Izu Retreat by Onko Chishin, in Shizuoka, Japan, is housed in a historic ryokan, with a seafood restaurant and hot spring–fed tubs in each of the 16 rooms.

On a recent concert tour in Japan, I had the chance to visit several thermal baths and to chat with people about the tradition of bathing. I was fascinated by their differences with American spas.

Not in Japan? No problem – these four wellness centres offer a 21st century take on the Japanese hot spring bathing tradition, in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines There’s nothing ...

I'm all for riding bullet trains, enjoying the bright lights of Tokyo and attending the sumo wrestling when in Japan, but I reckon a visit to an onsen or hot-spring resort is the country's top ...