Top 10 Onsen (Hot Springs) to visit in Japan

In the olden days of Japan when there was little knowledge of health and medication, Onsen or hot springs were sacred places where one could come and cure their injuries or illnesses. In the Edo period, people with diseases started to come to these onsen and started to stay there for longer periods of time in order to get cured. This marked the beginning of the inns that still exist nowadays. Now onsen have become an entertainment and place of relaxation in Japan, often included while going sightseeing. This phenomenon has become popular among foreign travellers in Japan as well as it gives them a unique traditional experience. So come visit and enjoy one of the following onsen areas on your trip in Japan, you will see fantastic views, are able to enjoy some delicious Japanese meals and experience the hospitality of Japan's hotels. Submerge yourself in the ultimate pampering session and leave Japan fresh and rested.

1. Hakone Onsen

Hakone Onsen is one of the most famous and popular hot spring areas located about an hour from Tokyo by car or train. In this Onsen town there are many Onsen that offer day spa facilities. The town itself has many shops where travellers can buy lots of Hakone snacks and foods and buy souvenirs. Along the two rivers, the Hayakawa River and Sukumogawa River, you will see a variety of styles of accommodations. From historic and well established houses and buildings to very Japanese homely styled houses to large scaled resort hotels.

Address:
Hakonemachi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa

Access:
20 minutes ride by bus from Odawara Station, JR Line/Odakyu Line

Website:
Hakone Travel Video Guidebook

Tours:
Hakone Private Tours

2. Yufuin Onsen
Yufuin Onsen - The horse carriage cutting across the serene landscape with Mt. Yufu in the background image by ( visit-oita.jp )

Yufuin Onsen stretched out at foot of Mt. Yufudake in Oita prefecture. The Yufuin Onsen are frequently voted for as the top hot spring area in Kyushu and is especially popular among women. As the locations of Yufuin Onsen are located in the rural area many onsen have fantastic scenic views. Moreover, around the area one can also enjoy visiting museums, visit lovely restaurants and buy souvenirs at the many little shops.

Address:
Kawakami, Yufuincho, Yufu-shi, Oita

Access:
Yufuin Station, JR Line

Website:
http://yufuin.or.jp/global/index.php?easiestml_lang=en

Guidebook:
Oita Travel Video Guidebook

 

3. Kusatsu Onsen
Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, which can be seen from up close. image by ( flickr.com )

If you cannot decide on any onsen town to go to then let me recommend to you my personal favorite, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma prefecture. This little town gives of a feel of traditional onsen resort. At night time the town really become a magical place with the many lights and steam coming up out of bath houses all around. In the middle of the town you will find the Yubatake, the warm water field source that most of the onsen in the town get their hot spring water from. This onsen area is very lively and has some very luxurious hotels and ryokan to offer. Even the park nearby has some outdoor bath that are free to use, ideal when strolling around on a warm summer night

Address:
Kusatsumachi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma

Access:
Kusatsu Onsen Station, JR Line

Website:
http://planetyze.com/en/japan/gunma/kusatsu-onsen

Guidebook:
Gunma Travel Video Guidebook

  

4. Noboribetsu Onsen
The steam and the lit lanterns go all the way to Jigokudani by 登別観光協会

Located in Hokkaido, this hotspring is considered as the best onsen in the area. The onsen here are have easy access, a long history and is of sublime quality. The onsen here are considered to have quality water because the water in from the sources contains sulfur and hydrogen sulfide which are known to soften and lighten ones' skin. The spring water also contains water (which gives them their brownish red color) that can work miracles in curing fatigue.

Address:
Noboribetsu Onsencho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido

Access:
Noboribetsu Stataion, JR Line

Website:
http://planetyze.com/en/japan/hokkaido/noboribetsu-onsen

Guidebook:
Hokkaido Travel Video Guidebook

Tours:
Hokkaido Private Tours

  

5. Beppu Onsen
It’s recommended to apply the mud from the bottom of the onsen all over your body as a pack for beautiful skin image by ( visit-oita.jp )

Located in Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Beppu Onsen has recently gained popularity because of its newly opened spamusement park that originally was only a promotional video in order to attract more tourists to come visit Beppu. The video went viral and the promise of a spa-musement park had to be kept.
Apart from this unique onsen experience. Around the area there are many other onsen to visit since this Beppu is the largest yielder of hot water in Japan. There is a famous tour called Beppu Jigoku Meguri (the Beppu Hell Tour) wherein in tour takers will be lead to see different types of Jigoku springs such as the Sea Hell, the Blood pond Hell, the White pond Hell and the Tornado Hell. As specialty food to try in Beppu are onsen eggs, eggs steamed or boiled in hot spring water from the springs in Beppu.

Address:
Beppu-shi, Oita

Access:
Beppu Station, JR Line

Website:
Beppu Onsen Hoyoland

Guidebook:
Oita Travel Video Guidebook

  

6. Kurokawa Onsen
An onsen town which has earned 2 stars in the Michelin Green Guide image by ( flickr.com )

The Kurokawa Onsen are located about an hour and 15 minutes north of Mt. Aso in Kumamoto. When in Kurokawa Onsen and you are their to try out the onsen I recommend travellers to buy the "Nyuyoku-Tegata" pass. A mere 1,300 yen will buy you the little medallion that gives access to 3 of the 24 participating ryokan, a steal!  I It is said that the spring water of Kurokawa Onsen benefit nerve pains.

Address:
Minami Ogunimachi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto

Access:
1 hour ride by bus from Aso Station, JR Line

Website:
http://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/english/

Guidebook:
Kumamoto Travel Video Guidebook

  

7. Ibusuki Onsen


Though a bit far from Kagoshima airport, an hour and 30 minutes by bus, this onsen has something else to offer than just onsen. In Ibusuki one can take a different kind of bath, a sand bath, "Sunamushi". In this treatment the customer will be covered by sand by the beach which is warm and will make you sweat out toxins trapped in the body. The effects are said to positively affect nerve pains, muscle aches and the skin.

Address:
Ibusuki-shi, Kagoshima

Access:
Ibusuki Station, JR Line

Website:
http://sa-raku.sakura.ne.jp/en/

Guidebook:
Kagoshima Travel Video Guidebook

 

 8. Arima Onsen


by (一財)神戸国際観光コンベンション協会

The onsen in Arima Onsen are among the oldest in Japan with a history dating back 1300 years ago. The area is located about an hour away from Osaka. Arima Onsen has two spring sources, the Kinsen (the golden spring) and the Ginsen (the silver spring). The golden spring with its reddish brown color contains iron and sodium chloride with lots of healing properties and benefits to the skin. The silver spring, with its carbonized water benefits blood circulation and the metabolism of the body.  The springs of Arima Onsen are of supreme quality with many health benefits.

Address:
Kita-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

Access:
Arima Onsen Station, Kobe dentesu Arima Line

Website:
Arima Onsen Guidebook

Guidebook:
Hyogo Travel Video Guidebook

 

9. Gero Onsen
Funsen Pond along the banks of the Hidagawa River is a famous site in Gero Onsen where you can get that feeling of openness by 下呂温泉観光協会

Ever since the Edo period Gero has been known as one of Japan's best three onsen by the confucian poet Hayashi Razan. Gero is located between Nagoya and Takayama in Gifu. The water in the springs of Gero is alkaline which is very smooth to touch. There is a village called Gero Onsen Gassho Mura where you can stroll around passing houses with steep rafter roofs, a very interesting sight to see. From spring to fall season, a morning fair called Ideyu Ichi is held where locals bring their homegrown vegetables and other specialties to sell, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

Address:
Gero-shi, Gifu

Access:
Gero Station, JR Line

Website:
Gero Onsen Guidebook

Guidebook:
Gifu Travel Video Guidebook

 

10.  Shibu Onsen
Shibu Onsen attractive for its retro townscape by 信州・長野県観光協会

This onsen resort located in Nagano has something very unique that made it famous all over Japan. In Jigokudani Yaen Koen (the Jigokudani Monkey park), as the name might already tell you, you can find monkeys! This hot spring is unique in the way that it is the only hot spring in the world where you can see wild Japanese Macaques (also known as Snow Monkeys) bathing and enjoying the warm waters of the onsen. The best time of the year to visit this place is in the winter when the monkeys tend to make use of the natural warm water more frequently.

Address:
Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano

Access:
Yudanaka, Nagano Dentestu Nagano Line

Website:
Shibu Onsen Guidebook

Guidebook:
Nagano Travel Video Guidebook

 

Check out even more onsen in Japan here: Top 20 Onsen (Hot Springs) In Japan and more!

 

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