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.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Joni Sweet is a journalist who covers travel, wellness, and adventure. A trip to an onsen is a quintessential part of a trip to ...

Even if you don’t consider yourself a bath person, or are turned off by the idea of sitting in a tub of your own grime, you still might be charmed by the ritual of visiting a Japanese hot spring, or ...

This undated photo provided by Stéphanie Crohin shows traditional baths and murals in Kasuga onsen, or hot spring bath, in Matsuzaka, Mie prefecture, Japan. Japan is proud of its bathing traditions.

Bathing in an “Onsen,” or hot spring, should be on any bucket list for Japan, even if you aren’t a big wellness girlie — although the physical and mental benefits are definitely part of the draw. Each ...

If you don’t love taking a shower, you’re doing it all wrong. Located directly at the crossroads of hygiene and self-care, showers are, of course, a must — but they’re also a great way to sneak in a ...

The Tenderloin’s most unlikely opening has arrived. Onsen, a chic Japanese bathhouse, opens to the public tomorrow, November 11 with a full-blown, 3,200-square-foot Japanese bathhouse with a soaking ...

We independently review everything we recommend. We may get paid to link out to retailer sites, and when you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Daniela Gorny Daniela Gorny ...

Whenever I mention that Onsen is a restaurant in a Japanese bath, everyone perks up. While such concepts are popular in Japan, they are almost a curiosity here, especially in the Tenderloin. When I ...

KAI, a leading onsen ryokan brand by Hoshino Resorts, will open KAI Zao in Zao Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture, in fall 2026, ...

Japanese hospitality firm Hoshino Resorts announced the opening of two new properties under its KAI brand in 2026.