Two new tours have been announced by Walk Japan (in collaboration with the country’s Onsen Gastronomy Tourism Association – yes, that’s a thing) to celebrate the age-old Japanese traditions of bathing in hot springs and savouring seasonal fare.

The new, small-group walking tours will take place in Oita and Kumamoto in Kyushu, and Gifu and Nagano in Honshu. The pace? Leisurely. The onsens? Private. The food? Inimitably authentic and beautifully presented.

Enjoyed for thousands of years in Japan, onsens were traditionally used by Buddhists, for their restorative powers. Ever since, bathing has remained a favoured ritual in this bustling country.