Don't believe what you see in the tourist brochures. If you see a small field of flowers in a photo of Hokkaido, do not imagine that the field stretches on for kilometres and is surrounded by beautiful forests. It is probably just the few square metres that you see in the picture and is more than likely surrounded by gift shops. If there is an attractive model in the foreground, he or she is probably there do distract you from something ugly in the background. If you see a photo of a castle and they only show it lit up at night, it may be because the building is made of concrete and looks hideous during the day.
Onsen pictures are also some of the most dangerous.
Photos of beautiful cedar tubs filled with attractive women sitting in steamy water may persuade you to shell out your hard earned money for what you think will be a relaxing getaway, but if the photo does not show an exterior shot of the building and its surroundings, you are likely to end up in a concrete wasteland like Sounkyou, Beppu or Atami. If you've ever wondered why most Japanese period dramas are so bad, all your questions will be answered at Kyoto's most depressing tourist attraction. The Japanese movie industry has been in decline for years, and the period dramas you see on television make American soap operas look like Masterpiece Theatre. This place is really depressing, with bored-looking performers, buildings falling into disrepair, and very few visitors. In many Kyoto guides, Eigamura is described as a chance to see what life was like in the Edo period, or an insider's look at how television shows are made.