The 41-year-old is talking about the town of Ginzan Onsen, a popular winter destination in Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture. For Nakata, the importance of the region goes beyond beauty. He’s brought us ...

Since the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, skiing has been big news in Japan and for decades now, this destination has sat firmly atop ...

In Japan, the ages of 25 and 42 are the most unlucky for men. Fortunately, there is a 300-year-old solution. It involves ...

An onsen is a traditional Japanese hot spring, featuring baths that are fuelled by geothermal activity beneath the Earth's surface. These baths, which can be found all over Japan due to the country's ...

As the cable car glides up the mountain in Japan’s Yamagata prefecture, the snow-covered fir trees below begin to transform, taking on a bulkier appearance as their green coats disappear under a mass ...

Nozawa Onsen is a premier ski resort nestled in a secluded corner of central Japan. Unlike Japan’s other well-known resorts, Nozawa Onsen retains an authentic and traditional atmosphere. It has no ...

There are a few rules to know before you go: Each onsen has separate male and female baths, and most ryokans offer a pass to enter the public onsens on a complimentary basis. Though some offer bath ...

At night, the Zao Snow Monsters are illuminated with colored lights so visitors can continue to marvel them after dark. Photograph by Michael George As Japan’s tourism hot spots attract more and more ...