What do girls have to do in Japan with relation to bathing (both at home and public)?

What happens if you're invited to go to a public bathing house but you're on your menstrual period? And I understand that the same water is used to soak by the whole family. What do you do in order to keep the water clean?What do girls have to do in Japan with relation to bathing (both at home and public)?
Good question.


I've lived in Japan for 15 years and didn't know the answer so I asked my Japanese girlfriend.


She says you have several options.


1) Tampon


2) Just take a shower and don't get in the bath


3) If you are in someone's house, get in the bath last and drain the tub. This may be tricky because as a guest, you are supposed to use the bath first. If you don't feel comfortable telling them that you are having your preiod, you may opt for one of the above options.





No matter what, avoid getting soap or menstrual blood in the bath.What do girls have to do in Japan with relation to bathing (both at home and public)?
The above answer is good. May I add that if you go to an onsen hot spring, you can cut the string a little on the tampon so no one can see it hanging down. Just dont cut the whole string off !!