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SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has released its list of the top destinations in Asia for onsen hot spring activities, with Osaka taking the crown, based on activity bookings made on Agoda in January 2026. Following closely are Kyoto, Ha Long, Beppu, and Nagasaki, each offering unique and immersive onsen experiences.
As travelers increasingly seek out more authentic local experiences, onsens present a perfect choice. These traditional hot spring baths are not only a staple in Japan but have gained popularity across Asia. Whether traveling with family, friends, or solo, or even for locals looking to unwind, onsens offer a holistic wellness and relaxation treat. They provide a serene escape and a chance to connect with the local culture.
Jay Lee, Regional Director, North Asia at Agoda, shared, "Onsens in Japan and across Asia offer a unique blend of relaxation and cultural immersion. Agoda's data finds that travelers are booking onsen activities as part of walking, hiking, and exploration tours to experience destinations like a local. Agoda is thrilled to offer a wide range of activities that can be seamlessly booked on one platform, so that travelers can experience more in every city they visit."
Here are the top five onsen destinations in Asia according to activities booked on Agoda:
1. Osaka, Japan – Osaka offers a rich tapestry of experiences for onsen enthusiasts. The Osaka Bay Tower provides a unique opportunity to enjoy hot spring baths with panoramic views of the cityscape. Visitors can also book day trips to explore the majestic Mt. Fuji, where the journey includes an onsen experience amidst the stunning natural backdrop. Meanwhile, the Arima Onsen area, one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts, offers therapeutic waters within a short distance from the city.
2. Kyoto, Japan - Known for its historic charm and traditional ambiance, Kyoto offers a unique onsen experiences steeped in nature where visitors can unwind amidst lush greenery. Kurama Onsen, located in the mountains, offers a peaceful retreat with outdoor baths that overlook the picturesque landscape. Kyoto's rich cultural heritage, including its temples, tea houses, and geisha districts, adds to the allure, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a blend of relaxation and cultural exploration.
3. Ha Long, Vietnam – Outside of Japan, Vietnam's Ha Long emerges as a popular choice for those looking to experience a Japanese-style onsen. Places like Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh Spa offer mineral baths, saunas, and relaxation areas, where visitors can indulge in a day of pampering, complete with Japanese cuisine and cultural activities.
4. Beppu, Japan - Beppu is a hot spring paradise, known for its "hells" or jigoku, which are unique geothermal attractions. Visitors can tour the famous Umi Jigoku and Oniishi Jigoku, marveling at the vibrant colors and steaming waters. A scenic ride on the Beppu Ropeway to Mt. Tsurumi's summit offers breathtaking views and cool mountain air. The charming hot spring town of Yufuin, with its quaint shops and cafes, provides a delightful end to the day. Beppu's onsen culture, combined with sound bath meditation and other wellness activities, makes it a haven for relaxation seekers.
5. Nagasaki, Japan - Nagasaki offers a blend of history, culture, and relaxation. Visitors can experience a traditional ryokan stay, complete with a cooking class and a visit to the local farmer's market. The ryokan's hot spring bath provides a soothing end to the day, offering a unique glimpse into Japanese hospitality.
Travelers seeking immersive local experiences can find over 300,000 activities and experiences that are available on Agoda. The latest deals are available in the Agoda app or on agoda.com/deals.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has released its list of the top destinations in Asia for onsen hot spring activities, with Osaka taking the crown, based on activity bookings made on Agoda in January 2026. Following closely are Kyoto, Ha Long, Beppu, and Nagasaki, each offering unique and immersive onsen experiences.
As travelers increasingly seek out more authentic local experiences, onsens present a perfect choice. These traditional hot spring baths are not only a staple in Japan but have gained popularity across Asia. Whether traveling with family, friends, or solo, or even for locals looking to unwind, onsens offer a holistic wellness and relaxation treat. They provide a serene escape and a chance to connect with the local culture.
Jay Lee, Regional Director, North Asia at Agoda, shared, "Onsens in Japan and across Asia offer a unique blend of relaxation and cultural immersion. Agoda's data finds that travelers are booking onsen activities as part of walking, hiking, and exploration tours to experience destinations like a local. Agoda is thrilled to offer a wide range of activities that can be seamlessly booked on one platform, so that travelers can experience more in every city they visit."
Here are the top five onsen destinations in Asia according to activities booked on Agoda:
1. Osaka, Japan – Osaka offers a rich tapestry of experiences for onsen enthusiasts. The Osaka Bay Tower provides a unique opportunity to enjoy hot spring baths with panoramic views of the cityscape. Visitors can also book day trips to explore the majestic Mt. Fuji, where the journey includes an onsen experience amidst the stunning natural backdrop. Meanwhile, the Arima Onsen area, one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts, offers therapeutic waters within a short distance from the city.
2. Kyoto, Japan - Known for its historic charm and traditional ambiance, Kyoto offers a unique onsen experiences steeped in nature where visitors can unwind amidst lush greenery. Kurama Onsen, located in the mountains, offers a peaceful retreat with outdoor baths that overlook the picturesque landscape. Kyoto's rich cultural heritage, including its temples, tea houses, and geisha districts, adds to the allure, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a blend of relaxation and cultural exploration.
3. Ha Long, Vietnam – Outside of Japan, Vietnam's Ha Long emerges as a popular choice for those looking to experience a Japanese-style onsen. Places like Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh Spa offer mineral baths, saunas, and relaxation areas, where visitors can indulge in a day of pampering, complete with Japanese cuisine and cultural activities.
4. Beppu, Japan - Beppu is a hot spring paradise, known for its "hells" or jigoku, which are unique geothermal attractions. Visitors can tour the famous Umi Jigoku and Oniishi Jigoku, marveling at the vibrant colors and steaming waters. A scenic ride on the Beppu Ropeway to Mt. Tsurumi's summit offers breathtaking views and cool mountain air. The charming hot spring town of Yufuin, with its quaint shops and cafes, provides a delightful end to the day. Beppu's onsen culture, combined with sound bath meditation and other wellness activities, makes it a haven for relaxation seekers.
5. Nagasaki, Japan - Nagasaki offers a blend of history, culture, and relaxation. Visitors can experience a traditional ryokan stay, complete with a cooking class and a visit to the local farmer's market. The ryokan's hot spring bath provides a soothing end to the day, offering a unique glimpse into Japanese hospitality.
Travelers seeking immersive local experiences can find over 300,000 activities and experiences that are available on Agoda. The latest deals are available in the Agoda app or on agoda.com/deals.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Agoda Unveils Asia's Top Onsen Destinations
HANGZHOU, China, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A team led by principal investigators Bobo Dang and Ting Zhou at Westlake University/Westlake Laboratory reported in Science a high-throughput platform for engineering fast-acting covalent protein therapeutics. Their work, titled "A high-throughput selection system for fast-acting covalent protein drugs," opens new avenues for next-generation biologics.
Covalent small-molecule drugs have shown great success in cancer therapy by forming irreversible bonds with their targets. This has inspired efforts to extend covalent strategies to protein therapeutics, especially engineered miniproteins. However, their development is limited by a kinetic mismatch: Miniproteins are rapidly cleared in vivo, whereas covalent bond formation is typically slow. In addition, high-throughput platforms for systematically optimizing covalent protein reactivity have been lacking.
To address this challenge, the researchers proposed that precise spatial positioning of chemical warheads within protein scaffolds could enable molecular preorganization, thereby accelerating covalent bond formation without increasing intrinsic reactivity (Fig. 1).
Based on this concept, the team developed a high-throughput platform that combines yeast surface display with chemoselective protein modification to screen diverse crosslinkers and millions of protein variants. By optimizing warhead placement and the local chemical environment, the platform enables rapid and irreversible target engagement.
Using this platform, the researchers developed a covalent antagonist targeting PD-L1, termed IB101. Structural analysis revealed that IB101 forms a defined binding pocket that precisely positions the warhead in a reactive conformation, greatly accelerating covalent bond formation. Functionally, IB101 effectively blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway and demonstrates strong antitumor activity in mouse models. Notably, despite its short in vivo half-life, IB101 achieves durable target engagement and tumor suppression, outperforming conventional antibody-based therapies under comparable conditions.
The platform was further applied to cytokine engineering, leading to the development of a covalent IL-18 variant, IB201. This engineered cytokine rapidly forms a covalent interaction with its receptor, enhancing signaling strength and duration. In vivo studies showed that IB201 induces potent antitumor immune responses without detectable systemic toxicity. These results highlight the potential of covalent engineering to improve the efficacy and safety of cytokine-based therapies.
Beyond immunotherapy targets, the platform was also applied to develop a covalent inhibitor targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. This molecule achieves durable viral neutralization, demonstrating the versatility of the approach across different therapeutic modalities.
This study establishes a general strategy for engineering fast-acting covalent protein therapeutics. By enabling covalent bond formation on timescales compatible with rapid in vivo clearance, the platform overcomes a fundamental limitation in the field.
These findings provide a new framework for designing biologics with both rapid kinetics and sustained target engagement, with broad implications for cancer immunotherapy, antiviral therapy, and beyond.
Media Contact:
Chi Zhang
media@westlake.edu.cn
+86-15659837873
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Fast-Acting Covalent Protein Drugs From a New High-Throughput Platform
