People enjoy the onsen in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. - Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images - South China Morning Post
TOKYO: The price of a relaxing soak in one of Japan’s famous onsen is going up as towns across the country look to offset shrinking revenues from other sources and cover the costs of an ageing population.
Foreign visitors looking forward to sampling one of Japan’s must-try experiences need not worry, however, as the overnight “bathing tax” is only rising from typically 150 yen (99 US cents) to 300 yen, a figure that has virtually no effect on holiday spending as the yen is so weak against other currencies at present.
