onsen soaker

New Year's Greetings

2012-01-01T00:00:00.012+09:00

I know many of you're still in 2011, but Japan is already in 2012 (We're 9 hours ahead of GMT or UTC or whatever it is). So..... A Happy New Year !! Last year was disastrous year for Japan. Many Japanese were suddenly thrust into hell on earth, lost their families, friends, homes, works, and etc.... and still struggling even now. But our "Yamato-damashii" or the Japanese spirit never washed

Onsen Ranking 2011 by Biglobe

2011-12-09T12:00:00.001+09:00

IMGP6295 / shin SuzukiYubatake or Onsen Pond of first ranked Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma Pref. It's not for soaking. The Biglobe's recently released "Forth Onsen Awards", shows popular onsen ranking as well (As for most popular onsen ryokan/hotel ranking, see my previous post). 1. Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Pref) 2. Yufuin Onsen (Oita Pref) 3. Arima Onsen (Hyogo Pref) 4. Noboribetsu Onsen (Hokkaido) 5.

Onsen Ryokan Ranking 2011 by Biglobe

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000+09:00

Biglobe, one of the biggest portal site in Japan released "The Fourth Onsen Award" recently. 10,931 internet users voted this survey between Oct 5 and Nov 16. Ten most popular onsen ryokans/hotels among Japanese are: 1. Kagaya (Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref) 2. Daiichi Takimotokan (Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido) 3. Suimeikan (Gero Onsen, Gifu Pref) 4. Suginoi Hotel (Kankaiji Onsen, Oita Pref) 5.

Facebook Page now ready

2011-10-29T22:00:00.000+09:00

Onsen Soaker Facebook Page is now ready. I'll know you when I write new post or updates former post, and other information for independent travelers. Questions about onsen and share of your onsen experiences are welcomed. http://www.facebook.com/onsensoaker

Housenkaku, Fukiage Onsen @ Onikoube, Miyagi Pref.

2011-10-13T22:15:00.000+09:00

Onikoube Onsen of Naruko Spa Area, Miyagi Pref. is known as a very active geothermal area, and Fukiage Onsen (吹上温泉) at Onikoube Onsen is famous for geysers and a hot spring waterfall. I made a day visit to a ryokan named Hounkaku (峯雲閣) to soak in the natural hot spring waterfall. It's usually soakable late May through October, too cold to soak during winter and in early spring and late fall.

Rotenburo, Izumoyumura Onsen, Unnan City, Shimane Pref.

2011-09-16T20:45:00.001+09:00

History of Izumo Yumura Onsen (出雲湯村温泉) in Shimane Prefecture dates back to 8th century but it's a very quiet small onsen area now. There are two onsen inns, a public bath house, and a natural soaking pond called just "rotenburo" (open-air bath) on the riverside. This pond is my favorite. It's easy to find. There are steps to walk down to the river shore just 20-30 meters from the public bath

Taki-no-yu, Tousenji Onsen, Totsukawa Onsenkyo, Nara Pref.

2011-09-01T00:36:00.001+09:00

The Japanese word "Taki" means water falls. There is a water fall nearby behind the Totsukawa Village Office. [update] Taki-no-yu will resume business on 1 Nov, but bus services to Totsukawa Onsenkyo is still suspended as of 28 Oct. 2011 as the Typhoon Talas left severe damages in and around Totsukawa Village. Totsukawa Onsenkyo consists of three onsens: Tousenji Onsen, Totsukawa Onsen, and

Savusavu Hot Springs, Vanua Levu, Fiji

2011-07-21T21:20:00.001+09:00

From my travel photo album of Fiji I visited in May. Fiji, especially Vanua Levu Island is geothermally very active and Savusavu is most well known for hot springs in the country. There are mainly two spots hot springs are gushing at Savusavu. One is in a small park, just off the town center. Very hot spring, around 80°C is gushing. It's too hot to soak. Actually hot springs here aren't for

Tourists coming back to Asakusa

2011-06-27T19:13:00.001+09:00

[This post isn't related to onsen.] As I wrote in the previous post, Asakusa is a major tourist spot in downtown Tokyo, and tourists are gradually coming back after the Tohoku Earthquake. The Kaminari-mon is the first gate of the Senso-ji temple. Originally built in 942, the present gate was rebuilt in 1960 after the big fire. The balloon like paper lantern is 3.9 meter high. The Nakamise,

Jakotsuyu, Asakusa, Downtown Tokyo

2011-06-19T17:22:00.011+09:00

The bathroom for men and ladies share the big wall painting of Mt. Fuji. The left wall divide men's bath. Even if you're on a business trip to Tokyo and too busy to visit countryside of Japan, you can try onsen soaking in Asakusa, one of the major tourist traps in Tokyo. I wrote a post on the "Asakusa Kannon Onsen" in 2009 (see my post dated Apr. 24, 2009), and following is a complete guide of

Blog Renewal

2011-06-13T23:26:00.003+09:00

Looks totally different blog doesn't it?　The new template introduced, the profile photo changed, and the top right message and the profile rewritten. The "Share Buttons" below each post and "Popular Posts for last 30 days" at right sidebar are newly installed. I needed some change. I lost some working contracts after the Tohoku Earthquake, also suffered from chronic insomnia. But visiting Fuji

Back to Onsen

2011-06-08T21:42:00.001+09:00

After soaking in mud bath of the Sabeto Hot Springs, near Nadi International Airport, Fiji. I'm back. Back from Fiji. Back to onsen world after stormy two and half months. Onsens had been out of my mind since the disaster, but recently I resumed onsen visits. Some onsens were hit by the quake ant the tsunami. Indirect impacts also ovserved. Some stopped gushing, or new fountainheads emerged.

If you need language help after the earthquake

2011-03-12T01:14:00.001+09:00

If you are in Japan and need an interpreter to cope with trouble caused by the strong earthquake, a company called Bricks offer intepretation service for free. Just call 050-5814-7230. They provide English, Chinese and Korean services round the clock, and from 9:00AM till 8:00PM for Spanish and Portuguese. [update] As of March 14, more than 90 countries in the world offer aid to Japan. Thank

Shiriyaki Onsen, Nakanojo-machi, Gunma Pre.

2011-02-21T18:42:00.002+09:00

Two soakers preparing step in the hot spring river. Four soakers including Onsen Soaker near upper right corner. Upper part of the river is frozen. Located near the famous Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, the Shiriyaki Onsen(尻焼温泉), literally means "buttocks burning hot springs", is one of the rare onsens gushing from the bottom of the river and soakable entire width of the river year round

Rikka Rikka Yu, Naha City, Okinawa Pref.

2011-02-16T21:45:00.000+09:00

Okinawa, the southern most prefecture of Japan is an ideal winter retreat. The Rikka Rikka Yu is the easiest to access among five onsens I visited in Okinawa this month. Located just behind the Kokusai Dori (International Street), one of the most popular tourist spots in Naha, you can walk from either of the Makishi Station or the Kencho-mae Station of the Yui Rail, the only railway in Okinawa.

Yokikan, Ito Onsen, Shizuoka Pref.

2011-01-08T17:35:00.001+09:00

Came back from Ito Onsen, Shizuoka Prefecture. My pick today is a ryokan named "Yokikan". A 30 meters long in-house cable car (see pictures on their official website) takes you to an open-air bath on upper floor. You can see the Ito town, the sea and others from the bath. It's a mixed bath, but as for day visit, probably they will let you or your group to soak for yourself or yourselves when

Useful Site: FREESPOT MAP

2010-11-22T17:03:00.000+09:00

This post is unrelated to onsen. Finding free Wi-Fi spots is sometimes big hustle when I go abroad, especially in countries not often visit. I'll visit Mexico next month after more than 10 years blank and know nothing about Wi-FI services there now. Some people coming to Japan have same problem as mine, I guess. You can search free Wi-Fi spots in Japan with this FREESPOT MAP. If you already

Furusato Kanko Hotel, Furusato Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.

2010-11-06T17:45:00.001+09:00

The mysterious Ryujin-buro (Dragon God Bath) is usually crowded during day time. Furusato Onsen is located south of Sakurajima, an active volcanic island in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Pref, in Kyushu Island. Furusato Kanko Hotel is known for its Ryujin-buro, a scenic open-air mixed bath faced on Kinko Bay. The word Ryujin stands for "Dragon God", and there is a shrine just beside the bath. You

Useful Site : Selected Onsen Ryokan

2010-09-16T15:17:00.002+09:00

Kinki Nippon Tourist, the second biggest travel agent in Japan launched new web site "Selected Onsen Ryokan" (日式温泉旅館) in four languages, five types targeting visitors from Asian countries in early September. You can search suitable ryokans for you by checking "Ryokans for families", "Ryokans for couples" "Ryokan providing local foodstuff" Ryokan in Japan's best 10 hot spring resorts" and etc.

Jizaikan, Tochiomata Onsen, Niigata Pref.

2010-09-09T21:26:00.001+09:00

The Shita-no-yu is located just above the fountain head and the onsen water is fresh. I soaked myself two and half hours here. There are three ryokans at Tochiomata Onsen(栃尾又温泉) in mountainous part of Niigata Pref. The Jizaikan(自在館) has longest history among them of more than 400 years. The Tochiomata Onsen itself was discovered about 1200 years ago. The Jizaikan is recommendable for onsen

Recent Updates

2010-09-09T14:54:00.003+09:00

[1] Roads to two of the wild onsens in Beppu, Nabeyama-no-yu, and Hebin-yu closed down after a 28-year-old-lady was attacked and killed on Aug. 31, 2010. She was supposed to be visiting the Nabeyama-no-yu alone with her car after getting dark. The murder suspect arrested in August 2011. As for Nabeyama-no-yu, one of my most favorite onsens, see my post "Nabeyama-no-yu, Beppu City, Oita Pref."

Shinsegae Centum City Spaland, Busan, Korea

2010-08-22T14:20:00.000+09:00

The Spaland located 1-3F of the glass walled building. The backside tall bldg is the Shinsegae Department Store. Made a very short trip to Busan, the second biggest city in Korea. I stayed only 49 hours there, as a typhoon attack stopped ferries and shortened my trip, but I could visit three hot spring bath houses. Shinsagae Centum City Spaland is the newest and most recommendable. It

Taki-no-yu, Naruko Onsen, Miyagi Pref.

2010-07-12T20:32:00.000+09:00

Although it is rebuilt many times, the Taki-no yu has about 1000 year history. There is an Onsen Shrine nearby. The "Taki-no-yu" is a traditional Japanese public bath without any located just a stone throw's away from the JR Naruko Onsen Station in Miyagi Prefefture, in Tohoku Region. It's one of my most favorite onsen public baths and attracting many other soaking addicts. It looks an

Tousen Yokujo, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, closing down

2010-06-25T20:45:00.000+09:00

The left bath tub supplies ferruginous mineral spring. The "Tousen Yokujo （桃仙浴場）" also known as "Tousen Onsen", a small sento located at Ikebukuro （池袋）, one of the busiest commercial areas in Tokyo is going out of business at the end of June 2010, ending 65 years of history. Building deterioration and decrease of mineral spring are blamed for the closure. The Tousen Yokujo is the only bath

Miharashi-no-yu, Sueyoshi Onsen, Hachijojima, Tokyo

2010-06-11T11:58:00.004+09:00

The hachijojima-shaped open-air bath is for ladies on every even-numbered day. Hachijojima(八丈島） is the southernmost island of the seven Izu islands, located 300km away from central Tokyo. "Miharashi-no-yu" (みはらしの湯） is proud of the best view among six onsens in the island. Mens bath and ladies' bath are separated, and swim suites bathing is prohibited. The grey-greenish muddy onsen is rich with