| Japan's Hot Springs | | | | eel bath? Granted, this may not sound |
| | | | appealing. But do not worry. Eels are not |
| WHAT comes to your mind when you think of | | | | really found in these springs. The name was |
| Japan? Majestic Mount Fuji? The speeding | | | | chosen because when people emerge from these |
| bullet train? The megalopolis Tokyo? There is | | | | springs, their skin feels as slimy as that of |
| more to the land of the rising sun than those | | | | an eel-a result of the alkalinity of the |
| famous tourist attractions. Whether for | | | | waters. |
| medicinal purposes or for relaxation, | | | | |
| millions annually visit onsens-the hot | | | | Amid Beautiful Settings |
| springs of Japan. During one recent year, an | | | | |
| estimated 140Â million people checked in | | | | Soaking in thermal waters amid such beautiful |
| at a hot-spring inn or hotel in Japan. But | | | | settings as mountains, valleys, rivers, the |
| what makes these spas so popular? | | | | seashore, and the plains makes for a uniquely |
| | | | pleasant experience and leaves an impression |
| Onsen History | | | | that will not be easily forgotten. Because |
| | | | many of Japan's hot springs are located |
| The Japanese have enjoyed bathing in | | | | outdoors, bathers have a clear view of great |
| geothermal waters for many centuries. | | | | natural beauty. The ceiling above is the |
| Writings dating back to the eighth | | | | deep-blue sky, while the surrounding |
| century C.E. mention the use of hot | | | | mountains serve as walls. The sounds coming |
| springs. Evidently, the 16th-century feudal | | | | from this "outdoor room" can be a choir of |
| lord Takeda Shingen championed the medicinal | | | | birds singing in the morning or the melody of |
| value of mineral springs. After battles, he | | | | a gently flowing brook. Really, there seems |
| and his samurai warriors bathed in hot | | | | to be no end to the appealing features of the |
| springs to help heal sword wounds, broken | | | | hot springs. |
| bones, cuts, and bruises. The waters were | | | | |
| also useful for relieving stress and for | | | | Does bathing under a waterfall interest you? |
| preparing the men for the next battle. | | | | This experience can be yours. Cascading |
| | | | waters give you a massage and add another |
| Of course, bathing would place the samurai in | | | | dimension to bathing Japanese-style. It is |
| a vulnerable position-that of being unarmed | | | | also possible to bathe in a cave, where hot |
| in the event of a surprise attack. To | | | | mineral waters bubble forth from the deep |
| overcome this problem, Takeda Shingen made | | | | recesses of rock formations. Some springs are |
| use of a group of remote and secluded | | | | located on the beach, with a perfect view of |
| springs, which later came to be known as | | | | the sunset, whereas others are nestled |
| Shingen's hidden baths. Interestingly, these | | | | alongside rivers. |
| same springs are now used by professional | | | | |
| athletes, including sumo wrestlers and | | | | No matter what the location or type of hot |
| baseball players, in the belief that the | | | | spring chosen, one thing is certain: If you |
| waters can reinvigorate their bodies for | | | | bathe in volcanically heated springs, you |
| future sporting endeavors. | | | | will experience, if for but a moment, relief |
| | | | from the stress of daily living. You will |
| Unique Geographic Features | | | | emerge truly refreshed and perhaps a little |
| | | | closer to the Japanese life-style. So if you |
| Japan's geographic features are particularly | | | | have an opportunity to visit this part of the |
| suited for thermal springs. Studding the | | | | world, by all means enjoy the onsens-the hot |
| surface of the archipelago are some 245 | | | | springs of Japan! |
| volcanoes, 86 of which are active. These | | | | |
| volcanoes stand as a sobering reminder of | | | | HOT SPRINGS AND SHOGUNS |
| events taking place deep beneath the surface | | | | |
| of the earth. What do we find there? | | | | Mineral water was highly esteemed during the |
| | | | Edo period (1603-1867). Military dictators, |
| The Japanese islands are situated on top of | | | | called shoguns, actually had the waters |
| converging lithospheric plates, or slabs of | | | | transported in wooden barrels supported by |
| crust. Magma, molten rock, is believed to be | | | | poles from Atami to Edo (Tokyo)-a distance of |
| generated along the point of convergence of | | | | 70Â miles [110Â km]-on the shoulders |
| these gigantic plates. Located directly | | | | of human carriers. At several points along |
| above-and functioning as visible outlets-are | | | | the route, the prized waters were handed over |
| the volcanoes. This geothermal zone also | | | | to a different team of carriers, and they, in |
| serves as the fountainhead of heat to the | | | | turn, bore the load over their leg of the |
| underground springs. Interacting with magma | | | | journey. In this way the mineral waters were |
| or hot rocks, the groundwater is warmed and | | | | transported at a brisk pace. The thermal |
| absorbs minerals, resulting in ideal | | | | waters collected at the source were nearly at |
| conditions for onsens to be born. It is for | | | | the boiling point. On this arduous trip of |
| good reason that the book The Hot Springs of | | | | some 15 hours, the water from the springs |
| Japan notes: "No country in the world is so | | | | would cool down to just the right temperature |
| blessed with natural hot springs as Japan." | | | | for the shogun to enjoy a rejuvenating bath |
| Indeed, a 1998 study lists 2,839 hot springs | | | | in his castle at Edo! |
| in the land. | | | | |
| | | | Onsen Etiquette |
| Japan's hot springs come in a variety of | | | | |
| styles, sizes, shapes, and colors. In an | | | | According to custom, soaping and washing is |
| effort to classify the therapeutic value of | | | | done outside the hot springs, after which the |
| the springs, the Japanese Environment Agency | | | | body is rinsed thoroughly. Then it is time to |
| has organized them into nine chemical | | | | submerge in the clear mineral waters. It is |
| categories. The names given to hot springs | | | | best to ease in, for the temperature of some |
| often refer to their characteristics. For | | | | springs can be quite high. When finished, do |
| instance, springs rich in iron may make your | | | | not rinse off the minerally rich water. Just |
| towel turn reddish-orange. Hence, the word | | | | wipe yourself dry with a towel. It is thought |
| "red" is incorporated into their names. | | | | that minerals that soak in may help soften |
| Springs with a high saline content are named | | | | your skin. |
| salt baths. And how about taking a dip in an | | | | |