Taking a nice, long, hot bath has for eras been an ideal way to unwind, whether it is a soak crammed in the tub at home after a hard day's work, a trip to the local sento (public bath) for a leisurely scrub-down or a weekend getaway to the countryside in pursuit of hot springs and the healing powers they're believed to hold.
But as the quickening pace of city life increases the desire to wash away stress, so to it swallows up the time required to escape the metropolis.
As Tokyo is a city that continually caters to the latest needs of its dwellers, the past few years have seen a handful of inner-city onsen (hot springs) spurt up, conveniently nestling nature's relaxing powers within the concrete jungle. LaQua in Bunkyo ward has become a hit with everyone from seniors to Gen-X'ers with its outdoor pools and nighttime view of Tokyo Dome, while Ooedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba has carved out a niche by taking bathers back in time in a somewhat tacky, but definitely fun recreation of the Edo Period.