Japan Hot Spring Areas: Where to Find the Best Onsen Places

In Japan, the abundance of geothermal energy offers many attractions, such as the wonder of the active volcano of Mount Fuji, the tranquil beauty of volcanic Lake Ashi, and today's protagonist, the countless hot springs scattered throughout most of Japan. As for the places to fully enjoy the bath, below are the most recommended hot springs areas for you to enjoy the onsen during your Japan tour.

Arima - Royal Onsen With Kinsen & Ginsen

• Location: Kobe, Hyogo (About an hour's drive or train from Osaka)

Arima Onsen is one of the oldest onsen towns in Japan, where you will be greeted by a dramatic wooden townscape that looks like a film set.

The golden, cloudy, deep orange Kinsen hot spring is the most famous. It is good for skin diseases and muscle pains. Another famous onsen water type of Arima is the silver hot spring, Ginsen, which contains iron and salt, said to improve blood circulation and sensitivity to cold.

There are also other activities to enjoy in Arima Onsen town. For example, there are about 50 restaurants with various tastes, many small souvenir shops, and bakeries. There is also a museum that exhibits stamp collections.

Golden Hot Springs, Kinsen

Kusatsu - High-Quality Health Benefits Water

• Location: Agatsuma, Gunma (About a 2-hour drive from Nagano)

Kusatsu Onsen is one of the top three hot springs in Japan. With more than 100 onsen inns clustered around Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu, this area is a popular hot spring destination with many things to experience.

Famous for its high-quality healing waters, which are said to be effective for cold sensitivity, neuralgia, and chronic digestive disorders, it is well worth a bath in Kusatsu acidity water to improve your general health.

There are more than 70 restaurants of various genres in Yubatake Onsen town. Hot spring eggs and hot spring steamed buns can be found all over the town. In the popular footbath cafes, you can enjoy sweets while soaking in the footbath.

Hakone - Onsen Theme Park Beneath Mt. Fuji

• Location: Ashigarashimo, Kanagawa (About a 1.5-hour drive from Tokyo)

Hakone Onsen has a history of 1,200 years and is also known as the "Onsen Department Store" because of its rich quality of spring water. Due to its scenic beauty and easy access from Tokyo or Lake Kawaguchi, it is also a popular hot springs area for day trips.

For example, there is no shortage of chloride hot springs, which are said to be effective for stiff shoulders, sensitivity to cold, and lower back pain. After your warm bath, there are also temples and historical sites spread throughout the town to visit.

You won't miss the chance to try out some local cuisine, such as a sushi restaurant that uses local fish caught in Sagami Bay and an Italian restaurant that serves Hakone's new specialty, hot spring pasta, making it an ideal onsen area where you can fully enjoy sightseeing.

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Noboribetsu - Milky-White Water From Hell Valley

• Location: Noboribetsu, Hokkaido (About a 1.5-hour drive from Sapporo)

Formed by volcanic activity around 10,000 years ago, Noboribetsu is one of Hokkaido's most popular hot spring areas. There are 10 types of onsen waters here, each offering different benefits. The sulfur spring, famous for its distinct boiled egg smell, is the most well-known.

In addition to enjoying a relaxing bath at a traditional ryokan or hotel, you can take a stroll through Jigokudani, the "Hell Valley," with its steaming craters, bubbling milky-white springs, and spouting sulfurous gases - where legends say demons boil the water.

Furthermore, if you take the ropeway from Onsen town, you can also go to Noboribetsu Bear Park, which is popular with couples and families with children.

Japanese Hot Springs With Milky-White Color

Atami - Seaside Hot Springs With Early Cherry Blossom

• Location: Shizuoka (About a 40-minute drive from Hakone)

Not very far from Hakone, Atami is another ideal hot springs area for families, couples, and beach lovers. Atami is one of Japan's leading seaside Onsen resorts with good access to public transport, offering a cozy gateway for a day or weekend journey.

The spring water of Atami is said to have a beautiful skin effect. With fireworks festivals, colorful night views, and illuminated beaches, a hot springs experience here can have a lot to expect, making it also a good choice for a honeymoon vacation.

Especially the early spring journey from February to March, the blooming season of local cherry blossoms, dotting the shore and street with a fancy pink color, worth a seaside room with indoor hot springs to enjoy the sweetness and peace.

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Nagano - Onsen With Powder Snow Ski & Snow Monkey

• Location: Nagano (About a 2.5-hour drive from Tokyo)

The hot springs area in Nagano boasts numerous onsen towns that are perfect for a relaxing vacation. Slip into a traditional yukata robe, don a pair of sandals, and take a leisurely stroll through the steam-filled streets before choosing a hot spring to unwind in.

Options include natural onsens with mineral-rich yellow waters or crystal-clear baths infused with floating apples or grapefruit. The open-air hot springs near Jigokudani are highly recommended, where you may spot the adorable red-faced snow monkeys.

For a winter holiday, the Hakuba Valley hot springs are ideal, offering the perfect blend of onsen relaxation and winter sports like skiing or snowboarding amidst powdery snow.

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Kinosaki - Tattoo-Friendly Hot Springs Bath

• Location: Toyooka, Hyogo (About a 2.5-hour drive from Kyoto)

A unique hot springs area in Japan, Kinosaki is known for its welcoming attitude towards tattoos, so there's no need to cover them up before enjoying a public bath. The town's old-fashioned charm is enhanced by its picturesque willow-lined river, making it perfect for exploration.

Start by following tradition with a 20-minute hike to the tranquil Onsenji Temple, where a special scoop known as a 'yu-shaku' will allow you to bathe in the warm waters. Then return to town to receive the onsen blessing from the guardian deity.

Soak up the tranquil atmosphere as you stroll through the quaint streets in your yukata and wooden clogs. You can stop for dinner at a local restaurant, browse the shops for traditional sweets, or simply soak up the peaceful atmosphere of this charming town.

Ginzan - Old-Fashion Onsen With Taisho Ambiance

• Location: Obanazawa, Yamagata (About a 2-hour drive from Sendai)

Also known as the Sliver Mind Hot Springs due to its sliver mining production, Ginzan is an old-style hot springs town for your relaxing journey, a cozy area to escape from bustling city life as well as a time machine that reverses you back to the Taisho period.

From the ancient wooden buildings around the mountains to the old-style gas lamps with a warm golden color, Ginzan Onsen can be the best for culture and history lovers for an authentic bath.

Though it is a year-round destination, a winter visit here is the best time to soak up the Taisho atmosphere, when you can capture the snow-capped town lightened by the orange gaslights, making a fairytale world for you to immerse yourself in.

Ginzan Onsen

Fulfill Your Hot Springs Experience With Odynovo

There is a saying in Japan that a hot spring bath is not only healing and relaxing for the body but also a pursuit of elegance as a way of life. Soak in hot water up to the shoulder with a glass of sake, a few half-cooked onsen eggs, the blurred reflection of the moon, and a few ripples from the falling leaves. Start your Japan tour with Odynovo and let the warm spring water wash away your fatigue from the body to the soul.