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.

In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers explored how bathing in Japanese hot springs affects the gut microbiota of healthy individuals. Their results provide ...

From onsens in Japan to high-altitude pools in Bolivia, the photographer Greta Rybus shares highlights from her search for thermal waters. Looking out from the simple changing room at a hot springs ...