Body hair in Japan? Gakusei version

Hi,
I am a high school student who will be traveling to Japan as a long term foreign exchange student later this year. However, there has been something that has been on my mind since the last time I traveled to Japan (on a short term foreign exchange trip). I had been invited to go to a public bath with a group of other foreign exchange students and my Japanese friends. However, I realized how self conscious I was about body hair norms in Japan! In the states, I keep my armpits, legs, and bikini line hair free. I'm wondering what the norms are for this in Japan, because I definitely don't want to shock people while I'm there. I know armpits and legs are universal, but what about down there? (I'm also Asian, and have been told that I look Japanese and often get mistaken as such. therefore, I don't want to break social norms there)
Sorry about this question, I know it's kind of weird and awkward. Any answers are appreciated, Thanks!

most girls dont have arm, leg, etc... hair anyway so no trouble there if you have to wax.
As for the more obvious places...having clean pits is pretty much the norm.
Downstairs though....well the Japanese are infamous for jungles, some take care of themselves but not too many. Given you're in high school though it could easily be passed off as just being slow to develop in that area.

Going to onsens with classmates is a super rare thing, it tends to be seen as a bit of an old person's hobby. I wouldn't worry about it.

incognitosmiley,

If you are a boy, don't shave anything. If you are a girl, it is the norm here in Japan for teenagers to get rid of their armpit/leg hair, in private, of course.

As for your bikini line, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You are expected to cover that area with a towel, not actually by wrapping but by draping your hand towel lightly on the front, and the area won't really show when you are sitting down to wash your body or when sitting deep in the tub.

Nowadays, I notice that some girls with great figure prefer to walk around in the bathing room without a towel, but it's all up to you to lightly drape your towel the traditionally Japanese way.

If you are going to go swimming in a bathing suit, I think it's universal for females to get rid of any hair that obviously shows ourside your actual bathing suit.

By the way, whatever you do, don't shave your pubic hair completely. That would be too pornographic.

Wow so it's bad to fully shave that area? I'm the type that would because I just don't like it. ^^

Op, realize that some J males and females shave their arm arm, eyebrows, even foreheads.

Shaving private bits....not so much the norm.