On a recent concert tour in Japan, I had the chance to visit several thermal baths and to chat with people about the tradition of bathing. I was fascinated by their differences with American spas.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Joni Sweet is a journalist who covers travel, wellness, and adventure. A trip to an onsen is a quintessential part of a trip to ...

Even if you don’t consider yourself a bath person, or are turned off by the idea of sitting in a tub of your own grime, you still might be charmed by the ritual of visiting a Japanese hot spring, or ...

Nothing beats a good soak in a hot bath, and when it really hits the spot, you can almost feel your worries and ailments diffusing out into steam. Perhaps there is nowhere better to treat what ails ...

This undated photo provided by Stéphanie Crohin shows traditional baths and murals in Kasuga onsen, or hot spring bath, in Matsuzaka, Mie prefecture, Japan. Japan is proud of its bathing traditions.

The Tenderloin’s most unlikely opening has arrived. Onsen, a chic Japanese bathhouse, opens to the public tomorrow, November 11 with a full-blown, 3,200-square-foot Japanese bathhouse with a soaking ...

We independently review everything we recommend. We may get paid to link out to retailer sites, and when you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Daniela Gorny Daniela Gorny ...

Whenever I mention that Onsen is a restaurant in a Japanese bath, everyone perks up. While such concepts are popular in Japan, they are almost a curiosity here, especially in the Tenderloin. When I ...

Japan respects tradition, and few more so than onsen (Picture: Mel Evans) From bowing to never eating on the street, Japan is a nation where deeply rooted observances mingle with modernity and tech ...

There’s nothing better than stepping out of the steaming bath and wrapping yourself up with a perfectly snuggly, soft and absorbent towel. And in the same vein, there’s nothing worse than grabbing a ...