Best Japanese Onsen Towns
Town↕ | Prefecture↕ | Water Type↕ | Source Temp (C)↕ | Vibe↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hakone | Kanagawa | Sulphur, simple | 65 | Scenic, accessible | Mount Fuji views, Owakudani volcanic valley, open-air museum, 90 min from Tokyo |
Kusatsu | Gunma | Acidic sulphur | 70 | Traditional, steamy | Yubatake water field centerpiece, Japan's most acidic waters, highest volume, yumomi show |
Beppu | Oita | Chloride, sulphur, iron | 90 | Quirky, diverse | Eight Hells of Beppu coloured pools, sand baths, mud baths, highest water volume in Japan |
Kinosaki | Hyogo | Sodium chloride | 83 | Romantic, yukata | Seven public baths, willow-lined canal, guests stroll in yukata and geta wooden sandals |
Arima | Hyogo | Iron red + silver soda | 98 | Historic, luxury | Japan's oldest onsen, golden iron-rich kinsen and clear ginsen, favoured by Hideyoshi |
Gero | Gifu | Simple alkaline | 84 | Classic, soft water | One of Japan's three famous onsens, silky beautifying waters, Hida River setting |
Noboribetsu | Hokkaido | Nine types | 80 | Volcanic, wild | Jigokudani Hell Valley, 9 different waters from one source, Dai-ichi Takimotokan ryokan |
Kurokawa | Kumamoto | Varied minerals | 78 | Rustic, beloved | Preserved Edo-era village in the mountains, onsen-hopping pass, rotenburo outdoor baths |
Nyuto | Akita | Cloudy sulphur | 60 | Remote, secret | Seven remote mountain inns, Tsurunoyu most famous milky white bath, winter snow scenes |
Shibu | Nagano | Simple sulphur | 90 | Historic, family-run | Nine public baths pilgrimage, snow monkey park nearby, Edo-era narrow streets |
Ginzan | Yamagata | Simple sulphate | 64 | Taisho-era, magical | Wooden 3-4 story inns along the river, gas lamps at night, Spirited Away aesthetic |
Dogo | Ehime | Alkaline simple | 46 | Ancient, literary | 3000-year history, Dogo Onsen Honkan inspired Spirited Away bathhouse, Soseki connection |
Yufuin | Oita | Simple alkaline | 78 | Artsy, boutique | Mount Yufu backdrop, Kinrin Lake, boutique ryokans, gallery-lined main street |
Atami | Shizuoka | Chloride sulphate | 70 | Seaside, retro | Honeymoon hotspot of Showa era, ocean views, MOA Museum, 45 min from Tokyo on shinkansen |
Takaragawa | Gunma | Simple thermal | 70 | Riverside, giant | Japan's largest rotenburo, riverside mixed baths, Osenkaku ryokan, snow-dusted winter soaks |
Yunomine | Wakayama | Bicarbonate sulphate | 92 | Ancient, UNESCO | 1800-year history, Tsuboyu UNESCO bath you can cook eggs in, Kumano Kodo pilgrim stop |
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