The Japanese love bath-time, whether it be in a hot spring (onsen), a public bathhouse (sento), or a soak in the tub at home (o-furo). Bathing in Japan really is something of an art that verges on an obsession. Of course, the Japanese didn't invent it (the ancient Romans take credit for that), but they certainly have perfected it. In fact, a whole business has been built around the bath from onsen vacations to purpose-built bathroom TV and radios to every conceivable bath product and accessory.
The Japanese have revered the medicinal properties of the waters of the various onsen throughout their country for centuries. This archipelago is located on one of the world's most active volcano fault lines, and this results in an abundance of naturally heated water, often rich in a variety of minerals that offer various health benefits. In fact the Japanese even have a word for the healing powers of the onsen, kamiyu, which means "divine bath."
Over the last year or so, two new trends have emerged that combine the Japanese love of the bath with the current boom in all things "detox." One is a "germanium bath," which, as the name suggests, involves soaking in hot water infused with germanium; the other is a form of dry bathing called ganban-yoku (stone-slab bath). Promoters of these bath styles promise a whole host of health and beauty benefits, though it should be noted that, as yet, there is no hard science to back up all the claims.