There are onsen hot springs all over Japan, each with differing qualities, such as type of water, healing properties (efficacy), color, water temperature, and more.
Most foreigners believe that all public baths are onsen, but that’s not true. There is another type of public bath, called a “sento,” and it also offers you opportunities to take a good soak.
Onsen in Japan, as hot springs are known, are a highly popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Their relaxing hot waters are steeped in tradition, and onsen are considered a must-do when visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.
Whether you’re working from home, sheltering in place or just staying home, if you’re like us, you’re probably dreaming of open skies, sandy beaches, tall mountains, or perfect powdery slopes.
Hot springs in Japan, known locally as onsen, are a natural fixture in most parts of Japan that often appear in olden myths and legends about onsen discovery.
Imagine soaking outdoors in a steaming hot pool made of natural rocks. You take a deep breath as you survey the panoramic mountain scenery and all your stress just melts away. It can be pretty liberating.
It's getting colder out, so it’s a great time to enjoy the onsen hot springs around Japan! I visited Kusatsu Town in Gunma Prefecture, known as one of the best hot spring resorts in the country.
The Japanese love “onsen,” or hot springs, especially as temperatures cool in autumn. As you join those flocking to these natural spas for the weekend, try some of these useful words and phrases.
Whether you’re working from home, sheltering in place or just staying home, if you’re like us, you’re probably dreaming of open skies, sandy beaches, tall mountains, or perfect powdery slopes.
New Year’s is Japan’s biggest and longest holiday. People take Dec. 29 to Jan. 3 off from work to celebrate the first three days of the year praying at temples and shrines for the coming year.
Given that it’s made from sticky rice, just like the Japanese rice cake, and how similar the names are, it’s understandable to assume mochi and Okinawan muchi are the same.
Japan is a country which has many unique cultures within it, and slurping is one of the most unusual characteristics! This can be a huge surprise when you come across it for the first time as it often is considered as a bad behavior at meal in many other countries
A genuine world of their own, the local foods of Okinawa prefecture draw on a deep cultural and historical heritage, finding inspiration through Chinese and Southeast Asian influences.
If you have traveled to Okinawa, you may have stumbled across a dish fit for kings. It’s true, rafute, or braised pork belly, was served as a staple to Okinawan royalty.
