Japan's famous natural hot springs, or onsens, are facing a crisis due to overtourism, which is dangerously depleting water levels in several popular cities. In Ureshino, a historic onsen town in Saga ...

A water shortage hitting Japan's hot springs has resulted in a number of restrictions in a bid to reduce consumption.

Japanese hot springs—better known as onsens—are prized ... but a surge in tourism has left some onsen towns running low on water; leaving local officials feeling anything but zen.

Japan has always ... pay more to soak in these hot springs at their private space in hotels or inns. This rise in preference has led to a surge in the demand for water in these individual rooms ...

From a nice cup of tea to a soothing bath, hot water is indispensable in daily life. What's more, Japan is famous for its steaming hot springs, with more than 17,000 of them around the country.

And then there are small round cakes called onsen manju, a popular snack sold at Japanese hot springs. Stuffed with red bean paste, they are cooked with the steam that rises from onsen water.