Japan,’ the said.
The onsen includes scented public and private baths with views of Lake Lyell, spa treatments, a tea room, restaurant and traditional massage
Visitors have uploaded magical photos of the bathhouse, calling it perfect in every way and a slice of heaven
One visitor (not pictured) said she had visited 20 onsens in Japan and called this Blue Mountains one reminiscent of a high-end bath house in the Asian country
Japan’s historic use of bath houses stem from Buddhist purification rituals which were believed to cleanse not just the body but the spirit.
Attendance at bath houses became common throughout the population during the Edo period from 1603-1868, and mixed bathing with men and women was considered normal.
Public baths had become less common in Japan in the era of indoor plumbing and bathrooms in private homes, but still hold a significant part in Japanese culture.
Entrance to the bathhouse starts at $80 for three hours.