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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!