A Somewhat Less Ephemeral Sakura

By Apple Apple Applebaum Ever since the day I arrived in Japan, I have been told how beautiful the sakura is. When I see a mountain or a park, inevitably someone will point out to me that it is sooooo beautiful during the cherry-blossoms and I should see it during cherry blossoms… and yes, the … Continue reading →

An onsen by any other name smells just as onsen-y…

By David The OnsenLoving Applebaum I am unfortunately leaving Japan soon and as the days tick by, I find myself reflecting on the things I will miss the most about Japan, and of course the things I will miss the least about Japan. As you have probably surmised already, I will really miss onsens. Of … Continue reading →

“The Mountain of Dread”- Osorezan

By David AppleOnsenBaum I am not a spiritual person, but I respect the onsen culture, and I think I understand how it can be seen as a spiritual experience. Onsens are not the same as baths. A bath you take at home is where you get clean, but with onsens, you need to fully wash … Continue reading →

Hot waters to “Dai” for…

By David OnsenApple Hello fellow onsen lovers out there, or should I say: Hello, fellow hedonists. Yes, what could be more hedonistic than a good long soak in the thermal waters of the Earth which are so full of minerals that even just thinking about them makes you feel better. Continue reading →

Yellow flowers, tofu doughnuts, and onsens that make you beautiful…

By: David AppleOnsenBottom Spring has sprung, which means that it is time for road-trips. Some people are still slowly emerging from their long winter hibernation and stretching their limbs. Might I remind you though that we live in Japan, where adventures await around every corner. If you have a car, get out there… if you … Continue reading →

Shall we spirit you away to a time long, long ago…

By David HotWaterBaum Here is a great weekend road-trip idea for you. Why not combine a visit to a 1200 year old temple compound with a 500 year old onsen town that was one of the sites that inspired the movie “Spirited Away”? Continue reading →

Acidic or Alkaline, what does your skin need? Naruko will help you decide…

By David the OnsenLover Applebaum Do you remember sitting in your high school science classes and wondering if you would ever find this stuff useful. Or perhaps you were one of the lucky ones who got to dissect things and blow things up and you had a mad-scientist science teacher and they inspired you to … Continue reading →

Where the lavender blooms and everywhere you go there are flowers a-plenty…

By David the AppleOnsen This week, we go north. The weather is getting warmer. The nights are still chilly, the leaves will soon be coming back to the trees, and of course, the long-awaited sakura will grace us with their presence. You have probably seen pictures of the famed fields of lavender in Furano, Hokkaido. … Continue reading →

Like wine, some things get better with age…

By David Onsen Applebaum You remember those times when you were a kid and you didn’t want to leave a party, and you cried and threw a tantrum…or how about those times when you were a full-grown adult and you didn’t want to leave an onsen, and you cried and threw a tantrum… someone famous … Continue reading →

Sometimes, it is worth a 凸凹 trip to get there…

By David Onsenbaum My onsen companion and I recently spent a weekend at the fantastic Sukayu onsen. This article is not about Sukayu Onsen, but if you are in the general area, you should check out the onsen this article is really about: Fukazawa Onsen… Sukayu Onsen IS a truly great place with beautiful wooden … Continue reading →

Just like desserts, definitely worth a revisit!

By David Onsenbaum I was taught that the way to remember that dessert has two s’s is because you would only want to cross a desert once, but you would go back again for more dessert. I feel the same about onsens… I think we should change the spelling to onssen, or maybe onssssssssssssssssssssssssen…. I … Continue reading →

When Zen is not enough, then go for the Zao…

By David the Applebaum It is coming up on spring break. Some of you (some of us?) are planning on leaving Japan for a break, some are staying in Japan for a little in-country traveling, and some are not planning to go anywhere at all. To each their own, as the saying goes.  Of course, … Continue reading →

Steaming hot surrounded by snow…

by David the Applebaum Christopher McCandless, while sitting in his “Magic Bus” in the wilds of Alaska wrote “Happiness is only real when shared”. I think I know how he felt… well, not the part about starving to death while wondering why he went into the wilderness so poorly prepared, but the feeling of wanting … Continue reading →

Not far from Tokyo… a land of steam and bubbling waters…

By David Applebaum, AKA, that guy who really likes onsens… Hey. Have you ever read the list of “ingredients” in hand and body creams. Sure you have, everyone has at some point, or at least tried to… Even the so-called natural body creams have ingredients in them that sound very unnatural. Body creams soften your … Continue reading →

When the going gets tough, head for the hills…

By David Applebaum Winter. Yup. It is here. You know it is winter in Aomori when it is already dark and you are just finishing the last period of the day. You know it is winter in Aomori when people start leaving their windshield wipers up at night. You know it is winter in Aomori … Continue reading →

After the lavender has bloomed and gone, and is but a memory…

By Toad (David Applebaum) This week, we go north. The weather is getting cooler. The nights are chilly, the leaves are changing colours, and it is time to start getting seriously into some hot water. If you are one of those people who loves the proximity of Aomori to Hokkaido, then you already know that … Continue reading →

Changing seasons and a long, relaxing soak

By David Applebaum Where the mountains are, there can you find the waters… The leaves are changing colours and the mornings are crisp and cool. This is definitely one of my four favourite seasons. It is also a good time to remind yourself that you live in a country with onsens everywhere. What a shame … Continue reading →

While visiting the oldest beech forest in east Asia….

By David Applebaum I have to admit that when I first came to Aomori, I wasn’t thrilled. I had wanted to be placed in Hokkaido, but when I found out I was going to Aomori, I figured that I was close enough to Hokkaido that I could go whenever I wanted. I thought I would … Continue reading →

The best of two worlds: Indian curry and an onsen…!

By David Applebaum The year is moving along, the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing colours (yes, there is a “u” in colours). This is the time to start getting serious about onsens. If you haven’t really been onsen’ing yet, you have been doing yourself a disservice. If you onsen occasionally, you … Continue reading →

Where better than the axe-handle? Yagen Onsen… oh and don’t forget to bring cucumbers!

By David Applebaum Imagine, if you will, a place somewhat off the beaten track, high in the mountains of the axe handle of Aomori. Imagine the green, green mountains and the clean, crisp air of the great outdoors. Imagine it is getting cold out there, and you are a little chilly. Imagine an onsen that … Continue reading →