The dollar is tanking everywhere else, but oddly, the Japanese yen seems to be doing worse. The last I looked, the exchange rate was 121 JPY to 1 USD, which is the best it has been in six years or so. This makes Japan one of the most affordable destinations for Americans right now...especially if you go to the countryside and stay in Japanese-style hotels rather than expensive city hotels like Tokyo's famous Park Hyatt.

And so, I've been looking into hot springs ryokans for my September vacation....