Hot Springs: The Indigenous Hot Tub
Along with all-night karaoke sessions and bento box picnics beneath cherry blossom trees , the calming practice of taking a dip in geothermal hot springs is a decadent hobby I picked up while living in Japan years ago . Weaseling its way into my portfolio of ‘simple pleasures’, outdoor bathing in spring- fed mineral pools (what the Japanese call onsen ) or in local bathhouses is part of a normal routine for many Japanese. Back in the States, geography may limit my access and the ritual of communal bathing may be eyed with a bit of suspicion, but I am always at the ready to dive in when the opportunity presents itself. So on a recent ski vacation to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, when I heard the words “hot” and “springs” used in the same breath, my ears perked. Very quickly, the thought of a restorative, natural bath overshadowed any previous desire to hit the slopes! Without much prompting, my party and I made our way up the windy mountain roads , past the reindeer lounging am...