Hot springs in the Chubu region
As the weather begins to cool down and the festival season ends it is time for the most relaxing of all Japanese past times – having a bath - to be taken up again in... more
Yoshigaura Onsen: Ishikawa onsen
Perhaps one of the greatest disappointments in Japan is the state of the coastal resort areas. So many are marred by concrete monstrosities that dominate the landscape, leaving one feeling as though you might as... more
Kawayu Onsen: Wakayama Onsen
Kawayu Onsen is a geological wonder located close to the World Heritage grand shrine, Kumano Hongu Taisha. “Kawa” means “river” and “yu” means “hot water”. Here, hot spring water bubbles to the surface of the... more
Ryujin Onsen: Wakayama onsen
Ryujin or “Dragon God” Onsen is situated in an isolated valley at the southern terminus of the panoramic Ryujin-Koya skyline highway, which links the sacred Buddhist temple complex of Koyasan with Ryujin. It is one... more
Yunomine Onsen: Wakayama Onsen
Yunomine Onsen is believed to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan and is intimately connected with the Kumano Pilgrimage. The legendary founding dates back 1800 years and was used for hot water... more
Renge Onsen: high in the mountains
Tucked away to the north of Shiroumadake (or Hakuba to you ski bunnies) lies Renge Onsen(蓮華温泉), one of the greatest treasures of the region. Inside the Chubu-Sangaku National park, Renge is a trip and a... more
A sand onsen in Iwate
A week ago some friends and I visited a sand onsen on the west of Iwate, in a town called Yuda (湯田町). I checked up the location for the route to drive there, and found... more
