Step into almost any Japanese sentō, super sentō or onsen and you'll usually find some cold refreshments waiting afterwards. It might be a bottle of milk, a Pocari Sweat... or an ice cream.

The Japanese even have a word for the moments immediately after leaving the bath: yuagari. It's the pleasant refreshed feeling of cooling down after soaking in hot water or sitting in a sauna, and many people enjoy a cold drink or ice cream before heading home.

Unlike seasonal treats such as yuzu tea in winter or barley tea in summer, ice cream is enjoyed throughout the year. It's less about the season than the contrast between hot water and something refreshingly cold.

Bathhouse cafés and kiosks often sell everything from simple ice lollies to soft serve and classic Japanese favourites such as monaka ice cream, served inside a crisp wafer. In hot spring towns, it's common to see people strolling through the streets in a yukata with an ice cream in hand after a visit to the baths.

Like many Japanese bathing customs, it's a simple pleasure that encourages people to slow down and enjoy the feeling of yuagari just a little longer.

Bathing doesn't end when you leave the water.

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