Tokura Kamiyamada Onsen, Nagano Prefecture This is one of the most famous onsen in Nagano Prefecture. It sits next to the Chikuma River, a large river surrounded by mountains. Soak in the onsen and gaze at the magnificent scenery. There is nothing better! The onsen’s simple alkaline spring water is gentle to the skin, leaving it silky smooth. It is known as “beautiful spring...
Do only Japanese People Visit Public Onsen? Some onsen are run by local governments. These are called public onsen. They are mainly used by locals, so there’s no accompanying lodging facility. They typically charge around 500 yen (about $4.50). The local governments operating these public onsen aren’t that interested in attracting large numbers of guests, so the buildings and equipment aren’t upscale. It’s just...
The Joys of Kanazawa Ishikawa Prefecture hugs the Japan Sea. As you head inland, the coast gives way to snow-capped mountains, underneath which hot springs waters roil. And in the middle of the Prefecture sits one of Japan’s most attractive cities: Kanazawa. The city prospered during the Edo Era (1603-1868) as the capital of the Maeda clan’s domain. The Maeda daimyo’s domain was the...
Japan’s beloved cat cafes are inspiring people like Caitlin Unsell to replicate the businesses abroad. Unsell spent two years in Sapporo teaching kindergarten. “At that time there were no cat cafes in the U.S. yet and I knew so many people would love them. I told myself as soon as I returned to Seattle I would open one!” Unsell gets her kitties through the...
