Onsen 温泉

Onsen (Hot spring)
There are many hot springs in Japan and most of them are developed as tourist spots. Japanese people are fond of hot spring bathing.
The water is hot enough (more than 25°C or 77°F) and contains various kinds of mineral elements and/or natural gasses. People consider it as an ideal means of relaxation. Vacationers visiting spas usually stay in hotels, inns (ryokan), or family-run lodging houses (minshuku), and spend several days enjoying their hot spring bathing facilities. Deep in the mountains, local people may relax in a public open-air spa (rotenburo).
Hot springs have also been recognized as medically effective. They are used not only for recuperation and rehabilitation but also for therapeutic treatment of many chronic diseases (such as rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, hypertension, etc.).