We didn’t plan to design a swimsuit in an onsen. But that’s kind of what happened.
Day 3 of skiing. Legs: gone. Dignity: questionable. And somehow, sitting in near-boiling water in a tiny mountain village in Japan, a new mood for The Swim Set started to form.
We’d made it to Nozawa Onsen in Nagano—a place where steam rises from the streets and hot water is just part of daily life. There are 13 free public bathhouses scattered across the village, each one simple, local, and very much not a luxury spa situation.
Which becomes clear almost immediately.
You walk in, slightly unsteady from skiing, and are handed a tiny wooden stool—designed, I can only assume, for someone approximately 4’11—and expected to perform a full, elegant washing ritual while folded into a squat.
As a tall woman, this is less “calming cultural experience” and more “cirque du soleil meets leg day.”
Knees cracking. Core engaged. Fighting for balance while everyone around you moves with effortless precision.
At one point, I thought: surely I can just stand up and shower like a normal person?
I stood. I rinsed.
I was immediately corrected by a very stern elderly woman who, quite frankly, could out-squat me and out-discipline me without breaking a sweat.
Back to the stool.
Humbled.
Then—the bath.
Onsen water sits somewhere between 40–44°C, which sounds reasonable until you try to get in and realise it feels like lava.
I dipped a toe in and reconsidered everything.
Meanwhile, next to me, a tiny grandmother is fully submerged. Eyes closed. Completely unbothered. Possibly achieving enlightenment.
Eventually, you ease in. Slowly. Carefully. Questioning your life choices.
And then something shifts.
The heat stops feeling aggressive and starts feeling… incredible. Your muscles let go. Your mind quiets. Time stretches.
And this is where it always happens.
Somewhere in that stillness, I started thinking about the new swimsuit.
About how it should feel.
Because being in water like that changes your perspective. It’s not something you move through—it’s something that holds you. It has weight. Rhythm. Presence.
And suddenly, it all clicked.
The Great Wave.
Not literally—but the feeling of it. The curve. The energy. That perfect moment of tension before it breaks.
That balance we’re always chasing: strong but fluid, structured but free.
We’re not the only ones drawn to it either—John Galliano has played with that same tension. Drama held in control. Movement with structure.
That became the direction.
Instead of softening it, we leaned in.
Bold colour. Clean, sculptural curves. A silhouette that feels held, but never restricted. A little nod to vintage diving girls—reworked through The Swim Set palette.
Less literal wave. More the feeling of it.
The onsen gave us the pause. The wave brought the energy. And somewhere in between, this piece came to life.
Also, important takeaways:
Respect the stool.
Never stand.
And never underestimate grandmothers.
– Kaz 🏯🎎
And for just a bit of FYI.....
The Soul of Nozawa: It's Free Public Onsens
What makes Nozawa Onsen truly special is its collection of soto-yu—13 free public bathhouses scattered throughout the village. Maintained by locals and open to visitors, each one has its own personality, architecture, and mineral composition.
At the heart of the village sits Oyu Onsen, a striking wooden bathhouse that feels almost temple-like. It’s the most iconic, with steaming water so hot it demands patience. Bathing here becomes less about comfort and more about surrender—adjusting, breathing, and easing into the heat.
A short wander away, Kawahara-yu offers a slightly more intimate experience. Recently rebuilt but still rooted in tradition, it balances the raw intensity of the water with a softer, quieter atmosphere.
Then there’s Shinden-no-yu, often less crowded, where the simplicity of wood, stone, and steam feels grounding. It’s the kind of place where time dissolves—you lose track of minutes, anchored only by the warmth.
Ritual Over Routine
Bathing in Nozawa Onsen follows a rhythm that feels almost meditative. Shoes off at the door. Wash thoroughly before entering. No towels in the water. Sit, soak, breathe.
The water itself is intensely hot—often above 40°C—and rich in minerals said to aid circulation, skin health, and recovery. But beyond the physical benefits, there’s something else at play: a quiet recalibration. The kind that comes from stillness, from heat, from being fully present.
The Village That Breathes Steam
Nozawa’s onsens aren’t confined to bathhouses. They spill into everyday life. At Ogama, a steaming cooking pool in the center of town, locals boil eggs and vegetables in mineral water that bubbles straight from the earth. It’s both practical and poetic—a reminder that the onsen is not separate from life here, but part of its fabric.
A Different Kind of Luxury - a humbling experience
There’s no extravagance in Nozawa Onsen—no polished spa menus or curated playlists. Instead, there’s wood worn smooth by time, water that demands respect, and a community that has preserved these traditions for generations.
And that’s what makes it unforgettable.