Do you have a public bath in your city? If you do, I think it’s a unique culture like Japan. We call “Sento”. It’s different from hot springs. I can’t explain the difference obviously, but hot springs use natural water from deep underground, on the other hand “Sento” use tap water. In short “Sento” is just like your bathroom.
Of course most of houses have bathroom, but Japanese prefer to go to hot springs or “Sento”, because it makes us feel a sense of liberation or we can talk to someone. I used to go to “Sento” when I was a kid.
The system is simple. You pay money at the entrance and go inside. The entrance is divided for men and women. You need to bring all amenity goods including a bath towel. A bathtub is huge. About 20 people get into a bath together. Usually a paint of Mt. Fuji is drawn on the wall. Japanese habitually drink coffee milk after taking a bath. If you do so, everyone thinks that you are “Japanese”.
However I haven’t been to “Sento” for more than 10 years. I don’t know why. Now it’s hard to find “Sento” in Tokyo. Many “Sento” closed their business due to a wave of the day. Rest of “Sento” have to raise fare. This circulus vitiosus estranges people, but we still go there and enjoy the moment.
As long as you stay in a hotel, you don’t need to go there or never notice the existence. Why don’t you drop in on “Sento” someday. It is one aspect of our culture and history.
Posted by Glnovis 
