In Japan, bathing in the nude with strangers is just a regular part of onsen culture. But for many foreign visitors, taking that first plunge can be intimidating.

The sheer expanse of places to see in Japan is astounding. The country is home to a dizzying variety of landscapes-snow-covered peaks, beaches with emerald waters, bamboo woodlands, even sand dunes.

While the crowds continue to gather in Tokyo and Kyoto, now is the right time to venture off the beaten path to rural hot ...