On a recent concert tour in Japan, I had the chance to visit several thermal baths and to chat with people about the tradition of bathing. I was fascinated by their differences with American spas.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Anna Haines covers wellness, style and beauty. Apr 18, 2024, 11:00am EDT Apr 27, 2024, 05:52pm EDT This article is more than 2 ...

Akimoto Nakai stands in a clearing within the cedarwoods, the babble of a mountain brook filling the morning air and the slanting light glinting on an axe clenched in his fist. Etched into the steel ...

After researching the impact of technology on mental health, California-based filmmaker Mike Dewey and producer Kati Hetrick were introduced to the concept of Shinrin Yoku: Japanese forest bathing.

In western Japan, this prefecture’s verdant natural spaces are the perfect destination for bringing together body, mind, and spirit. In western Tokyo, Lake Okutama is a natural escape that offers ...

Bathing in an “Onsen,” or hot spring, should be on any bucket list for Japan, even if you aren’t a big wellness girlie — although the physical and mental benefits are definitely part of the draw. Each ...

It was a cold February day in northern Japan, snow piled high outside the onsen locker room windows as I slipped out of my clothes. Nervously, I stepped into the plumes of steam wafting from the next ...

Discover Jigokudani-Affenpark (Jigokudani Yaen Koen) in Yamanouchi, Japan, where wild Japanese macaques soak in steaming hot springs amid snowy landscapes—a surreal wildlife spectacle that captivates ...

Enjoy close-up videos of adorable Japanese macaques bathing in the hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture, in the center of Japan’s Honshu island. Watch them groom each other in ...

Several cities in Japan are grappling with overtourism as local governments take different approaches to curbing crowds. Japan is known for its hot springs (onsens) and bathing facilities surrounded ...