GREATER TOKYO

Snow monkeys aren’t the only ones getting in the water in the winter.

Onsen etiquette can be confusing for a foreigner visiting for the first time, and there are many small rules and customs that even many Japanese people aren’t quite clear on.

There are plenty of sites and pamphlets explaining how to visit an onsen like a pro. But how about a quick checklist of what not to do?

What's Ramen Bayashi’s secret? Why do so many foreigners eat there?

Spicy ramen is a standard cold-weather craving, with one bite enough to get the sweat going.

When ramen shop Toy Box was picked up in the 2015 Tokyo Michelin Guide, it put a magnifying glass on the triangle between Minowa, Minami-Senju and Machiya Stations in northeastern Tokyo.

Instead of a Top Ten Ramen in Tokyo, Ramen Adventures goes with a Top Three-ish in eight different categories.

Ramen Adventures has been documenting the best bowls in Japan since October 2008. Here we present the hot ramen blogger’s top five picks for 2015 (so far).