A New and Complete Guide Book The Hot Springs of Japan. Issued by the Japanese Government Railways, Tokio, 1922. Price: 7 yen, The visitor to Japan rarely misses a chance of visiting the famous hot and cold springs of that country. One thing, however, has been lacking in connexion with these visits, and that is, information True, the Japanese Government Railways have issued books on South-western and North-eastern Japan. but these contain only hazy descriptions of: these wonderful springs, and other writers have published various works, but even these fail to give all the information that is given in this new book "The Hot Springs of Japan."'
The latest book is more than a guide book: it contains voluminous! information that will be found extremely useful by tourists. It) contains 504 pages, 196 illustrations, 15 maps and two lithographs in} colours. Descriptions are given of the principal cold springs as well as the hot springs, and of the numerous springs in Korea, Formosa and south Manchuria.
Under the direction of Mr. Frederic de Gaus, chief of the Department of Publicity, the book is. extremely well written. and classified. The mineral springs are' divided into two groups, i.e. the' northern section and the southern section. Locations of its since recording to the railway which springs of each group are designate
would have to be taken to reach them, and a description of the principal springs along the various lines are given. Springs are classified according to their chemical basis or composition, their curative values, and their radio-activity, etc., and are divided inia six groups: simple thermal, acid, carbonated, salt, sulphur and iron, The distinction between hot and cold springs is. based on the average bodily temperature of 37° centigrade or 98.6° fahrenheit, those above these figures at their origin being classed as hot springs and those below as cold springs. The full and detailed analysis of the chemical composition of each spring is omitted as being of no interest to the average tourist.. The predominating chemicals of some of the more prominent springs, however, are given.
A mass of information is given which wil] surely be appreciated by readers and tourists. Those who wish to visit Japan for health reasons will find the chapter on the kinds "of baths and their uses especially useful, while the casual tourist should read the information given under the heading of Japanese inns and find it most in structive. We can heartily recommend this book.—w.H.c.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.