Pre-reading questions:
- Do you often visit hot springs?
- What are the benefits of bathing in a hot spring?
- Tell me about the last time you visited a hot spring.
Some ryokans (japanese inns) have introduced “furosshu”, which offers guests the experience of bathing in an onsen (hot spring) where local sake (rice wine) is combined. Visitors get the chance to soak in a sake-onsen every 26th of the month in ten onsen districts located in Niigata Prefecture.
Sake-onsen guests will benefit from different skin treatments. Amino acid in sake is a potent moisturizer which is good for brightening the skin. Satisfied customers continue to rave about the positive results on social media. Hotel vice-president, Takeshi Iida, hopes guests can enjoy the uniqueness of Niigata through sake-onsen baths.
Vocabulary:
benefit – [verb] to get benefits from something
treatment – [noun] the act of treating
amino acid [noun] – a kind of acid from which protein is formed
potent – [adjective] strong; powerful
rave – [verb] to talk excitedly about something
Comprehension Questions:
- What line of business introduced “furosshu” to their guests?
- When do visitors have the chance to soak in a sake-onsen?
- How many onsen districts are located in Niigata Prefecture?
- What does amino acid do to the skin?
- What do customers rave about on social media?
Express Your Opinion:
- Using sake for skin care is a waste of money.
- Too much consumption of alcohol is bad for our health.
- Bathing in hot springs is good in every season of the year.