And while ancient spa towns like Bath in the UK, Vichy in France or Baden-Baden in Germany have their charm, many of us can agree that few people do it better than the Japanese. And there is one Japanese that stands out in particular — Yoshiharu Hoshino. A fourth-generation hotelier, Hoshino’s story began with the establishment of a single Japanese ryokan in Karuizawa (yes, of the whisky fame) in 1914. Today, the Hoshino Resorts group offers several brands, each of which is distinctive and highly regarded. There is Hoshinoya (luxury hotels), Risonare (countryside resorts), OMO (city hotels) and Lucy (mountain hotels), among others. But since we are on the topic of hot spring bathing, one of Hoshino Resorts’ great success stories is told via Kai, its collection of hot spring ryokan, which led to Hoshino-san being nicknamed the great “innovator of inns”.
With the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya festive overeating in full swing for the first quarter of 2026, it might be a good idea to plan the next vacation at someplace where the surroundings are rejuvenative, the eating is clean and the focus is on nature and wellness
For those who understand a smattering of Japanese, the mere mention of the word onsen is enough to elicit a wistful sigh, the sort of slow exhale that evokes longing. But bathing in hot springs is hardly a new practice. Dating back centuries, all the way to the ancient Romans, soaking in mineral-rich water — besides being so wonderfully soothing — has long been proven to cure illness, improve skin condition and boost circulation, aside from offering a host of other health benefits, such as lowering stress levels, enhancing sleep quality and alleviating muscular and joint pain. After all, anyone who has, to borrow an English phrase, taken the waters before, would doubtless be hardcore balneotherapy evangelists.
