1.
foot bath; foot hot spring
A shallow pool of hot spring water or heated water designed for soaking the feet while sitting. Commonly found at hot spring resorts, train stations, and tourist spots in Japan, often free to use.
Compound of 足 (foot) + 湯 (hot water, hot spring). A popular feature at Japanese 温泉 (hot spring) areas.
足湯 requires no changing of clothes — visitors simply roll up their pants and soak their feet, making it a casual and accessible way to enjoy 温泉. Many are free and open to the public. Some train stations in hot spring areas (like 鬼怒川温泉 and 別府) have 足湯 on the platform.
Common collocations
- 足湯に浸かる (to soak in a foot bath)
- 足湯に入る (to use a foot bath)
- 無料の足湯 (free foot bath)
- 天然温泉の足湯 (natural hot spring foot bath)