Like
a giant sponge soaked with hot water, Japan literally leaks from thousands
of hot springs. And at some 1,800 of these spring areas, onsen resorts
have sprung up over some 2,000 years of the Japanese love of a good,
hot bath. The nation's hot- spri-ng spas are among its most enjoyable
destinations for visitors, and offer a mind-boggling array of variations
on the seemingly simple act of soaking in hot mineral waters. Go for
a soak in an onsen bath. You are bound to get hooked!
In
recent years, onsen have gained a certain cachet among the young, and
now most hot-spring spas are popular year-round. Japanese, both young
and old, love bathing in onsen.
While most onsen pipe their hot-spring waters indoor to their "o.furo"
(bath), some have built pools outdoors, which are known as "roten-buro."
These baths are generally open year-round, and are especially satisfying
to enjoy even in winter during a light snow fall. In recent times, rokan
are giving increasing consideration to privacy. This is reflected in
the increasing number of ryokan which provide individual guests as well
as couples and families with baths for their exclusive use, and guest
rooms having their own private onsen baths.
In
Hokkaido, the most popular resort is Noboribetsu. It is situated
in a region of magnificent scenery, amid boiling mud pools and sulfuric
geysers. Another favorite resort is Jozankei Spa, 30 km. from
Sapporo. Among the spas near Tokyo are Hakone, Atami, Ito, Kinugawa,
Nasu, Nikko and Shiobara.
Beppu in Oita Prefecture, Arima near Kobe and Kusatsu
in Gumma Prefecture all provide potent mineral baths, while Masutomi
Spa in Yamanashi Prefecture and Misasa Spa in Tottori Prefecture
are all well known for their radioactive springs.
Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture and Dogo in Ehime Prefecture
are both noted as time-honored
Japanese
hot-spring resorts. Unzen in Kyushl famed for its great thermal activity,
is also popular c a summer resort. Chief among the mountain spas Honshu
are Akakura in Niigata Prefecture and Zao Yamagata Prefecture.
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