Hot springs used to be a sacred place where people could cure their injuries and diseases in earlier times when they had little knowledge of health and had little medication. In the Edo period, people with diseases started to stay for weeks or more at a hot spring area to be cured, and it was the start of the inns (ryokan) we see nowadays. Now, hot springs have become an entertainment hub in Japan, often included in sightseeing tours. So please come visit and enjoy hot spring areas in Japan, you will see fantastic views, enjoy meals, do some shopping and lounge at the hotels.
Hakone
Hakone Onsen It is only one hour and a half away from Tokyo by car or train. There are many day spa facilities you easily go to, and many shops to go in and buy souvenirs. Along the two rivers called Hayakawa River and Sukumogawa River, you will see different types of accommodations from historic and well established ones to purely Japanese, home style, 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
Yufuin Onsen
Stretching at the foot of Mt. Yufudake in Oita, this is voted as the top hot spring area in Kyushu in many surveys and is popular especially among women. Accommodations are located in rural areas for you to enjoy fantastic scenery and peace. On the other hands, there are individual museums, fashionable restaurants and shops found here and there.
- Address: Kawakami, Yufuincho, Yufu-shi, Oita
- Access: Yufuin Station, JR Line
Kusatsu Onsen
It is located in Gunma and is the leading Onsen in Japan. There is a symbolic facility called Yubatake (Hot water field) which is one of the resort's main sources of hot spring water. This Onsen area is very lively, you can visit multiple hot springs for free and also enjoy shopping at variety shops there. There are also nice resort inns, hotels and cafés around the city.
- Address: Kusatsumachi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma
- Access: Kusatsu Onsen Station, JR Line
Noboribetsu Onsen
It is recognized as the best Onsen in Hokkaido as far as access, notability, history, and quality goes. Hot spring quality includes sulfur and hydrogen sulfide which softens and lightens your skin, and also includes iron spring which has a tremendous effect on your fatigue.
- Address: Noboribetsu Onsencho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido
- Access: Noboribetsu Stataion, JR Line
- Tours: Hokkaido Private Tours
Beppu Onsen
It is located in Oita, Kyushu. The number of hot spring wells and the yield of hot water is the largest in Japan. There is a famous tour called Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Beppu Hell Tour) where you can see different types of Jigoku springs such as Sea Hell, Blood pond Hell, White pond Hell and Tornado Hell. You can have their specialty onsen eggs, which are steamed or boiled in the hot spring water.
- Address: Beppu-shi, Oita
- Access: Beppu Station, JR Line
Kurokawa Onsen
It is located about an hour and 15 minutes north of Mt. Aso in Kumamoto. Almost every inn has open air hot spring, and you can bathe in 3 hot springs among of those if you buy a bathing pass called “Nyuyoku tegata”. Spring quality there have effect on nerve pain.
- Address: Minami Ogunimachi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto
- Access: 1-hour ride by bus from Aso Station, JR Line
- Website: Kurokawa Onsen
Ibusuku Onsen
It is located an hour and 35 minutes away from Kagoshima Airport by dedicated bus. This Onsen is famous for a natural sand bath called “Sunamushi”. It is a unique bathing experience where you will be covered by sand at the beach. It has a positive effect on nerve pain and muscle aches, and also has an effect on your beauty, much like salon treatment.
- Address: Ibusuki-shi, Kagoshima
- Access: Ibusuki Station, JR Line
Arima Onsen
It is one of the oldest and most well known hot springs in Japan, located an hour away from Osaka. It is famous for the hot spring Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, who was one of the beloved, powerful historical rulers. There are reddish brown hot spring called Kinsen (Gold spring) and clear hot spring called Ginsen (Silver Spring).
- Address: Kita-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
- Access: Arima Onsen Station, Kobe dentesu Arima Line
Gero Onsen
It is located in Gifu and is one of the most famous three hot springs in Japan. The spring quality is alkaline, which is smooth to the touch. There is a village called Gero Onsen Gasshomura where you can see houses with steep rafter roofs. From spring to fall season, they have a morning fair called Ideyu Ichi which you might enjoy.
- Address: Gero-shi, Gifu
- Access: Gero Station, JR Line
Shibu Onsen
This is one of the most famous and unique Hot Spring resorts located in Nagano. The Jigokudani Noen Koen (Jigokudani Wild monkey park) is the only hot spring in a world where you can see wild monkey enjoy bathing.
- Address: Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano
- Access: Yudanaka, Nagano Dentestu Nagano Line
- Website:Shibu Onsen Guidebook
- Tours: Nagano Tours
