On a recent concert tour in Japan, I had the chance to visit several thermal baths and to chat with people about the tradition of bathing. I was fascinated by their differences with American spas.

Sip shochu made from local sweet potatoes, eat sashimi from Kinkowan Bay, hike forest trails, and relax in mineral-rich baths in Kyushu.

There are more than 3,000 onsens in Japan, found throughout the country and these hot spring pools come in all shapes and sizes. There are outdoor pools, indoor pools and those that are traditional ...

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 of an ...

'I found myself slowing down, taking care of myself in a way I had never done before' ...

When a friend of mine returned from his first trip to Japan, he couldn’t help but rave about the country. From the extraordinary food to the rich history to the hospitable locals, there really weren’t ...

There’s a thing I’m not supposed to tell you about Beppu, a hot-spring town in southern Japan that is known as a place of medicinal healing, a resort town with a wide range of accommodation and ...

Nothing beats a good soak in a hot bath, and when it really hits the spot, you can almost feel your worries and ailments diffusing out into steam. Perhaps there is nowhere better to treat what ails ...