♨ 50 Japanese Onsen

Guides to 50 of Japan's best-known onsen towns: water type, history, how to get there, tattoo notes and local specialties. Prefer a map? Open the onsen map.

Kanto

Hakone Yumoto

Hakone, Kanagawa · Simple spring

The gateway to Hakone's hot springs, an easy day trip from Tokyo.

Kusatsu Onsen (Yubatake)

Kusatsu, Gunma · Acidic spring

Watch the steaming Yubatake 'hot water field' in the town square.

Kinugawa Onsen

Nikko, Tochigi · Simple spring

A big riverside resort on the Kinugawa gorge, an easy limited express ride from Tokyo.

Nasu Yumoto Onsen

Nasu, Tochigi · Sulfur spring

Home of the historic Shika-no-yu bathhouse, high on the slopes of Mt. Nasu.

Ikaho Onsen

Shibukawa, Gunma · Sulfate spring

Climb the famous 365 stone steps through the onsen town.

Minakami – Takaragawa

Minakami, Gunma · Simple spring

The Minakami area's riverside onsen, including famous huge outdoor baths at Takaragawa.

Yugawara Onsen

Yugawara, Kanagawa · Simple spring

A quiet ryokan town in a river valley next to Atami, loved by writers.

Nikko Yumoto Onsen

Oku-Nikko, Tochigi · Sulfur spring

Milky sulphur baths beside Lake Yunoko, deep in Oku-Nikko.

Kyushu

Beppu – Kannawa

Beppu, Oita · Several spring types

Steam rises from the streets. Try food cooked in onsen steam.

Kurokawa Onsen

Minamioguni, Kumamoto · Several spring types

A quiet mountain village. Buy a wooden pass to hop between outdoor baths.

Yufuin

Yufu, Oita · Simple spring

A relaxed spa town under Mt. Yufu with cafés and galleries.

Ibusuki – Sand Bath (Saraku)

Ibusuki, Kagoshima · Chloride (salt) spring

Get buried in naturally heated sand by the sea.

Ureshino Onsen

Ureshino, Saga · Sulfate spring

A tea-growing town famous for silky water and onsen yudofu (tofu simmered in spring water).

Takeo Onsen

Takeo, Saga · Simple spring

Enter through a vermilion gate designed by Tokyo Station's architect.

Unzen Onsen

Unzen, Nagasaki · Sulfur spring

Steaming 'hells' and boardwalks in Japan's first national park.

Kirishima Onsen

Kirishima, Kagoshima · Sulfur spring

A cluster of mountain onsen in a steaming volcanic range.

Kansai

Kinosaki Onsen

Toyooka, Hyogo · Chloride (salt) spring

Stroll in yukata between seven public bathhouses.

Arima Onsen (Kin no Yu)

Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo · Iron spring

Famous rusty-gold 'kinsen' water, close to Kobe and Osaka.

Shirahama – Sakinoyu

Shirahama, Wakayama · Chloride (salt) spring

An open-air rock bath right beside the Pacific waves.

Yunomine Onsen

Hongu, Tanabe, Wakayama · Sulfate spring

A tiny pilgrim village with Tsuboyu, the only hot spring that is part of a World Heritage Site.

Kawayu Onsen

Hongu, Tanabe, Wakayama · Sulfate spring

Dig your own bath in the riverbed, or soak in the giant winter 'Sennin-buro'.

Nanki-Katsuura Onsen

Nachikatsuura, Wakayama · Sulfur spring

Seaside cave baths and fresh tuna, near Nachi Falls.

Kurama Onsen

Sakyo-ku, Kyoto · Sulfur spring

Kyoto's mountain onsen next to Kurama-dera, an easy half-day trip from the city.

Ogoto Onsen

Otsu, Shiga · Simple spring

Lakeside ryokan on Lake Biwa, just beyond Kyoto.

Chugoku/Shikoku

Dogo Onsen Honkan

Matsuyama, Ehime · Simple spring

A historic wooden bathhouse in one of Japan's oldest onsen towns.

Misasa Onsen

Misasa, Tottori · Radon (radioactive) spring

One of the world's richest radon springs, by the Mitoku River.

Tamatsukuri Onsen

Matsue, Shimane · Sulfate spring

An ancient 'bath of the gods' near Izumo, famous as a beauty bath.

Hokkaido

Noboribetsu (Jigokudani)

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido · Several spring types

Walk 'Hell Valley' first, then soak in the sulphur springs.

Jozankei Onsen

Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido · Chloride (salt) spring

A riverside gorge resort under an hour from Sapporo, gorgeous in autumn colour.

Toyako Onsen

Toyako, Hokkaido · Chloride (salt) spring

Lakeside baths facing Lake Toya and its island, with summer fireworks every night.

Yunokawa Onsen

Hakodate, Hokkaido · Chloride (salt) spring

A seaside onsen town on Hakodate's tram line, close to the airport and the morning market.

Niseko Onsen

Niseko, Hokkaido · Sulfur spring

Powder-snow ski country with many hot springs, under Mt. Annupuri.

Tohoku

Ginzan Onsen

Obanazawa, Yamagata · Chloride (salt) spring

Wooden inns along a river. Magical with evening lamps and snow.

Nyuto Onsen – Tsurunoyu

Senboku, Akita · Sulfur spring

Milky-white water at a rustic inn deep in the mountains.

Zao Onsen

Yamagata · Acidic spring

A ski-and-snow-monster town with a huge riverside outdoor bath in the warmer months.

Naruko Onsen

Osaki, Miyagi · Sulfur spring

A kokeshi doll town with seven of the ten main spring types in one area.

Akiu Onsen

Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi · Chloride (salt) spring

Sendai's 'back parlour', a short bus ride from the city, with gorges and waterfalls nearby.

Aizu Higashiyama Onsen

Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima · Sulfate spring

A riverside samurai-era spa town, about 3 km from Tsuruga Castle.

Chubu

Gero Onsen

Gero, Gifu · Simple spring

A riverside onsen town in Gifu with smooth, silky water.

Shibu Onsen

Yamanouchi, Nagano · Sulfate spring

A lantern-lit street of small public baths near the snow monkeys.

Atami Onsen

Atami, Shizuoka · Chloride (salt) spring

A seaside onsen city 40-ish minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen.

Shuzenji Onsen

Izu, Shizuoka · Simple spring

A temple town by a river, with bamboo-lined paths and a famous riverside foot bath.

Nozawa Onsen

Nozawaonsen, Nagano · Sulfur spring

A ski village with 13 free public bathhouses run by locals.

Bessho Onsen

Ueda, Nagano · Sulfur spring

'Little Kamakura of Shinshu', with historic temples and an octagonal national-treasure pagoda.

Yamanaka Onsen

Kaga, Ishikawa · Sulfate spring

A gorge-side town praised by Basho, famous for lacquerware and the Kakusenkei gorge walk.

Wakura Onsen

Nanao, Ishikawa · Chloride (salt) spring

A seaside onsen on the Noto Peninsula, home of the famous Kagaya ryokan. Check status: it is still rebuilding after the 2024 Noto earthquake.

Shin-Hotaka Onsen

Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu · Simple spring

Big outdoor baths below the Northern Alps, near the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway.

Unazuki Onsen

Kurobe, Toyama · Simple spring

The gateway to the Kurobe Gorge Railway and its deep, green canyon.

Fujikawaguchiko Onsen

Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi · Chloride (salt) spring

Soak with a view of Mt. Fuji across Lake Kawaguchi.

Ito Onsen

Ito, Shizuoka · Simple spring

A relaxed seaside onsen town on the Izu coast.