The city of Beppu in Oita on the island of Kyushu is known for having a large quantity of geothermic heated hot springs known as Onsen. Spouting scalding waters year round, the town of Beppu offers both a city and country outlook at modern Japanese life. The Japanese coined the term “the nine hells of Beppu” for the areas containing unusually large amounts of steam and boiling waters that allude to the namesake. Beppu’s Onsen attracts a lot of families and senior citizens looking for a comfortable everyday country type of lifestyle. In many cases Onsen water can be piped right into your home daily to bathe in for a monthly fee. There is a hot spring for everyone in Beppu and travelers have a lot to choose from in terms of visual surroundings, water mineral type, and acco... Read More

Bathing in a Japanese hot spring (onsen) is a truly amazing experience. Of course, one must first get passed the whole ‘public nudity’ thing. Most onsens have a machine that issues you an admission ticket for the selected service. Dogo Onsen has 4 levels of service and an extra option for a tour of the Imperial family’s private bath (built in 1899 when the royal family visited). You place your shoes in a small locker and then give the ticket to a lady at the front. While there are some onsens that provide towels and bathing supplies, generally people bring their own. In most cases, you can buy a small towel and some soap for a reasonable fee. Once you enter the correct change room :) you will be confronted with an image of ... Read More

Nasu, Tochigi, a child’s playground!

I didn’t always feel that way when I first arrived in Japan, we often did couple sorts of things, a lazy afternoon chardonnay in some poncy restaurant, a lot of selfish ‘us’ time.

That was until we had Sofia. Now we see the world through different eyes, her eyes! The world seems so much more interesting now, the way the sun glints through the overlapping tree leaves, the soft feather left behind on a grass tuft by the wind, even the myriads of tiny wild flowers growing at the bases of trees.

So this time when we visited Nasu in Tochigi prefecture we tailored our trip to her needs and wants. We stayed at a cabin for the night, we visited the hot springs outside so she could wear her togs and splash a... Read More

Hakone is wonderful in the autumn with golden touched foliage everywhere you look. We often visit the outdoor museum or relax in an onsen (natural hot spring bath). This time however we decided to go with a different approach.

General Information

It is best to stay for at least one night in Hakone to enjoy the many things it has to offer. We chose to stay at the Kowaiki en Hotel; it is often featured on TV commercials. It hosts a lovely garden as well as its own onsen, separate for men and women. Breakfast can be obtained in the dining room. It also has a souvenir store and many convenience machines should you wish to buy a beer or juice can.

Across the road from this hotel is the popular Yunnesun Spa. It has many indoor and outdoor spas where sw... Read More

While Harajuku, Roppongi, and Shibuya are nice, sometimes I just need to get away from all the skyscrapers, the people, and the noise. I need to see some trees, breathe some fresh air, and have a little peace and quiet. At the same time, I don’t want to spend a long time traveling or pay an arm and a leg.

Only about an hour from Yokohama on the Tokaido line, Yugawara is a great place to take a deep breath and slow down. I visited there recently to escape the city life for a couple days. I even enjoyed the train ride. It may have been because it was a weekday, but the ride was quiet with plenty of available seats for napping or luggage. I wasn’t complaining. After about a half hour, the scenery out the train window changed from houses and bui... Read More