Bathing customs in Japanese homes differ from the onsen (hot springs) and public baths. A traditional Japanese bathing ritual begins with thoroughly rinsing the entire body outside the tub, either under the shower or in a washbowl.
Once that’s done, it’s time to hop in the soak-only tub.
Get out of the water and use soap to scrub your body down before getting out. Don’t let any of the soap end up in the tub. Indulge in a final soak in the tub after cleaning and rinsing the soap off your body.
When one person uses the bathtub in most households, they leave the water running for the next person. Because dirty water from washing and rinsing can contaminate the bath water for everyone in the house, these activities are best performed in another room.