The most beautiful hot spring destinations in Japan

Hot springs, also called Onsen, are a staple of Japanese culture. While Japan is located in a perilous place on the Pacific Ring of Fire, its location has led to the formation of thousands of natural hot springs, many of which have common healing properties. After Japan promoted hot spring resorts as major tourist attractions, it is now all within the reach of foreign travelers. So, get to know us with the most beautiful hot spring destinations in Japan.

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Table of Contents

Hakone
Kusatsu
Beppu
Noboribetsu
Kinosaki

Hakone

Hakone is one of Japan’s coolest hot spring destinations, and can be reached on a day trip from Tokyo. The small mountain city is famous for the scenic Fuji Mountain and the fascinating Ashi Lake. For travelers who choose not to spend the night in Hakone, many places offer day passes that give you all-day access to the available hot springs.

Kusatsu

Just 3 hours from Tokyo, Kusatsu is located in the scenic Gunma Prefecture, with an actual hot water field in the city center. This is the most abundant source in Japan for groundwater, as it consists of 100 hot springs flowing at 34,000 liters of water every minute. This water is said to help heal a variety of human diseases, including indigestion, arthritis and poor blood circulation.

Beppu

Beppu is one of the most known hot destinations in Japan. There is the so-called “Beibu Hell”, a collection of red bloodbaths, ponds with exotic mud bubbles, boiled blue lakes, and the water in which crocodiles live now – all intended for show, not for showering. If you come to Beppu just to relax, skip this hell and head straight to the spa and outdoor pools at Hotel Suginoi. There is also the Ebisu Ryokan that features regular hot baths, milky sulfur baths, a rock bath, and a Japanese-style rock sauna.

Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is a small town on the island of Hokkaido in the far north of Japan. Visitors are encouraged to wander around Jigokudani (Valley of Hell), where there is a steam river that extends to the hot forests for a foot bath, and the Oyunuma Sulfur Pool. The hot bath at Noboribetsu produces water that naturally contains at least seven different elements and minerals, each with its own healing properties.

Kinosaki

Kinosaki is the Onsen Village of the Sea of Japan, accessible by train from Kyoto or Osaka. The city has been a hot spring destination for over a thousand years, but few people outside Japan know about this hidden gem. For an authentic Kenosaki experience, put on a yukata robe, walk downtown from one bathroom to another, and eat sweets and seafood along the way. It is best to stay overnight in Medea to ensure an enjoyable visit.

Onsen in Beppu