Has anyone been to a Korean spa? (in the US)

[BriefsBro]

We've gotten to the topic of nude beaches but has anyone been a Korean spa or a similar bath house where nudity is required?

My experience was like this: This place was in California, in the LA area where they are not uncommon. I attended one in Korea Town. People of all ethnicities go here, but expect like 50% Asian, since it is a cultural norm for Korean, Japanese, etc. So you pay the fee, and they give you lounge clothes, shorts and a t shirt, and a magnetic key bracelet. You store your shoes in a cubby hole, and then head to the locker area. The floors are relatively warm so there was never any discomfort.

Here's the fun part: You get naked and put all your clothes in the locker and close it up, from here on out you are to be as naked as you please and just lounge as you please. The locker area has a dark TV room with leather seats, acupuncture/massage room, a vanity area and a sauna/pool area. The wet area is behind a door, and you shower immediately when you walk in. The showers have separators but no curtains. Thereafter you can use either the warm or hot pool, the cold pool, or the sauna and steam rooms. There is a massage table where you can get a body scrub. There are also squatting shower areas. All the men in there don't care, you just do what you want. I've read of sexual activity or cruising, but I didn't see any in this facility. No one stares either. It is a space to relax, and let loose. I figured anyone with the intention to be in this space is probably more liberal-minded and won't freak our or constantly hide. Clothes in this area is by the rules, forbidden.

The lounge clothes are to be worn in the common area once you've showered and dried up. The common area has floor seating and special rooms such as herbal scents, hot room, pink salt room, cold room, etc. There was also a full restaurant in the common area. You really just lounge around and there is minimal speaking in this space.

I fully encourage anyone and everyone to go.

[rozelle]

This place sounds amazing. I would totally go there. We don’t have a place like that here where I live but if we do I would be running and giving them my money!

[SpeedoDad78]

We've gotten to the topic of nude beaches but has anyone been a Korean spa or a similar bath house where nudity is required?

Korean spas are great. I went to my first one a few years ago. We were visiting my college roommate, and they invited us to their "favorite spa". They hadn't mentioned that it was nude only.

It wasn't an issue for me; after living together for 4 years, we'd seen everything. My roommate was quite the exhibitionist when we were younger. He seemed to have no trouble picking up girls, and didn't think twice about fucking them while I was in bed in the same room. During the drop-off weekend, he even came into our room naked from the bathroom while my parents were there. My wife was a little surprised. This was before she'd grown more comfortable being nude with other people.

When I was in high school, I did an exchange program and spent a week living with a family in Finland. My first night there, they invited me to join them in the sauna they had in their back yard. I went to my room and changed into my swim suit. Then I went out to the sauna. When I opened the door, I was greeted by my host family. They were all nude.

They explained that in their culture, everyone uses the sauna naked. I was embarrassed, so they said it was okay for me to wear my suit and told me to always sit on a towel. They had two daughters, both gorgeous, which made me more nervous. The next evening, my host "dad" said we could use the sauna on our own so I'd be more comfortable. I knew he was expecting me to get naked, so I did. Nevertheless, I instantly got a boner as we were sitting in there.

After a few minutes, he asked if I was ready for the rest of the family to join us. I freaked out, thinking it was just going to be us. I couldn't say no.

He left briefly then came back. We were soon joined by my host "mom" and "sisters". This did not help with my erection. I'd never been so hard.

To their credit, they never said anything. After that, I was more comfortable joining them nude.

My host "sisters" took pity on me. They were a little older and more experienced. They made my last night there one of the best of my life when they took my virginity.

[Mazda3mps]

yeh the spa world in osaka is amazing.

they had 8 levels of springs, split into asian and european zone that alternates between male and female!!

you leave your clothes in the locker, take a towel and enter the zone. every men in there is naked, some covers up, but no one is bothered by nudity because its the norm. even the tourist seem to be enjoying it. Although it was rare seeing a foreigner there.

i am hoping to get some free time to go back and visit the asian zone and used the pool on the top floor. the top floor pool is mixed gender and swimmers are required (of course i would be in a speedo)

[Oceanrunner79]

King Spa in the Chicago Area is amazing. In the wet area they have 3 hot tubs of different temperature, one cold tub, steam room, and open showers. The wet area is segregated by sex. There is a men’s side and women’s. The wet area requires nudity at all times. No one seem to care about being naked except for the first timers but they get over it quickly.

They also have a coed area, this is where the many different dry saunas are (there must be 7-10 different types). They also have a TV room, movie room, lots of lounging areas, and restaurant. In the coded areas you must wear clothing which is provide for you.

The best thing about the spa is they provide lockers, toothbrush, towels, soap, and many other amenities. You can come as you are no need to bring anything. This seems to be the case with all the Korean Spas I have visited.

Check Groupon for discounts.

Spas I have visited and the description above is the same for all of them
Chicago and Dallas
http://www.kingspa.com/
Las Vegas
http://www.theimperialspa.com/
LA
http://spapalacela.com/main/facilities

[_su_]

I visited one in Dallas years ago. It was exactly as the OP described. Although I'm perfectly comfortable being the only person at a beach in a speedo, I felt like a fish out of water there. Granted, I was alone, but it was like, not really relaxing to me; maybe spas aren't really for me, naked or not.

[yamamay]

I looooove the Korean spa. Such an amazing place, although I get there are different ones and some are better than others. The closest to me is Spa World in Virginia. I found out about this place through a nudist group and had to go there. They run Groupon sales pretty frequently that are popular so they're dropping in value. It's a difficult drive to the DC area so I don't go there often, but I sure would if I lived closer.

Spa World has a *great* wet area. It's very spacious, and includes 3 different hot tubs at different temps - usually one with jets and two without - a cold plunge pool, a wet sauna and a dry sauna. The center of the room is comprised of the "Bade pool," which is a larger pool area that can accomodate maybe 20 people. It's bathwater temp, and has different stations all around the perimeter that have different jets you can enjoy. Some come up under your feet, some hit your back, legs, or butt, some waterfall over your shoulders. And almost all of them are mighty stimulating. So when I go, I often have an erection under the water which no one can see unless they are right next to me, and I'm sure many other men do too.

To one side are sit-down showers with dividers between rows but no dividers within a row of three. These areas are visible from the bade pool and some of the hot tubs. Along the front wall, i.e. the wall with the door from the locker area, are standing showers. These are set back in the wall a little and so offer the smallest bit of privacy from the person next to you, but none from the larger room. Since everyone must shower upon entering or re-entering the wet area, arrivals are checked out by people in the pool. Not overtly, but you can tell if you're paying attention. The place has times when it's a little cruise-y. Koreans and Russians are just there because that's what they do. White and black guys on the other hand might be enjoying the scenery. I've gotten chatted up quite a bit and had people show off to me, which is fun as long as they aren't too aggressive. There is no sexual activity allowed so everyone keeps on the dl.

There used to be lounge chairs in this area where you could just relax (and, if you're bold, don't put a towel over yourself) but these have since been removed. There is still a UV resting area near the showers where you can sleep or just chill. I like to use this when the pool gets busy and again, while some people cover their bits with a towel, I won't if I can help it (I.e. if I'm not getting too hard). I like people to be able to look.

Finally, there is an area for body scrubs. This is the only part of the wet area that h as an appreciable level of privacy. It's in the back corner and walled off, but there is a gap in the wall where you enter that you can see in from certain bade pool stations. The scrubbers wear what looks like underwear (might be tight swimwear) and are the only people in the wet area allowed to wear any clothes (I love the enforced nudity).

I want to go back so bad. 12 hours goes by in a flash.

I have, however, been to another, smaller spa in the area that was much more spartan and I probably didn't enjoy it as much. It sounds more like what OP described - loungers and a starker, smaller wet area. This one in particular had the scrub table right out in the middle of the wet area. I have no idea what I'd do getting a scrub in there. I would 100% get turned on and I'd worry about causing offense or getting kicked out. Idk. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has ever had a body scrub in a more public space like that.

[frankjath]

I go to one here in San Diego... haven’t been in awhile because it’s a bit of a drive from where I live but it’s awesome.

The wet area has saunas hot and cold, wet and dry steam rooms. I love how the showers are along the perimeter of the wet area... shower heads along the wall. There is no hiding lol. They don’t provide clothes for the lounge area so you either can wear a towel or be naked and it’s not problem. Of course in the wet area you have to be naked which is not a problem for me.

[BriefsBro]

I would like to bring this thread back. Korean spas as such a great place!

I just went to one a few weeks back. It was a great time! Most men do not mind being naked, however, there seems to be a slight bashfulness in some guys as you seen them hold the small towel in front of them. However, about half of them seem to love being naked as they forego holding any towel. I personally, could not since the surface of the steam and sauna rooms seems way too hot. I honestly, love seeing the many diferent kinds of bodies and it's really cool to be in a space where others men are so uninhibited.

[yamamay]

Yeah I've noticed quite a few guys hold the little towel in front of them when they walk to and from different pools. I never do this unless I'm hiding a boner. I like to let people see my penis bouncing around naturally as I walk.

[BriefsBro]

Yeah I've noticed quite a few guys hold the little towel in front of them when they walk to and from different pools. I never do this unless I'm hiding a boner. I like to let people see my penis bouncing around naturally as I walk.

You know I don’t see any boners at all. Well, actually one guy- a tall, white guy, early 30s, nerdy-looking with a perky ass walked into the wet area without a towel. He walked to the other wall , and I noticed he was walking sideways-ish towards the warm pool to turn on the jets. He caught my attention because of how he walked, so when he turned around and the. crouched down to get into the pool I noticed he had erect. I’ve never seen another erect penis in person so I was like, “whoa, no thanks”. Then I thought, “does it matter?” We’re all already naked here, so who cares. However, I would like the spas to remain an area of relaxation, hubris and uninhibited nudity. There are other types of baths for other activities.

[yamamay]

What about an erection is incompatible with relaxation, hubris, and uninhibited nudity? They seem of a piece to me. But nevertheless as I said guys will hold a towel there if they're looking a little fluffed I assume. It must happen to every guy if only due to the jets in the bade pool which are very thorough. There's no sexual activity allowed and no one wants to be kicked out (plus as a straight guy I'm not interested) - but if you have a bunch of naked guys, you're going to have erections.

[BriefsBro]

What about an erection is incompatible with relaxation, hubris, and uninhibited nudity? They seem of a piece to me. But nevertheless as I said guys will hold a towel there if they're looking a little fluffed I assume. It must happen to every guy if only due to the jets in the bade pool which are very thorough. There's no sexual activity allowed and no one wants to be kicked out (plus as a straight guy I'm not interested) - but if you have a bunch of naked guys, you're going to have erections.

You know what? You’re right. Erections are normal and de-stigmatizing them would be the way to go. I had thought guys covering with a towel were just too modest given the environment, but I guess it really is for protection against stray boners.

So as a straight guy who likes to flaunt it, is it like a pride thing? A confidence thing?

Because I kind of feel it as a confidence thing. I’m the one to drop trou in the locker room and get naked as I change or walk naked to the shower stalls. No towel changing, and I kind of look down on it a little.