10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan

Goku

Are you looking for a memorable experience in Japan?

Japan is one of the few countries in the world with a large number of foreigners who visit Japan each year for the purpose of bathing in hot springs. If you are in Japan, why not visit a world-class hot spring resort?

In this article, we will tell you about 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan.

Rebecca

In conclusion, 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan are as follows.

Emma

By the way, I have been in the travel industry for about 20 years. I have been in the travel industry for about 20 years and have always been researching travel trends and using various services for both business and personal use.

Based on this experience, we would like to tell you about 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan!

This article will help you know what hot spring resort to visit in Japan.

Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Prefecture)

Kusatsu Onsen

is one of the three best hot springs in Japan. It boasts the largest natural gush of hot spring water in Japan, more than 32,300 liters per minute, or the equivalent of 230,000 drums of hot spring water per day! Kusatsu Onsen continues to hold the top spot in the national hot springs ranking.

Many hot spring hotels and facilities offer hot spring baths with free-flowing hot-spring water.
The town has been popular as a hot spring resort since ancient times, and the elegant townscape centering on the famous "Yubatake" (hot spring fields) is an attractive feature.

Arima Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture)

Arima Onsen

is one of the three best hot springs in Japan. Arima Onsen is located in Kita-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and the hot spring resort extends into a mountain gorge at the foot of the Momiji Valley in the northern part of the Rokko Mountains. It is a place where one can enjoy a feeling of isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city, It has been loved by many people as a "Kansai's backcountry retreat.

Arima Onsen has two types of hot springs: Kin-sen (gold spring) and Gin-sen (silver spring). Kinsen contains iron and salt, and is characterized by its reddish-brown color and thick, muddy water. It is said to be effective in retaining heat and beautifying the skin. On the other hand, silver springs contain carbonic acid and radioactive spring water including radon, both of which are clear and colorless.

Gero Onsen (Gifu Prefecture)

Gero Onsen

is one of the three best hot springs in Japan and It has a history of 1,000 years. Gero Onsen is located in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture.

Alkaline simple hot spring water removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and silky to the touch! Known as the "hot water of beauty," this popular hot spring resort attracts many repeat visitors.

The hot spring resort town is centered around the Hida River, where the convivial bustle and mountain village atmosphere are harmoniously blended to create the charm of Gero Onsen.

Beppu Onsen (Oita Prefecture)

Beppu Onsen

is the generic name for hundreds of hot springs located throughout Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. In particular, eight hot spring areas with ancient origins are called Beppu Hatto and each is characterized by different spring qualities.

Beppu Onsen boasts the largest number of hot springs in Japan in terms of the number of sources and the total volume of hot spring water gushing out, with white steam plumes rising from everywhere.

Beppu Onsen is famous for its Hell Tours. It refers to a spot where visitors can take a close-up look at the naturally gushing spring water in Beppu Onsen. It is also designated as a national scenic beauty spot. The primordial scenery of the spring water still gushing out today can only be seen here. Be sure to visit when you come to Beppu Onsen.

Dogo Onsen (Ehime Prefecuture)

Dogo Onsen

is a hot spring that gushes out in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku. Japan's oldest hot spring, mentioned in the Chronicles of Japan. The symbol of Dogo Onsen, Dogo Onsen Honkan, is designated as a national important cultural property, creating a historic hot spring atmosphere.

The alkaline simple spring water is smooth and gentle to skin, with minimal irritation, making it suitable for hot-spring cures and beauty treatments. The spring water drawn from 18 sources ranges in temperature from 20°C to 55°C. By blending the spring water with the source, the temperature is kept at an appropriate level of about 42°C. Since the spring water is neither heated nor watered, the full effects of the spring water can be felt.

At Dogo Onsen, we have achieved "onsen kakegashi" (free-flowing hot-spring water) with no heating or watering, which is rare in Japan.

Noboribetu Onsen (Hokkaido Prefecture)

Noboribetsu Onsen

is a hot spring located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. The existence of the hot spring has been known since the Edo period (1603-1867), and it became a resort and tourist attraction after hot spring inns were established in the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Noboribetsu Onsen is called the "department store of hot springs" because it is one of the few hot spring resorts in the world that naturally gushes 10,000 tons of hot spring water per day, with temperatures ranging from 45 to 90 degrees Celsius, and nine different types of spring water. Sightseeing spots such as the bubbling and boiling Hell Valley and the gourd-shaped Oyunuma Swamp are also scattered throughout the area.

Ibusuki Onsen (Kagoshima Prefecture)

Ibusuki Onsen

is located in Ibusuki City in the southeastern part of Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a generic name for hot springs that gush out from the coast to the plains, and the hot spring district is divided into Surigahama, Minato, Yunosato, Yajigayu, Yanagida, Futatsuden, and other areas.
There are many sources of hot spring water, and the amount of hot spring water is abundant, and is distributed to hotels, inns, and homes. The natural sand steam bath at Surigahama is famous and is a popular hot spring resort visited by tourists from outside the prefecture.

The natural sand steam bath have a 300-year history and are a must-see at Ibusuki Onsen. Visitors are buried in sand heated to 50 to 55 degrees Celsius in the hot spring water for about 10 minutes to work up a sweat. Recently, its scientific efficacy has been explained and it has become well known to many people.

The natural sand steam bath can be experienced not only at day-trip facilities but also at inns and hotels. The sand bath style is to wear a yukata over your naked body and wrap a towel around your head. As you burrow into the sand, you will be warmed from the core. When you are finished, take a shower to remove the sand!

Atami Onsen (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Atami Onsen

is located in Atami City on the northeastern tip of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, and is a hot spring resort where visitors can also enjoy the leisure of the sea. With the Shinkansen bullet train line running through the city and easy access from the east and west, it is a resort area that attracts both domestic and international tourists throughout the year.

Many of the springs are mildly alkaline and gentle to the skin, and some have high metasilicic acid content, which is excellent for beautifying the skin. There is an abundance of hot spring water, and visitors can enjoy hot spring baths at day-trip hot springs and public bathhouses.

The retro design of the public bathhouse, with its Meiji-era-style furnishings and fully tiled bathrooms, is one of the highlights.

Hakone Onsen (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Hakone Onsen

is the general name for hot springs in Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is a major hot spring resort known for its concentration of 17 hot spring resorts. Each of these springs has different qualities, and you may be able to find your favorite one in Hakone without having to travel to many different hot spring resorts.

The easy accessibility from Tokyo and the short train ride to the hot spring resort make it a popular destination for short stays. Hakone is also famous as an art town, with many museums and other attractions.

Kinugawa Onsen (Tochigi Prefecture)

Kinugawa Onsen

is located in Nikko City, one of Tochigi Prefecture's leading tourist destinations, known for the World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Because of its easy accessibility from Tokyo, it has long been known as "Kanto's back seat," and the beautiful nature of the Kinugawa River valley and its alkaline simple hot springs, which are known to relieve fatigue and promote health, have been used to heal therapeutic bath visitors.

Hot springs can also be enjoyed at hotels and inns built along the Kinugawa River, and one of the features is the open-air baths built along the river.

Around Kinugawa River, there are theme parks such as Edo Wonderland and Eastern World Square, as well as famous landmarks such as Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, which can be enjoyed by both the elderly and children.

Summary

In this article, we have told you about 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan.

10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan are as follows.

Have a wonderful time in Japan!