With onsen bathing such a central part of Japanese culture, committing a faux pas inside a hot spring is extra-embarrassing! However, if you’re willing to learn, the rules are simple!

From what to do before and after your bath, to minding the space of other bathers, onsen culture is extremely welcoming when done right. For everything you need to know in one spot, check out LIVE JAPAN’s guide to onsen etiquette here!

Beauty researcher Hiroko Ishii has spent her life exploring Japan’s tapestry of hot springs, striving to uncover their beauty and health benefits and share them with the world.

In her own words: ‘Japanese people love to sense seasonal smells and sounds. When surrounded by peaceful tranquility, it's easy to recall things in life we may have overlooked. One of the few places left where we can still do that is the onsen. If you find yourself in a Japanese onsen one day, why not try taking up the Japanese way?’

So what exactly is the ‘Japanese way?’ Find out how to bath like a local here!

If you’re already an onsen-lover looking to deepen your knowledge, don’t miss our interview with Dr. Yasuaki Goto, a specialist in baths and researcher with the Japan Health Development Foundation.

We asked him the questions you’ve always wondered but were too afraid to ask! From body hair, tattoos, and even milk-drinking, the mysteries of onsen have finally been solved!

For Japanese locals, onsen are often associated with beauty and skincare, naturally developing into an extensive hot spring treatment culture!

To find out more about this intriguing, less explored side of onsen, we spoke with Ms. Hiroko Ishii, a beauty researcher and expert on hot spring treatments. Constantly touring hot springs across the nation, Ishii strives to uncover the science behind the supposed health benefits to see what lies behind these ancient beliefs. So what sort of beauty regimens has she got in store for us? Find out here!

Did you know you can wander the streets of Edo Japan in the middle of 21st-century Tokyo? Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a spa complex and historical theme park offering a painstakingly accurate glimpse into a bygone Japan!

Having heard nothing but good things, we decided to treat ourselves to a long-awaited girls’ trip! Here we’ll introduce this charming Tokyo gem with tips on how to best enjoy it.

While sharing a bath with strangers in the nude may be daunting, if you can muster the courage to try it once, we promise you’ll be hooked! Onsen bathing is the pinnacle of Japanese culture, providing a way to unwind and re-energize for another day of sightseeing. You’ll wish you had them at home!