The World’s Only Outdoor Ice Onsen

Onsen Snow

When Hokkaido's highest lake is covered in ice during winter, it features an igloo-style onsen.

The 5 Best Sites for Onsen Orientation

Onsen Information

There’s a bathload of sites out there on onsen, but we found our information pools best filled by the following sources.

Yakumi: Condiments with a Healthy Twist

Health Taste of Japan

Directly translated as 'medicine' (yaku) 'taste' (mi), yakumi originally served as antidotes to a variety of ailments.

8 Extra-Thick Ramen Restaurants in Osaka

Ramen Osaka

Don't let the thickness of this rich tonkotsu soup scare you off! These restaurants are serving up some serious noodles in Osaka.

Umami: The 5th Dimension of Taste

Food & Drink Deeper Japan

Salty, sweet, sour and bitter are familiar terms to describe taste. Yet a fifth, umami, is less well-known but just as prevalent.

5 Must-Try Ramen Shops in Kyoto

Ramen Kyoto

Kyoto is just as steeped in ramen as any other part of the country.