| Japan is a country which sees a great deal of | | | | allowed to enter. |
| volcanic activity. This being the case, there are also a | | | | There are a few famous onsen in Japan, with most |
| lot of hot springs that have cropped up around the | | | | of them in Hokkaido, since the area has a high |
| countryside, giving to rise to the concept of Onsen. | | | | concentration of volcanoes. Some of these resorts |
| Onsen, singular and plural, are bathing places that are | | | | are Toya, Noboribetsu and Yunokawa. Additionally, |
| based on hot springs. | | | | Aomori is considered to be heaven for the true |
| Onsen bathing is a variant of the sento baths; | | | | onsen lovers, with its high volcanic activity. Aomori is |
| however, the distinction is very clear: Sento baths | | | | situated in the mountains and has every imaginable |
| are communal bathing places that use heated water, | | | | sort of onsen available. |
| while the water in onsen bathing places must be of | | | | The Hakodate Yunokawa hot springs is one of the |
| volcanic origin, even if the water has to be reheated | | | | oldest onsen in Hokkaido, dating back to more than |
| for the bath. | | | | 300 years. It is easily accessible by air through the |
| Onsen baths, like sento baths, were used to equalize | | | | Chitose airport. The facilities provided are comfortable |
| the people in Japan, where traditionally the society | | | | and luxurious, ensuring pleasurable experience all |
| had an extremely rigid, defined hierarchy. In addition | | | | around. |
| to this, the onsen baths were considered to cure | | | | As with all Japanese traditional activities, etiquette |
| ailments because of the different minerals that are | | | | plays an instrumental role; the original onsen baths did |
| present in the water. In fact, waters that have | | | | not allow garments of any kind inside the bathing |
| different mineral contents are separated into | | | | area. However nowadays, a concession to modesty |
| different bathing places. | | | | has been permitted and a swimsuit is allowed inside |
| Initially, onsen attracted mainly domestic traffic, but | | | | the waters. It is considered completely unacceptable |
| of late it has started receiving international fame due | | | | to enter the waters when unclean or even soapy |
| to the relaxing nature and the healing properties that | | | | after a shower. |
| are associated with the waters. Although recently | | | | Advanced booking at any of the more famous onsen |
| there has been a controversial ban in some onsen | | | | is a sensible course of action to follow, although the |
| areas based on race and only Japanese have been | | | | smaller ones will accommodate walk-in visitors. |