Hot springs are one of Japan's greatest treasures. Sit in the hot, mineral-rich Onsen and feel you worry and stress simply melt away. A gift of pure joy to you from Japan.

As an onsen-loving Senpai, allow me to provide you a few tips on how to be absolutely prepared before braving the nakedness and initial awkwardness of your first Onsen adventure. Trust me, all of this knowledge has been gained by a multiple "learning experience" awkwardness. If you can benefit at all from my faux pas and fails, it will make all the red-faced moments worthwhile.

Japanese Inns have a way of affecting you. The pace is easy…arrive, go to your room, take a bath, eat your fill and sleep. There is very little interruption or canned amusement going on in a traditional Japanese Inn. Maybe from days long past, since these locations were not for entertainment but for rest, the act of restful hospitality has been perfected.

Kusatsu Onsen（草津温泉）, or Kusatsu Hot Spring is one of the most renowned hot-spring resort in Japan, located in the Tochigi Prefecture, about 100km north of Tokyo. Tochigi is rich in hot-spring resorts including Kusatsu, Ikaho, Shima, Minakami and Manza. Above all Kusatsu is highly evaluated with its quality and quantity of hot springs.

Hoeiso is a ryokan, a Japanese traditional style inn, situated in the beautiful green mountains of Hakone, right by a river. Hoesio is a family owned Ryokan, opened in 1956, with around 20 rooms that are big enough to fit a family.

My recommendations are "Satono-yu" with fine view outdoor bath and "Ichinoyu" with a cave pool. Please note, when you stay at any of the local ryokan in the Kinosaki area, you can visit 7 sotoyu baths for free and also enjoy taking a walk around the town dressing in "yukata".