Things to Do in Hakone: Sights, Kids and Rainy Days
Hakone gives you a lot to do between baths. Here’s how to ride the classic loop, which museums earn the detour, and what works for kids and rainy days.
Japan · Ryokan · Onsen
Honest guides to Japan's ryokan and onsen hotels
Who each place suits, who should skip it, and how to book it well. Researched from official sources and real guest reviews.
Beppu Onsen Guide: Hells, Sand Baths and Where to Stay
Beppu pumps out more hot spring water than any other resort in Japan, and it can feel chaotic on a first visit. Here’s how to see the hells, choose your baths and pick a base that fits your trip.
Onsen Etiquette for Beginners: A Calm, Step-by-Step Guide
The rules of a Japanese hot spring fit on an index card. Here’s the full bathing routine, the towel question, the mistakes to skip, and how to stop worrying about being naked in front of strangers.
Ryokan Etiquette: A First-Timer’s Guide to Japanese Inns
A start-to-finish guide to ryokan etiquette, from where your shoes go to why dinner time matters and why you should keep your tip money in your pocket.
Things to Do in Kinosaki Onsen: Seven Baths and a Plan
Kinosaki Onsen is a walkable hot spring town built around a public bath crawl in your yukata. Here’s how to plan one or two days, which baths to prioritize, and what else to do between soaks.
Tattoo Friendly Onsen in Japan: How to Bathe With Ink
Tattoos don’t have to keep you out of Japan’s hot springs. Here’s why the rules exist, when cover-up stickers work, and how to find a ryokan where you can bathe without stress.
Nishimuraya Honkan Review: Kinosaki’s Historic Ryokan
A historic, 20-room ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen, close to the station and the town’s seven public bathhouses. Here’s who it suits, which room to book and how to time crab season.
Hakone vs Kinosaki vs Kusatsu: Best Onsen Town in Japan?
Hakone, Kinosaki and Kusatsu are Japan’s three most talked-about onsen towns, and they suit very different trips. Here’s how they compare on access, bathing style, season, tattoo policies and budget.
Kaiseki Dinner at a Ryokan: What to Expect Course by Course
A first-timer’s guide to the kaiseki dinner at a ryokan: what arrives in what order, how long it takes, where it’s served, and how to handle dietary needs before you book.
Best Onsen Ryokan Near Kyoto and Osaka: 4 Picks Compared
Four well-known ryokan that Kyoto and Osaka travelers often shortlist, compared on baths, rooms, food and house rules. Only two are true short hops from Kansai, and that changes which one you should book.