Onsen!

[JSchmidt]

Ok, so not quite training, but as a precursor to start training when I go over there on a (longish) vacation in Nov/Dec, I would dearly love to spend a few days (or more) soaking in a hot onsen to recover from the last 4 months of working hell.
Anyone got any recommendation. Isolated and not too touristy would be great...oh...and NO COMPUTERS!!!!!

Jakob

[Hongsermeier]

If you'll be down south on Kyushu island there is an area called Kirishima. Lots of onsen there, very nice. :cross_eye

[xvikingx]

I am not sure where you plan on going, but since you are going to be here in the Winter, there are out door hot springs that you can dig yourself. It seems like a lot of work but if you saw one of these places you'd know its well worth it. Oh yeah, and they are not full of tourist.

[Paul Kerr]

This (http://www2.gol.com/users/jolsen/onsen/kaniyu.html) was one of the greatest onsen I ever visited. When I last went there (must've been 1990 or so) it was good 2 hour hike from the train stop up into the hills. Fantastic baths by the river, in the moonlight....great food and people...aaaaah onsen!!!!

[doubissu]

My buddy Jens has visited tons of free, open air and mostly mixed (wohooo!) onsen all over Japan. More of the "rotenburo" type rather than full fledge onsen, but from your post it sounds like that's what you're into as well.

His web page describes his funny adventures there ; check out http://www2.gol.com/users/jolsen/onsen/

Eddy

[kendomushi]

Yufuin in Oita prefecture, Kyushu is one of the best known areas among Japanese, very few foriegners there.
For a real experience though, you want to get reservations at an onsen hotel or a hotel in one of the onsen towns. Further north might better as you will be having some snow in December while you sit outside in the rotenburo.

[Kenshi]

jacob... you are going to need a vacation AFTER you visit me... what with all the okinomiyaki and beer you will consume... never mind the keisatsu and jeitai keiko.. heh heh.

[Eldritch Knight]

The Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama are excellent. They're also world famous.

[watanabe2k]

Yufuin in Oita prefecture, Kyushu is one of the best known areas among Japanese, very few foriegners there.
For a real experience though, you want to get reservations at an onsen hotel or a hotel in one of the onsen towns. Further north might better as you will be having some snow in December while you sit outside in the rotenburo.
Yes, I really liked Yufuin, I lived in Fukuoka for 6 years, so it was a day trip for me! I highly recommend going there!