Japan's Hidden Hot Springs

Rating:
Summary: Good luck finding any of these places
Review: "Hidden" is the opperative word here. Unless you're a backpacker with lots of time to take local buses AND are able to speak Japanese, I don't think your average tourist could find any of these places. They seemed really off the beaten track, many in the mountains or up in northern Japan.
The book (I had the 1995 edition) didn't even have a good map of the country! I found the organization very confusing with little guidence as to good hot springs visits outside the major tourist cities.
A British friend and hot spring enthusiast who spent six months in Japan also said this book was too difficult to use.
If you're a backpacker get the Lonely Planet and if you can afford a few $300 nights in an Onsen (it's worth it), get the Price book "Classic Japanese Inns.
If you actually live in Japan, with a car and some language skills, you might like this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good luck finding any of these places
Review: "Hidden" is the opperative word here. Unless you're a backpacker with lots of time to take local buses AND are able to speak Japanese, I don't think your average tourist could find any of these places. They seemed really off the beaten track, many in the mountains or up in northern Japan.
The book (I had the 1995 edition) didn't even have a good map of the country! I found the organization very confusing with little guidence as to good hot springs visits outside the major tourist cities.
A British friend and hot spring enthusiast who spent six months in Japan also said this book was too difficult to use.
If you're a backpacker get the Lonely Planet and if you can afford a few $300 nights in an Onsen (it's worth it), get the Price book "Classic Japanese Inns.
If you actually live in Japan, with a car and some language skills, you might like this book.

Rating:
Summary: Full of 'Hidden' treasures
Review: I say hidden as books in English on traditional Japanese hot springs (onsens) are rare. Neff is a real traditioalist at heart and refuses to recommend any onsen that has tried to fit in with the modern city-driven development of Japan. His enthusiasm for finding peaceful, beautiful locations, with onsens set in natural locations knows no bounds! Locations given in the book live up to their expectations. This is certainly the best onsen guide showing a side of Japan that has resisted change, and will hopefully continue to do so - see it before it does!

Rating:
Summary: Tried and ... true?
Review: My wife and I used this guide to plan several onsen trips during my ten years in Japan. It is well written and fairly accurate but at times somewhat misleading. Some of the springs have closed their doors since the book was first published while others have gone into gentle decay... That said, there are some real gems among the recommended onsens and half the fun is getting there...

Rating:
Summary: Tried and ... true?
Review: My wife and I used this guide to plan several onsen trips during my ten years in Japan. It is well written and fairly accurate but at times somewhat misleading. Some of the springs have closed their doors since the book was first published while others have gone into gentle decay... That said, there are some real gems among the recommended onsens and half the fun is getting there...