In Japan, mention "hot springs" and people instinctively think of mountain hideaways and seaside vistas. High on the list of onsen hot spots are Atami and Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula, Kusatsu in Gunma, Kinugawa in Tochigi, Hakone in Kanagawa and Beppu in Kyushu to name but a few.
In search of a long soothing soak, travelers have long flocked to these onsen, where, accordingly, numerous resorts and hotels have clustered.
What many city-dwellers don't know is that the onsen experience can be had without a shinkansen ticket. At Tokyo's hot springs, bathers can lie back, close their eyes and pretend they're far, far away from it all.