onsen

A shame, since bathing in an onsen or hot spring is healthful, rejuvinating, and leaves one refreshed, relaxed, and clean. Onsen waters have healing qualities that range from skin conditions to cancer, and most visitors will discover that a dip in an onsen is a highlight of their visit to Japan.

Hot springs resorts across the nation have been found to have misrepresented the amount of actual spring water used at their facilities, but efforts to resolve this problem have ended up being little more than a drop in the bucket.

Of all the ancient customs specific to Japan, the onsen is probably the easiest for a foreigner to join in. There are rituals involved but they are rudimentary: strip buck-naked, scour yourself clean and lower yourself into an indoor or outdoor bath of hot natural spring water

Suddenly Al turned to me and said, “There’s only one thing the people here are more afraid of than a yakuza: a foreigner!” We grabbed our towels and mashed ourselves into the tub, practically on top of the mobster. “Howdy,” I said. The hardened criminal’s jaw dropped in horror. He was gone in seconds.

In order to keep your wits from escaping you best escape from Yokohama (or Tokyo or wherever you are) as often as you can.