Daichi Arima

I’m Daichi Arima, in my second year at a tourism association. I grew up in a hot-spring town, and since starting work I’ve been working toward a private “Onsen Sommelier” certification. What I love about Japan is how different the springs can be even within the same prefecture—the whiff of sulfur, the fizz of carbonic bubbles, the gentle weight of salt. The bath is also a community “third place,” and the culture of sharing quiet feels wonderful. What I want to share are step-by-step bathing guides that even first-timers won’t get lost with, along with safety and etiquette, plus practical details like tattoo policies and men/women switch times. I describe benefits neutrally as “traditionally believed,” and I talk realistically about pacing: rest and hydration, and timing for sauna → cold plunge → open-air cooldown. I’ll also offer a half-day onsen-hopping model—and a perfect post-bath drink, whether plain milk or coffee milk.