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 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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