But not every pool of heated water qualifies as an onsen. Japan has strict laws governing one of the country’s most iconic activities, widely considered a natural treasure. Onsen water is heated by ...

Head to the unsung Japanese region of Tohoku to discover its traditional inns, and immerse yourself in the thermal waters ...

“Tomiko very like onsen,” he explained. Two Japanese macaques—a female ... They started their research nearby on semi-wild horses and switched to monkeys after they noticed how well ...

Japan is home to over 3,000 onsen. Our explorer visits two old hot springs to learn the significance of bathing to the Japanese spirit. Deep in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture is the town of ...

Hokkaido Prefecture summers are short, but you can soak in hot springs hidden in the wild, marvel at the views from onsen in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit an area with an abundant variety ...

Gero city imposed the feet-only rule in December at the Funsenchi outdoor hot spring, part of the Gero resort, one of Japan’s three ... city limited the Funsenchi onsen only to clothed people ...

Japan's famous natural hot springs, or onsens, are facing a crisis due to overtourism, which is dangerously depleting water ...

In 2022, the Kusatsu onsen in Gunma Prefecture toppled Hakone in annual rankings released by the Jalan Research Center, which specializes in tourism and leisure activities. Hakone had held the top ...

Certain kinds of accommodation offer a window into the national soul. Step onto the flagstones of an ancient English inn, into the pine-panelled cosiness of an Alpine rifugio or beyond the gates ...