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One of the must-do things when visiting Japan is soaking in hot springs! Japan has over 3,000 hot spring areas, each with its own unique characteristics. Popular hot springs can be found near Tokyo, in the Kansai region, and in Kyushu.

1. Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Prefecture)
Kusatsu Onsen, located in Gunma Prefecture, has been ranked the champion of "Japan's 100 Best Hot Springs" for 21 consecutive years. It boasts the highest natural flow of hot spring water in Japan, and its highly acidic water has strong bactericidal properties. It is said to be effective in treating skin diseases, neuralgia, diabetes, muscle pain, joint pain, and other ailments.

The hot spring town features a unique "Yubatake" view in the center, where you can watch the "Yumomi" performance, which has been passed down from the Edo period, to cool down the hot spring in a unique way. You can also experience the unique bathing method "Time Bath" and the large "Nishi no Kawara Open-air Bath" (西の河原開開風繣), which covers more than 500 square meters.

2. Gero Onsen (Gifu Prefecture)
Gero Onsen is one of Japan's three most famous hot springs, located in the Hida Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture. The spring water is alkaline and has a smooth texture. It is said to have beauty and health benefits, hence its nickname "Beauty Bath".

During your visit, we recommend purchasing the "Yumeguri Tegata" (汤巡手形), which allows you to choose any three participating inns for hot spring bathing. In addition, there are three public baths, the most famous being the "Fountain Bath" (泉泉池) which flows from the Masuda River, and you can also enjoy a free foot bath. Besides hot spring bathing, you can also sample Hida beef and experience Japanese cultural activities at the Gassho-zukuri Village!

3. Dogo Onsen (Ehime Prefecture)
Dogo Onsen, located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, is one of Japan's "Three Ancient Hot Springs" and boasts a 3,000-year history. The "Dogo Onsen Honkan," a three-story wooden public bathhouse situated in the heart of the hot spring town, is designated a National Important Cultural Property. The bathhouse design in the film Spirited Away was inspired by this building. The hot spring water is mild and is said to regulate the autonomic nervous system and improve sleep.

Besides soaking in hot springs, you can also stroll along the hot spring town, admire the cherry blossoms at Matsuyama Castle, or take a ride on the "Botchan Train," a steam train featured in Natsume Soseki's novel "Botchan," to explore the Matsuyama area.

4. Beppu Hachiyu (Oita Prefecture)
Beppu Onsen comprises eight hot spring resorts, also known as the "Beppu Hachiyu," which boasts the largest number of hot spring sources among all hot spring areas in Japan. Each resort has its own unique spring water quality and bathing culture, and is fully equipped with hot spring baths and traditional Japanese inns. These resorts include Hamawaki, Beppu, Kamekawa, Kannawa, Kankaiji, Horita, Shibaseki, and Myoban Onsen.

Beppu's eight hot springs include the bright red "Blood Pond Hell," the gushing spring "Tornado Hell," and the azure "Sea Hell." In addition to soaking in the hot springs, visitors can also enjoy natural wonders.

5. Arima Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture)
Arima Onsen is one of the "Three Ancient Hot Springs of Japan" and is also listed as one of the "Three Famous Hot Springs of Japan," making it a popular hot spring resort in the Kansai region. The spring water comes from natural hot springs that gush from the ground and is a rare hot spring with seven therapeutic components, including "Kinsen" which is rich in iron and "Ginsen" which is colorless and transparent and contains radium, each with different effects.

The hot spring town has many unique restaurants and shops where you can try the local specialty, carbonated pancakes, and also watch geisha banquet performances to experience traditional Japanese culture!

6. Noboribetsu Onsen (Hokkaido)
Noboribetsu Onsen is located in southwestern Hokkaido. There is a volcanic crater remnant called "Hell Valley," where steam and hot springs gush forth, creating the illusion of being in hell. The area boasts nine different types of spring water, said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, and chronic skin diseases.

The Gokuraku-dori hot spring town is well-equipped and convenient, with restaurants, souvenir shops, public baths, hospitals, banks, and other facilities. Nearby is Lake Kutara, renowned for its pristine water quality, as well as natural landscapes including forests, lakes, oceans, and mountains, and attractions such as the "Bear Ranch" theme park, making it a place where entertainment, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all in one.

7. Ibusuki Onsen (Kagoshima Prefecture)
Ibusuki Onsen is located at the southernmost tip of Kagoshima, and its most distinctive feature is the "sand bath" (砂むし火源). You can put on a yukata and bury your body in heated sand. The spring water contains a natural moisturizing ingredient called "metasilicic acid," which is said to promote blood circulation and improve metabolism.

The hot spring area also features foot baths, hand baths, and open-air baths. Located by the coast, it boasts beautiful sea views, making you feel like you're on a tropical island vacation – relaxing and comfortable.

8. Hakone Onsen (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Hakone Onsen, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination near Tokyo, just over an hour's drive away. The area is lined with hot springs stretching from the foot of Mount Hakone to its interior, boasting nearly 20 spring sources. The seven hot springs known as the "Seven Hot Springs of Hakone" each have their own unique characteristics, with Hakone Yumoto Onsen being the most famous. Other notable hot springs include Tonosawa Onsen, Miyanoshita Onsen, Dojima Onsen, Sookura Onsen, Kiga Onsen, and Ashinoyu Onsen.

Here you can enjoy views of Mount Fuji, visit the Hakone Shrine with its torii gates over the lake, take a pirate ship ride on Lake Ashi, or ride a cable car to Owakudani to see the active volcano. There are also many art museums and other attractions, making it easy to plan a wonderful trip!

9. Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture)
Kinosaki Onsen is an old hot spring town in northern Hyogo Prefecture. It boasts seven public hot spring baths scattered throughout the town, all accessible for free with a single pass. The quaint hot spring town features rivers, bridges, and willow trees, making it a perfect place for a relaxing stroll after a soak in the hot springs!

10. Yufuin Hot Spring (Oita Prefecture)
Yufuin Onsen is located in Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, and boasts the second-highest volume and number of hot spring sources in Japan! The hot springs are primarily alkaline, gentle and non-irritating, and are said to have moisturizing and hydrating effects, helping to relieve fatigue and beautify the skin, as well as soothe neuralgia, muscle pain, and arthritis.

The hot spring town retains a nostalgic atmosphere, featuring art galleries and trendy shops. Most accommodations include large public baths and open-air baths. Surrounded by mountains, Yufuin often experiences morning mist in winter, creating a mesmerizing, fairytale-like scene. Nearby is the famous Kinrin Lake, where the setting sun casts a golden, fish-scale-like glow – a truly enchanting sight!

11. Kurokawa Onsen (Kumamoto Prefecture)
Kurokawa Onsen is located north of Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture and boasts over 20 hot springs, including cave hot springs, waterfall-side hot springs, and sansuiki hot springs. With the purchase of the "Iruma Tegata" (Iryu Tegata) hot spring pass, you can choose any three hot spring facilities to bathe in. Nestled in a misty valley, Kurokawa Onsen offers stunning mountain views, and its nighttime scenery is particularly enchanting.

12. Wakura Onsen (Ishikawa Prefecture)
Wakura Onsen, located on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, boasts a 1,200-year history and is a rare "sea spring." The spring water is rich in salt and is said to have antibacterial, moisturizing, and skin-beautifying effects, healing wounds and skin diseases, and improving gout, gastrointestinal symptoms, or anemia.

There are also many foot baths and hand baths in Wakura Onsen town, and at Yumoto Square, there's a spring where you can make your own onsen tamago (hot spring eggs) by placing eggs in it; they'll have a slightly salty taste even without adding salt. In addition, you can enjoy local delicacies from the mountains and sea, and admire the tranquil scenery of Nanao Bay.

13. Atami Onsen (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Located on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Atami Onsen is only about a 50-minute drive from Tokyo! Atami is close to the sea, so in addition to soaking in hot springs, you can also enjoy the sun and the beach, as well as fresh and delicious Japanese cuisine, making it an absolute must-visit hot spring resort! Atami Station also has many open-air and indoor baths, including a foot bath named after Tokugawa Ieyasu: Ieyasu no Yu Foot Bath.

14. Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata Prefecture)
Ginzan Onsen, located in Yamagata Prefecture, retains nostalgic buildings from the Taisho era. Its traditional hot spring town scene makes it one of Japan's most representative hot spring areas, especially romantic and enchanting under a blanket of snow in winter. The hot spring water is a sodium chloride sulfate spring, said to have therapeutic effects on cuts, burns, and chronic skin diseases.

15. Okuhida Onsen-kyo (Gifu Prefecture)
Located in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, the popular hot spring resort of Okuhida Onsen-kyo is near the famous Kamikochi Scenic Area and about an hour's drive from Takayama. Okuhida Onsen-kyo boasts over 100 open-air baths and is surrounded by the renowned Northern Alps, which rise to an altitude of over 3,000 meters. The scenery is beautiful in all seasons, but it is especially recommended to visit during the autumn foliage season and winter!