Though you may not have seen Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning animated film "Spirited Away," which is set in an opulent bathhouse for the gods, even the most fleeting acquaintance with Japan will have made it clear that soaking in a hot tub is an almost celestial experience for the inhabitants of these isles.
Although the popularity of local sento bathhouses has been declining due to the steady increase in the number of homes with luxurious private baths, enjoying nature's gift of onsen (hot-spring baths) remains one of the country's most popular leisure activities.
So, in line with other popular entertainments, it's hardly surprising that we're now seeing a marriage of onsen and amusement parks. And in response to the perpetual limits on time and money, it's also hardly surprising that rather than having to take a trip into the countryside, we're now seeing an upsurge of onsen in the city.