First Onsen Experience in Japan
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.
The Real Spirited Away Onsen
Remember the red bridge and layered, rising walls of Yubaba’s hot spring hotel in Spirited Away?
The 5 Best Sites for Onsen Orientation
There’s a bathload of sites out there on onsen, but we found our information pools best filled by the following sources.
Top 5 Onsen for Fall Colors
Japan has as many locations famous for their autumn foliage as it has onsen—in other words, a lot!
Adorable Capybara Hot Springs
Snow monkeys aren’t the only ones getting in the water in the winter.
The World’s Only Outdoor Ice Onsen
When Hokkaido's highest lake is covered in ice during winter, it features an igloo-style onsen.
Japan's Only 3-Michelin-Star Onsen
Head down to Oita for the spot that wowed Michelin for four years straight.
4 Soothing Onsen Day Trips from Tokyo
While these Kanagawa onsen and their surrounds are certainly worth an overnight stay, each can work equally as well as a day trip.
A Guide to Onsen Water Types
All water isn’t the same. Every natural spring passes through layers upon layers of rock that can give the water a unique chemical makeup said to have a variety of health effects depending on the mineral content of the water.
The American Who Inherited an Onsen
Tyler Lynch met his future wife on a trip to a hot spring inn. They were living in Seattle when fate intervened.
Onsen Myths of Fukushima
Onsen are an important part of Japanese culture, and they’re one of the things I missed the most while living in the U.S.
6 Things I love about Hot Springs in Japan
I'm a little bit addicted to going to onsen in Japan.
How to Onsen in 15 Steps
Foreigners in Japan are always trying to figure out the onsen experience. The best way to ensure a great time is to make sure you walk in informed.
Japan’s Newest Hot Spring is in Downtown Kobe
After digging to a depth of roughly 1,000 meters (3,281 ft), an excavation team at Sannomiya Station discovered water springing from the bedrock.
5 Incredible Snow-covered Onsen
This collection of winter snowscapes will help you beat the winter chill in the most unique way possible.
How Onsen 'Fixed' my Self-Esteem & Body Issues
Most women don’t like their bodies. On good days, I’m 98 percent OK with my body. On bad days, that figure hovers around 60 percent. But it wasn’t always like that.
Enjoy these 5 Onsen for ¥100 Or Less
You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the relaxing experience of taking a long soak in an onsen while basking in breathtakingly natural beauty.
How to Onsen in 10 Minutes
Texan in Tokyo superblogger Grace Buchele Mineta finally lays down the primary onsen caveat that nobody ever talks about.
Japanese-style Onsen Around the World
Sure, hot springs can be found all over the world—but onsen are unique to Japan. Or are they?
10 Things Not to Do in an Onsen
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?
