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Why is it such a special experience to visit Japanese hot springs (onsen)? In a way, I feel that onsen perfectly sums up what makes Japan such a special country – a fine-tuned balance between nature, modern amenities, comfort, purity, reflection, wellness, and attention to detail. Some of the best places for onsen in Japan, listed below, will probably be the most long-lasting memories of your trip.
It’s no exaggeration that you can’t go to Japan without sampling an onsen. While an onsen is an exquisite experience at any time of year, the fall, winter and spring are naturally the most enticing seasons to take a soak and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. With so much heritage, often the bathhouses buildings themselves are integral parts of the whole package.
There’s also a lot of healthy competition among onsen in Japan. Being a volcanic archipelago, Japan is blessed with thermal spring waters throughout the country. To attract the most discerning of onsen aficionados, bathhouse establishments are continually upping their game, either in terms of natural connection, historic authenticity or range of amenities (cold electric shock plunge pool, anyone?).
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Before You Go: Onsen 101 – the absolute beginner’s guide
If you’re a first-timer to Japan, here are a few things to bear in mind as you seek out the best place for onsen in Japan.
- Most bathhouses are gender segregated, because it is expected that guests will bathe entirely naked. Swimsuits are generally not allowed.
- While it has traditionally been taboo for guests with tattoos to use public onsen, in many places this is slowly changing. Some bathhouses will give you bands to cover your tattoos. It is always best to ask the staff before you enter.
- When you enter the building, it is important to take off your outdoor shoes. There are slippers generally on offer beside the door as you enter.
- You can rent towels at a public bathhouse (sento), or your ryokan (Japanese inn, which mostly have their own baths) will provide towels and yukatas in your room.
- Once you enter the changing room, it is important to shower thoroughly before entering the baths.
- There are often various pools with different temperatures. Take it slow when entering the hottest of the pools.
- Don’t talk. Keep quiet and enjoy the serenity of the onsen.
- Finally, when leaving the bathhouse, it is advised to rinse in the shower, but do not wash your skin with soap. It is intended that the natural minerals should stay on your skin, in order to keep their therapeutic effects.
With those pointers out of the way, let’s get started on the best places for onsen in Japan.
The Best Places for Onsen in Japan
1. Kansai: Kinosaki Onsen
This delightful onsen town is situated on the Sea of Japan, only two and a half hours from Kyoto. Kinosaki Onsen is among the most historical hot spring towns in the country. For this reason, it is one of my picks for the best place for onsen in Japan.
There are seven onsen bathhouses in Kinosaki, and the ryokan traditional inns will generally give you a pass to access the others during your stay. It would be a disservice to only visit for a day. To truly experience the town, you have to stay overnight and go onsen-hopping. It’s the perfect place to unwind, soak in ancient Japanese history, and feel the true joy of Japanese onsen.
2. Kyushu: Beppu, Kyushu
Things get very hot (and pungent) down in Beppu. One of Japan’s famous “Three Hot Springs” (the others being Atami Onsen in Shizuoka and Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama), Beppu is renowned for its eight “Hells”, bubbling pits of sulfuric water emerging violently straight from the ground.
As the temperatures range from 50°C to 100°C, they are much too hot for bathing. The Hells of Beppu are more suited towards sightseers, and tourists make the journey from all over Japan to marvel at the power of nature.
One place in town where you can bathe is Takegawara Onsen. The novelty of this experience is getting buried in hot sand (while still wearing your yukata robes), before going to take a dip in the hot water pools. To feel the raw power of nature, Beppu is one of the best places for onsen in Japan.
3. Yakushima: Hirauchi Kaichu
Yakushima has a special place in my heart. This mountainous island is famous for its pristine virgin forest, which inspired the movie Princess Mononoke, and the adorable Yakushima deer which live in the forest. On the southern coast of this island is one of my favorite natural onsen spots in all of Japan.
Hirauchi Kaichu is a truly magical spot. As a hot spring stream meets the sea, visitors can bathe in rockpools where the temperatures gradually cool down as you go down to the sea. If the tides match up, visit Hirauchi Kaichu at sunset. On a clear evening, the starry sky, forested mountainside and the crashing of waves make for a truly spellbinding experience.
You can get to Yakushima by ferry from the southernmost port city on Kyushu – Kagoshima. I highly recommend hiring a car on Yakushima to drive round the island and explore its hiking routes at your own pace.
4. Tohoku: Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen is exactly what an onsen resort town should be – scenic, historic and traditional. More of a village than a town, Ginzan Onsen is beautifully set in a narrow tree-covered valley, with bridges crossing the mountain stream flowing through the village.
If you’ve already read our guide to winter in Japan, you’ll know that Ginzan Onsen is a legendary winter destination, and it stands out as potentially the best place for onsen in Japan. Come here any season, however, and you’ll be left breathless at the harmony between the natural surroundings and historical buildings.
Instead of feeling like you need to tick off all the bathhouses here, I would recommend just picking one of the ryokan on the river, and really soaking in the traditional atmosphere for a night or two. Also try some of the Ginzan Onsen tofu during your trip here.
5. Kanto: Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku
If you’re looking for an onsen getaway easily accessible from Tokyo, you may have heard of Kusatsu, Nagano, or the Izu Peninsula. These are well worth visiting, but let me add Takawagawa Onsen Osenkaku to your list of onsen spots near Tokyo.
First, hire a car, and head up into the mountains (although you can also reach here by combination of train, bus and hotel shuttle). Less than three hours’ drive northwest from Japan’s sprawling capital, Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku is like stepping into an entirely different world.
Especially when surrounded by fall colors, bathing in the rotenburo (outdoor pools) and enjoying the sound of nature is utterly rejuvenating. To feel completely refreshed, spend two nights at the ryokan. If visiting in winter, the small Hodaigi Ski Resort is also nearby.
6. Tokyo: Mikokuyu
If you only plan on visiting Tokyo during your Japan trip, don’t fret. Even the Japanese capital has a number of authentic onsen establishments, which don’t require a trip out to the countryside.
Mikokuyu is a sento (public bathhouse) that comes highly recommended for its varied pools and great location. Not too far from the popular district of Asakusa, and with views of the Tokyo Skytree, Mikokuyu is set over two floors and has pools of all different temperatures.
Mikokuyu is also open late into the evening, which is a better time to visit as this popular bathhouse can be quite popular during the day.
7. Hokkaido: Hoheikyo Onsen
If you find yourself up in Hokkaido – Japan’s northernmost island – take a side trip from Sapporo to Hoheikyo Onsen. It is very possible to come here on a day trip from Sapporo, and many people combine it with winter ski trips to Niseko.
With natural spring water flowing directly from the ground into the artistically designed baths, the onsen experience at Hoheikyo is second to none. As Hokkaido has the coldest weather in Japan, taking a warm outdoor soak at Hoheikyo Onsen is an unmissable experience.
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