The blues and roses of the sunset sky melted with the arrival of stars above. Lights from night-fishing squid boats bounced and glittered on the horizon when I tilted my head downward. I was sitting in a traditional Japanese cedar-wood bath on the tenth-floor roof of a gorgeous Japanese-style hotel named Genji Koh in Minamichita, Japan. If you are driving along the coastal road, look for the sign below. Directions for drivers and train riders are here. My friends and I were searching for an onsen for an evening soak and chose to try this one because of the seaside location and the ..read more

Many community bathing facilities have Mt. Fuji illustrations Mikokuyu Onsen is one of many soothing community onsens scattered throughout the busy hodgepodge of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area.  Despite being close to the popular, densely-touristed Asakusa Temple area, Mikokuyu is a friendly oasis for locals and sojourners seeking serenity in hectic Tokyo, stress reduction, and the pleasant sensation of a clean, rejuvenated body.   Relaxed elegance on the 4th floor Mikokuyu's naturally black mineral water is from a source of hot water that l ..read more

Are Japanese onsens part of the topography of heaven?  Authentic Japanese hot springs are heavenly: They bring us closer to the earth, eliminate stress like sunlight melting ice cream, soothe aching muscles, heal injuries and other physical ailments, and let us slow down and be aware and grateful for our surroundings.  Some of us in Japan can't imagine life without onsens. Japanese hot springs are our ikigai, our passion, or, as the French say, raison d'être.   The person who chose the etching on this gravestone probably shared this feeling. When I discovere ..read more

Japanese often say, "Food is meant to be eaten with the mouth and eyes. "Likewise, the best hot springs are multisensory. The hot spring baths at the Itsuura Kanko Hotel relax and bring pleasure to the eyes, ears, nose, skin, and heart. Since the baths are close to the sea, the sounds of waves, wind, and birds roll over you as you bathe. The feeling is akin to an auditory massage that melts stress away. Outdoor Bath at the Itsuura Kanko Hotel's Bekkan Building The Itsuura Kanko Hotel stands on the edge of a cliff above the Izura Coastline of Kita-Ibaraki. Sea- and ..read more

Nagoya, Japan's fourth most populated city, delights visitors. yet few foreign visitors know Nagoya's many attractions. Located between Kyoto and Tokyo, high-speed trains fly from Nagoya to Kyoto in thirty minutes and wing to Tokyo in just over ninety. Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Jingu (Shrine), and the Tokagawa Art Museum introduce visitors to local and national history. Nagoya is also home to the World Cosplay Tournament, and the subway system that circles the city is fast and tourist friendly. When I go to Nagoya, I always drop into one of Japan's best and newest contemporary hot spring facilitie ..read more

  An indoor bath with forest views Vast stretches of lush green forests, sparkling rivers, and mountains with soothing hot springs make the border of Mie Prefecture and the eastern section of Nara Prefecture a go-to location for wellness adventures. After a refreshing day of forest strolling, soaking in Hotel Sansuien's hot baths, and savoring healthy local cuisine, months of accumulated big-city-induced stress melted away. This soothing experience took place in the outskirts of the verdant city of Nabari, Mie. After receiving towels in the main building on the exquisite Jap ..read more

Peaceful Bathing Bathing in a Japanese onsen on the side of a mountain is a soothing experience, but when surrounded on almost all sides by vast expanses of idyllic snowy forests, the experience is transcendental. The view and the hot water melt concrete walls of urban stress from your pores, and waves of relaxation and pure joy splash inward. This is what I experienced at a rustic cabin named Apple Pension in Zao Onsen, Yamagata, Japan.  Relaxing and healing Snow monster habitat Driving to Zao took several hours from my home in Niigata. Upon arrival, we went st ..read more

Echelon Magazine, based in Hong Kong, published my article titled "Japan's Geothermal Farms Revitalising Communities." The reaction has been amazing. Within a very short time, the article has been shared repeatedly worldwide.  Please click on the link and read the article. Japan's Geothermal Farms Revitalising Communities Your comments on the article and recommendations for Japanese onsens are always welcome.  Thank you very much.  ..read more

 Dear Readers,  I stepped out of this onsen blog for a while to concentrate on writing for international magazines and regional travel organizations in Japan. As a result, I have not updated this blog recently, which I apologize for. For now, please read my article about hot springs that Escape, an Australian-based travel magazine published.  Kawarage Jigoku: Japan’s best hidden hot springs | escape.com.au Sincerely yours,  Hotspringaddict ..read more

Special occasions deserve celebration at a Japanese ryokan. Think private indoor and outdoor baths and meals of exquisite locally foraged mountain vegetables and freshly caught fish that you savor within view of the meandering Arakawa River. This is Takanosukan in Sekigawa Town, Niigata. The service was impeccable. Staff artfully placed gourmet dishes on a solid wooden table in the dining area of our exclusive onsen bungalow. They arrived and departed with deep polite bows. We listened to the river sing while eating. I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate turning sixty than this splendid ..read more