Onsen

The Izu Peninsula is renowned for bringing together a grand variety of hot springs, seafood, woodland delicacies, beaches and fore...

Another 12 months have passed with the New Year just around the corner. This time of year resolutions are made and, in my case at...

A brief cultural history of the sento from a hot water nut I guarantee I go to the sento (public bathhouse) more than you. I k...

With a bicycle loaded down with camping gear, I made my way down to Mt. Hakkoda (in Aomori) in search of the true colors of autum...

A methane-like pong wafts through the air. The pungent odor is in fact part of the attraction of Kyushu’s most elevated onse...

Recently my friend and I decided to try our hand at “Tokyo Backpacking.” We had both traveled on a shoestring overseas but we...

Ahhh, a leisurely soak in a hot spring with good friends, taking in the snow-covered scenery. Sound good? Then you’ll get along j...

One day in 1986 the good people of Joetsu, a coastal city in Niigata, were deluged by 232 centimeters of snow—in one day. That’s ...