Onsen
I love onsen, and recently became a certified onsen sommelier to go deeper into it. Onsen culture confuses most first-time visitors — what to wear, where to go, what the etiquette actually is. These posts cover how to use an onsen properly, plus reviews of specific ryokans and hot springs I've visited around Japan.
Heiwajima Onsen: A Real Natural Hot Spring Near Haneda Airport
A natural hot spring pulled from 2,000 metres underground, a few minutes from Haneda Airport — plus a late-night stay plan built for anyone flying in or out on an early or late flight.
Onsen vs Sento: What's Actually the Difference?
An Onsen Sommelier breaks down what actually separates an onsen from a sento — the legal definition, how locals really use each one, and why the tattoo question isn't as simple as people think.
Can a Hot Spring Really Make Your Skin Softer? My Search for Japan's Beauty Water
I'd heard the phrase bijin no yu — beauty water — my whole life without knowing what it actually meant. So I went looking for it, starting with Tokyo's black-water onsen and my home onsen in Yokohama.
Irodori Yukashiki Hana to Hana: A Ryokan Review from an Onsen Sommelier
A ryokan review of Hana to Hana in Yunishigawa Onsen, Tochigi — covering the alkaline hot springs, irori hearth dinner, sake tasting, and what makes this mountain retreat worth the trip.
How to Use an Onsen in Japan: A First-Timer's Guide
A certified Onsen Sommelier's guide to using a Japanese hot spring properly — including the five bathing principles.