A Complete Guide to Onsens, Japanese Hot Springs

With various natural onsen (hot springs) almost separated throughout the whole country, it is quite easy to enjoy a soothing hot bath during your trip to Japan. Whether you seek specific types with therapeutic benefits or simply the best onsen locations to unwind in steaming waters, here's your ultimate onsen guide to soaking in Japan's hot springs.

What Is Japanese Onsen

Onsen means hot springs in Japanese, with a warm temperature of 25℃ or higher, and usually containing at least one special mineral. It also refers to the traditional bathhouses and inns surrounding them.

Onsen, Japanese Hot Springs

Different Bathing Types of Japanese Hot Springs

Indoor Bath

The indoor bath is the most common way to enjoy hot springs, offering a cozy experience within a steaming bathhouse. Options range from traditional wooden inns to modern ryokan, making it the perfect choice for a winter visit to warm up and ease your fatigue.

Outdoor Bath

As the name suggests, the outdoor bath offers much more scenic experiences with nature, such as the seasonal falling petals and leaves adding a poetic touch to your soak, while enjoying misty mountain views, or even an unexpected encounter with snow monkeys.

Recommended Tour Itinerary

Japan Winter Experience: Onsens and Snow Monkeys 12 DAYS Explore This Tour

Foot Bath

A type of shallow outdoor hot spring often found along the streets of onsen resorts, which offers a relaxing place to rest your feet on benches while enjoying the warm flowing water. They're perfect for a quick stop or as a way to ease into the higher temperatures of traditional hot springs.

Private Bath

If you're not comfortable using public hot springs, there are also private baths ideal for families, couples, or small groups of friends to enjoy together. A private indoor bath at your hotel is highly recommended for a more personalized experience. Feel free to contact Odynovo for any hotel preferences.

Indoor Hot Springs

Different Water Types of Japanese Onsen

Onsen, or Japanese hot springs are typically classified by many qualities, such as chemical composition, temperature, color, scent, and so on. The kinds and amounts of chemical components contained in the water define the quality of onsen, which can be divided into different types.

Best Onsen Places in Japan

Much loved by locals and visitors, the well-developed facilities of the hot springs gather in many towns or resorts for you to fully feel the charm of the onsen with plenty of things to do.

Atami

The name Atami means the hot ocean filled with hot water, which is about a two-hour train ride southwest of Tokyo. It is a pleasant coastal town with beaches facing the Pacific Ocean, so you can combine the onsen experience with the azure sea and sky, as well as the early cherry blossoms in February.

If your tour in Atami is in the summer, you can also enjoy the outdoor footbaths that are easy to find in Atami without worrying about the summer heat. Such as the one at Atami Castle, where you can relax in the hot water with the sea breeze and the festival fireworks.

Nagano

An onsen tour in Nagano would be quite exciting, especially when you head to the Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, a hot spring park with plenty of nature onsen that usually gathers the bathing snow monkeys in winter.

Below the park are the nearby onsen resorts, where you can relax and warm up. As this place is often covered in snow, you can choose an open-air hot spring to feel the falling snow, which is quite romantic and surprising as you may occasionally encounter visiting monkeys.

Snow Monkeys in Hot Springs

Hakone

Hakone's onsen offers a wide range of options for your onsen visit, from simple yuccas to private open-air hot springs with stunning views. However, if you want to have a hot spring experience in Hakone, make sure you choose an outdoor hot spring.

This is because Hakone is relatively close to Mount Fuji, which means you have the chance to soak in the hot spring while enjoying the view of the marvel of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Recommended Tour Itinerary

Classic Japan Tour 9 DAYS Explore This Tour

Noboribetsu

A trip to Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, will show you the source of the hot spring water. Above the town is the valley known as Jigokudani, where the still active crustal movement has caused the lake between the valleys to boil, steam, and bubble.

Even the Oyunuma River that flows out is warm. You can take a footbath here while admiring the view of the mountains and save the full body soak for when you get back to the resort.

Arima

For the old Edo atmosphere, you can choose Arima Onsen, with thousands of years of history lined with Edo-style wooden buildings.

Located in the city of Kobe, it is easily accessible by Shinkansen within 20 minutes after the food tour in Osaka. This is one of the most famous onsen areas, where you can not only enjoy the golden or silver hot springs but also taste the authentic Kobe beef.

Kobe Beef

Kusatsu

It is highly recommended that to take your Japan onsen tour in Kusatsu during the winter. As this popular resort is located at a fairly high latitude and has a gentle slope, you can also try your hand at downhill skiing at the ski resort, which is just 5 minutes uphill by bus.

Autumn is also a good time for hiking. After admiring the tranquil lake at the top and the red maples along the way, soak yourself in the warm spring water and wash away your tiredness.

Onsen Etiquettes Before Your Bath

• Take a shower before entering
• Be completely naked when you enter the onsen
• Cover your tattoos when entering the onsen
• Do not drink alcohol in onsen
• Do not take photos in onsen

Enjoy Your Japan Hot Springs Bath With Odynovo

After learning about the different types of water and the most popular places to soak, how about following this guide to start planning your Japanese onsen trip? Use etiquette to get the most out of your experience. To further enhance your Japan tour, feel free to contact us at [email protected] for a customized itinerary that also covers the most wonderful Onsen spots!