During these chilly winter months, there’s nothing quite like taking a dip in a natural hot spring and feeling your aching muscles soften like a pan of chocolate on a warm log cabin stove. But if you’ve seen every onsen (hot spring) that Japan has to offer or are simply wishing to avoid the crowds of like-minded visitors, locating a new place to bathe isn’t easy. Thankfully, help is at hand.
In an article over at Yahoo! Japan’s R25 digital magazine, a member of the Nihon Onsen Kyoukai (Japan Hot Spring Association) lets readers in on three little-known, not to mention rather unusual, hot spring locations that are sure to leave you with plenty of tales to tell family and friends. All the juicy info after the break.

Take a Ride on the Zoo Train Where the Seats Stare Back
Xbox Live hacked? Rumours flood the internet after ominous tweet left by hacker 【Updated】
We devour a mountain of ramen (toppings)
Chinese Photoshop Trolls Part 3: This Time It’s Personal
China’s Photoshop Experts Will Fix Your Bad Photos, But Be Careful What You Wish For
Fashion Friends: Twitter Proves Almost Every Japanese College Student Wears the Same Exact Outfit
Chinese Photoshop Trolling Part 2: Now with 20% More Shirtless Men!
Disney Villains Clean Up Well, Wow Japan
Crime of Passion: Three Men Forcibly Deported from Saudi Arabia for Being “Too Handsome”
Real-Life Barbie Gives Her Friends and Family a Makeover, Turns Them into Dolls
Oozing up From Below, Mysterious Marshmallow-like Substance Covers Nanjing Street
We Made Coca-Cola Transparent and Colorless. It Tastes Like…
Peenzilla Worship! Japan’s Kanamara Festival Coming Up this April!
Chinese Woman on Trial for Killing Man by Squeezing His Scrotum
Chinese Student’s Bicycle Seat Breaks and… Gyah!
Before and After: 31 Startling Images of Plastic Surgery in Korea 【Photo Album】
Chinese Photoshop Trolling Part 2: Now with 20% More Shirtless Men!
Ukraine’s Anime Girl and Real Barbie Meet Face to Eerie Face!
Cute sleepy animals captivate Japan, teach us some new vocabulary at the same time!【GIF Gallery】
Is the fountain of youth located in Japan? New study supports beauty claims of famous Japanese hot spring
How transparent is acceptable for a girl’s pants? This much, according to one Chinese high school
80-year-old Japanese man conquers Everest, 81-year-old Nepalese rival hot on his heels
Japanese iPad artist is the Leonardo da Vinci of digital finger paints 【Video】
Fashion Friends: Twitter Proves Almost Every Japanese College Student Wears the Same Exact Outfit
Toys for Grown-Ups – Tokyo Marui Comes to Play with ‘Gun-Sound’ Replica Sniper Rifles, Pistols and Grenade Launchers
Nails: the way to a handsome guy’s heart! (According to these comic strips)
Philip Kendall
Steven Simonitch
Master Blaster
Kay
Michelle Lynn Dinh
Jessica Ocheltree