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The Real Spirited Away Onsen

Remember the red bridge and layered, rising walls of Yubaba’s hot spring hotel in Spirited Away?

The Town Where Cucumbers are Forbidden

There’s a town in Japan where it's strictly forbidden to grow or eat cucumbers. Why do they hate the vegetable? And is the rule valid or are they all in a pickle over nothing?

Okinawa's Shikina-en Royal Garden

Shikina-en is one of the nine separate properties that all fall under the single World Heritage Site listing known as the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

Top 5 Onsen for Fall Colors

Japan has as many locations famous for their autumn foliage as it has onsen—in other words, a lot!

Mountainside Embedded with Geothermal Homes

Explore this undulating, seven-unit residential building inserted into the side of a mountain in Kagawa Prefecture.

Onsen Myths of Fukushima

Onsen are an important part of Japanese culture, and they’re one of the things I missed the most while living in the U.S.

Fresh Accumulation at Japan's Top Snow Site

SnowJapan is greeting the 2015/2016 season with a sprawling travel section upgrade.

IT Brings Big Business to Island Town

A small town in Tokushima has been gaining attention for its ability to get firms to open satellite offices as part of the Tokushima Village Restoration Project.

Top Ramen for Gundam Fans

YouTuber and Gundam model-maker rrobbert184 stakes his claim for the best ramen in Japan.

The 3 Great Ramens of Japan

Since its arrival from China, ramen has been reshaped and reimagined into countless regional variations across Japan.

Japan’s Oldest Hot Spring

Do you want to immerse yourself in a relaxing environment surrounded by rich Japanese history and architecture?

Enjoy these 5 Onsen for ¥100 Or Less

You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the relaxing experience of taking a long soak in an onsen while basking in breathtakingly natural beauty.

5 Incredible Snow-covered Onsen

This collection of winter snowscapes will help you beat the winter chill in the most unique way possible.

The American Who Inherited an Onsen

Tyler Lynch met his future wife on a trip to a hot spring inn. They were living in Seattle when fate intervened.

Drone Footage of Amazing Islands in Kagoshima

This stellar drone video highlights a corner of Japan that's just about as far from Tokyo as you can get (both literally and figuratively!).

Innovating Organic Recipes on the Farm

Nancy Singleton Hachisu's first book, Japanese Farm Food, sold over 30,000 copies, leading to a regular spot on a national variety show.

Tokaiya in Otaru, Hokkaido

The miso, served with a healthy topping of sizzling garlic pork, was pretty good. It won't be winning any awards, but for random, middle-of-nowhere ramen it hit the spot.

The World’s Only Outdoor Ice Onsen

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

Boil Eggs by the Sidewalk in this Onsen Town

With 30 distinct hot springs and 13 public onsen, Nozawa Onsen has been renowned for its hot springs since the Edo period.

Adorable Capybara Hot Springs

Snow monkeys aren’t the only ones getting in the water in the winter.

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