If you've ever visited a Japanese sentō, you may have noticed people enjoying a cold bottle of milk after their bath.

It's become something of an icon. For generations, glass bottles of milk were sold in bathhouses across Japan, and for many people, the ritual of drinking one after a long soak is just as familiar as the bath itself.

But milk isn't the only choice.

A hot bath leaves you surprisingly dehydrated, so water is always a good place to start.

Beyond that, what you're offered often depends on where you are and the season. A countryside ryokan might serve roasted barley tea, while in spring you may be handed a cup of sakurayu: salt-preserved cherry blossom flowers that slowly unfurl in hot water. Despite its name, sakurayu isn't really a tea at all, but one of Japan's most distinctive seasonal drinks.

In winter, a fragrant cup of yuzu tea is another favourite.

In many sentō and onsen, it's just as common to see people reaching into the freezer for a fruit or milk ice lolly. After twenty minutes in hot water, something cold is surprisingly satisfying, whether you're eight or eighty.

Like bathing itself, there's no single rule.

The important thing is taking a moment before rushing back into the day. A bath, a drink, perhaps an ice lolly, and a few unhurried minutes before heading home.

Inspired by Japanese bathing culture?

Discover more stories from the Yū Journal and follow the journey as Yū Bathhouse brings these traditions to Britain.