Discard daily cares and enjoy a time-honoured bathing ritual with Onsen of Japan. For thousands of years, Japanese hot springs (or onsen) have been revered for relaxing and healing qualities, and this guidebook highlights 140 ideal places for tourists to visit around the country, from the southern tip right up to the north.
Award-winning book designer Michelle Mackintosh, and DJ writer husband Steve Wide, have meticulously researched the best places to go for a soak, from local hang-outs and inner-city spas to deep forest hotspring retreats and onsen towns with timeless character and charm. Onsen of Japan explores the ins and outs, dos and do nots and most of all the absolute joy of dipping yourself naked into ancient healing waters that have bubbled up from deep underground. The book aims to provide insight to readers on how to navigate the complex etiquette and customs of communal bathing. Easy checklists let you know what each onsen offers and whether tattoos are accepted. One thing is for sure, taking a bath will never be the same again.
Steve Wide has presented a British indie music radio show in Melbourne for two decades and toured with bands such as Primal Scream and The Stone Roses. He has written two pop culture books, Bowie A-Z and Prince A-Z, and has a Masters in writing and creative media from RMIT. Michelle Mackintosh has authored two books on analogue correspondence: Snail Mail and Care Packages. Her books are filled with origami, Japanese wrapping techniques and stationery crafting. The couple are passionate Japanophiles, travelling to Japan quarterly for the past 15 years, causing them to write and design two books on Japanese culture: Tokyo Precincts and Kyoto Pocket Precincts.
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