The Japanese Spa: A Guide to Japan's Finest Ryokan and Onsen

If you are adding a Japanese bath or details to your home, this book is full of excellent examples that will inspire your creativity. If you are visiting Japan and plan to travel around and explore onsen and ryokans, this is a great book with beautiful photos that will give you a good idea of what to expect. This is a the big problem with most of the big name travel books, they mention the places but you never get to really see what they are like. "The Japanese Spa" is divided in 5 geographical regions: 1) Around Tokyo 2) Kyoto & Nara 3) Central Japan 4) Northern Japan 5) Southern Japan I have persoanlly stayed at both Hiragiya and Seikoro in Kyoto, and they are both excellent, though I prefer the former. The food and staff are exceptional at both, but the ambiance is superior at Hiragiya. We left an expensive camera in a cab in Kyoto and the Hiragiya staff called the cab companies, who delivered the camera to the ryokan a few hours later. Incredible. Only in Japan! There are tons of color photos on every page, and each place mentioned includes a good little description. Just a little more information to read would have made it a 5-star. This is a very nice book. If you are planning to visit Kyoto, be sure to bring a copy of "Old Kyoto" by Durston.

THE JAPANESE SPA: A GUIDE TO JAPAN'S FINEST RYOKAN AND ONSEN provides a color survey of lovely Japanese spas. Perfect for inspiration to any who either wish to visit Japan or model a home redecoration after Japanese tradition. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch