This week I found a new favorite spot just outside of Tokyo - Chichibu. I went mainly because there is this very cool train - Laview - that runs from Ikebukuro to Chichibu. I didn’t know much about the place itself, but I fell in love with it.

One of the best things about it is that there is an onsen right next to the train station. It’s part of the station complex, which includes a food hall, bear and sake bar and a gift/souvenir shop.

My question is about cruising at onsen. Does it happen? If so, how and where does it go?

I went up to Chichibu on Tuesday and then returned yesterday. There were several hot guys in the onsen. Quite a few were openly showing off. One had a semi-hard on which he partially hid.

Yesterday, there weren’t as many people, which was kind of nice. I noticed one guy come out from the lie flat baths who was checking me out. He was cute, had a nice body and nice plump dick. I was sitting a lounge chair outside letting my body cool down after sitting in one of the baths. He sat pretty much directly across from me. Every now and then, he’d sneak a glance at me.

We continued exchanging glances and he was sort of following me around. I’d get into one of the baths and he’d follow. I’d get out, and he’d get out. I wasn’t sure what to do.

Then he went inside and sat on a chair. I had a massage appointment, so I went inside and changed to the pajamas I’d rented. I went to the relaxation room to wait for my massage and there he was, fully dressed, in a chair just a few feet away.

I went and got my massage, then returned to the baths. As soon as I got into a tub, he reappeared. It definitely seemed like he was following me.

I only had a little time after my massage before I had to get ready for my train. I went into the locker room to change and he followed. As I got dressed, so did he. I left and he followed. We went downstairs to the kiosk to check out. He was right next to me. We walked out to the shoe lockers and got our shoes. 

He walked out first. I expected to see him waiting outside as soon as I left. I walked through the exit doors into the parking lot and he was gone. He had completely vanished.

So I have two questions. What do you think this guy was up to and why did he follow me out but then disappear and is cruising ever possible at an onsen or sento?

Attaching a few photos of Laview.

In all my years visiting onsens and sentos in Japan, last week was the first time I noticed cruising. It was exactly at the Chichibu place mentioned above. I was not the object of anyone's attention - all the better for me to observe the goings-on unobtrusively. The "incident" involved two pairs of 20-somethings, all four of whom were very easy on the eyes. One pair was Chinese, judging from the language they spoke between them. Alas, onsens aren't set up for side activities so, for all the knowing glances, I don't think they led anywhere, at least not in the onsen itself. Maybe they finally got together and had a blowout of a foursome in a hotel room.

Then 2 evenings later, back in Tokyo, I was in Akebono-yu, apparently one of the oldest sentos in the city. But it's been so modernised over the years, you wouldn't be able to tell. This case was not about cruising, though.

There were 2 brothers, one about 12 or 13 the other maybe 15 or 16. There were also a group of 3 friends in their late twenties, two of whom were quite well built. The teenagers had hard ons sitting in the hot tub watching them.

When the trio got out of the pool, the teenagers soon followed, stiffies and all. The trio turned around and said something to the boys jokingly, but they must have been very kind, for the boys didn't seem embarrassed at all. None of the other guests, many elderly, batted an eyelid.

The trio and the 2 brothers then went into a separate part of the sento (an outdoor courtyard) and I lost sight of them. I didn't want to follow lest I appeared like a creep even though I was curious what was going to happen next. The trio looked pretty straight to me, so I couldn't imagine what could possibly happen, and in such a public place too, but of course, I could be wrong.

It's not unusual to see fathers bring their sons (occasionally their young daughters, under five) to onsens and sentos. To see boys, preteens and teens, in these places is nothing remarkable. However, on this occasion I couldn't figure out which adult it was who brought the 2 brothers here. Did they come on their own? With what primary intention?

The second part of my post above about the teenaged brothers sounded more sexual than I intended. It may be hard to recall from so long ago, but when I was a teenager, my anatomy was often out of control too.

I should also mention that a thought briefly occurred to me, and it was that the 2 boys knew the 3 guys and it may be why they seemed comfortable even in some proximity to each other. Perhaps one of the guys was a young uncle who brought the 2 boys to the sento.

I spent a lot of time in sento (public baths) with my friends, even though we all had baths/showers at home.

The Japanese love getting naked together and the sento is seen as a social occasion. Everyone is equal once they take their clothes off. (Well, socially, at least!)

As the only foreigner, I was the centre of attention. My friends had warned me about this, but it was still a bit of a shock.

I'd sit on the stool in front of the mirror and taps, and before too long I'd find myself surrounded by fellow bathers. It all happened very quietly.

They weren't interested in me; they wanted to see foreigner's cock. Did I live up to the reputation of us being hung like donkeys?

I'm sure they were disappointed! 🤣🤣🤣

Guys who were well hung would walk around proudly displaying the goods, not bothering to hide their modesty with the little face towel you are supplied with. If you've got it, flaunt it.

The odd hard-on could be seen but nobody cares about that in Japan as nobody would ever associate a sento with a cruising joint, as lots of guys bring their kids, meaning there is absolutely no funny business going on.

That was a relief because I was often fighting to keep my cock under control. When I couldn't, I'd go and sit back on the stool and wait until things calmed down. My friends, who knew I was gay, thought it was really funny.

So onsen / sento are for eye candy only.

On 9/10/2026 at 1:34 AM, a-447 said:

So onsen / sento are for eye candy only.

Thanks for this. And eye candy for sure! I have seen so many hot guys at the onsen/sento. And you are right, when they have it, they flaunt it. I went to a sento in Nagoya and this guy had a beautiful cock which he kept semi-hard while in one of the lie flat baths. When it started to go down, he'd touch it and swell it back up again. It was so hot. I had a direct view to him. Then he got up and walked around with it hanging freely. He caught me looking at him but didn't seem to care. And of course, nothing else happened. I did have one encounter at Thermae Yu in Shinjuku and it seems there is the possibility of things happening there, but I've learned after going to many on recent trips, chances of anything happening, no matter how cruisy it feels, are slim to none.

If you're looking for more than just eye-candy, there are plenty of bars and clubs. Whether or not they let you in is another story.

The sex clubs and bars I frequented when I was young have since disappeared so I just rely on the bars and sauna in Shinjuku Ni-chome gay area.

But I still go to the gay cinema in Ueno, situated at the top of the stairs leading down to Shinobazu Pond.

Oh, the fun I've had there over the years!

Although there are a lot of older guys, there are also young guys. Unfortunately, they tend to prefer Japanese guys of a similar age. But there are sometimes daddy-chasers there.

I'm not particular familiar with the brothels and massage parlours.

4 hours ago, a-447 said:

But I still go to the gay cinema in Ueno, situated at the top of the stairs leading down to Shinobazu Pond.

Could I trouble you for a Google Map image or coordinates? Although, to be honest, cinemas are not my scene. The last time I ventured into one was decades ago when there were one or two in the Paholyothin area in Bangkok (do they still exist?). The whole place was so yucky, the air so stale, I fled.

28 minutes ago, macaroni21 said:

Could I trouble you for a Google Map image or coordinates? Although, to be honest, cinemas are not my scene. The last time I ventured into one was decades ago when there were one or two in the Paholyothin area in Bangkok (do they still exist?). The whole place was so yucky, the air so stale, I fled.

On Google maps, search for Shinobazu Pond. That will show you the area of Ueno in which you can find the Okura Theatre cinema.

The green area on the map is the entry to Ueno Park, just down the street from the Keisei Skyliner station, which is on the main street to the left of Ueno station. Leave the Keisei station and turn right and walk down the street to the crosswalk. The entry to the park will be on your right, as is the alleyway where you'll find the theatre, at the tops of some stairs. There is a red and blue sign in the alley.The gay theatre is upstairs.

Let me know if you can't find this on Google maps.