The onsen hot spring spa: a gift from mother earth. Hot springs are concentrated in countries located in volcanic zones and can differ in many ways, from the composition and color of the hot water to the smell surrounding the spring. Japan ranks high in the hot spring league; boasting plentiful flows of hot water, it has over 20,000 onsen facilities across the nation. Using the onsen for medicinal purposes is rooted in the Japanese culture, with a long history of people travelling for the purpose of therapeutic bathing—staying for long periods at a spa to heal from sickness or injury or to get into better physical shape.

Located in areas abounding in the riches of nature, there is a special chemistry between onsen resorts and the winter season. Nyuto Onsen is a hot spring village in Akita Prefecture containing seven hot spring inns scattered around the base of Mount Nyuto. These outdoor spas are pervaded by the unique ambience to be found only at onsen spas having a long history.

A spa town in Tuscany in north-central Italy, Saturnia is famous for its grand spa formed around terraced ledges. Some 800 liters per second of sulfurous water gush from an upstream waterfall into a cascade of natural pools formed by deposits of calcareous rock. The history of this spa dates back further than the Roman era, to that of the Etruscan civilization. Close by are historical remains and an archeology museum which illustrate the deep history of this region.

Glenwood Springs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado is another large natural spa. The hot springs were discovered by the Ute nomadic hunter-gatherers, who used them for healing purposes and performed rites in the natural sauna caves found there.

It could be fun to plan an onsen/hot spring spa tour this winter, researching first which spas have your favorite type of spring water.