The Most Iconic Traditional Onsen in Japan

A visit to Japan is almost incomplete without a stopover at a hot spring. With over 27,000 natural hot spring sources, Japan has a rich history and culture of communal bathing dating back centuries. Hot springs are not just a way to relax and unwind; they're also famous for their healing and restorative properties, drawing millions of visitors each year to soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters.

Japan is home to many hot spring locales — famous for their hot springs and typically host to multiple public bathing facilities. They also usually feature several ryokans that have their own private hot spring baths on site. 

Public hot spring baths are open to everyone and typically charge nothing more than an admission fee. Ryokans are overnight accommodations that often include a room, meals, and access to both public and private baths, though some even have baths inside the rooms!

Visiting a traditional hot spring is an experience not to be missed. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned hot spring hopper, read on to explore some of Japan's most iconic locations, each with its unique features and charms. Perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway, here are the best places to experience the ancient rite of Japanese hot springs.

One of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts, Kusatsu Onsen is known for its acidic water, which is sourced from underground streams heated by geothermal activity. One of its most unique features is the yubatake (lit. “hot water pasture”), where the water is cooled to a more comfortable temperature before it’s distributed to the various baths. The plentiful steam rising up from the yubatake is one of the locale’s most characteristic sights.

Kusatsu Onsen is traditional in its focus on communal bathing: there are no private baths here, and visitors are encouraged to bathe together in the various public baths.

A popular hot spring resort that was considered one of Japan’s three best hot springs during the Edo period (1603–1868), Gero Onsen in Gifu has retained its water’s special qualities to this day. 

The hot spring water is sourced from the Hida River and contains sulfur and other minerals believed to have healing properties. The water is known for its pearly white color and the moisturizing effect it has on the skin. 

Uniquely, the open-air baths are enveloped by lush greenery, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. For guests who want a more intimate experience, there are also several large indoor baths and private baths available. Just passing through? Try one of the many free footbaths dotted around the town, where you can sit and soak after a long day of sightseeing.

Another one of Japan’s oldest and most famous hot spring resorts, Dogo Onsen is located in Matsuyama City, Ehime. With a history that can be traced back over 1,000 years, this locale is considered a cultural icon of the region. 

Dogo Onsen’s list of past guests borders on legendary. It has been frequented by some of Japan’s most prestigious people — including the Imperial Family. Dogo Onsen Honkan is the main attraction here: a traditional wooden bathhouse dating back to 1894. The unique architectural design and traditional interior are said to have inspired Miyazaki’s animated film, “Spirited Away”, with a maze of passages, stairways, and rooms that witness the lively mingling of bathers and staff alike. 

The locale also plays host to popular attractions including a shopping arcade, temples and shrines, a museum, and a park. You’ll often find ryokan guests walking around the streets in yukata, adding to the peaceful hot spring town ambience. 

Located in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, Noboribetsu Onsen is a famous hot spring locale known for its sulfuric waters and unique scenery. Because of its geographic location — right in the middle of a volcanic zone — the hot springs here have a reputation of being among Japan’s best and most effective, with healing properties that are great for fatigue and muscle pain. 

Offering as many as eleven different kinds of thermal waters, one of the more unique features of this hot spring is Jigokudani or “Hell Valley”, which is filled with boiling hot springs and volcanic activity. You can actually take a walk through the valley and see the sulfurous steam vents creating an otherworldly, misty sight to behold. As a popular destination year-round, Noboribetsu Onsen is home to many ryokans and hotels with hot spring baths. 

Miyajima Onsen is a hot spring resort located on Miyajima Island of Hiroshima. Its hot spring baths offer stunning views of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine and the Seto Inland Sea.

The hot spring water is sourced from a natural spring on the island, flowing through to its unique outdoor baths constructed from Japanese cypress wood. The baths include both covered and open-air options, with the latter revealing breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery of this tiny island.

Nestled in a mountain village in Kanagawa, Hakone Yuryo Onsen is a hot spring facility with the classical kind of architecture that hot spring hoppers know and love. The alkaline waters here are said to be beneficial for nerve pain, blood circulation, and fatigue.

Known for its large and spacious baths, outdoor open-air baths, and private hot spring baths, there are over 20 different types of hot spring options for visitors to choose from. Outdoor bathing guests are offered a relaxing atmosphere with stunning views of the surrounding nature, including the iconic Mount Fuji. This facility is strictly bath-only, but luckily there are plenty of excellent accommodations nearby.

Located in the middle of Kyushu, Kurokawa Onsen is a small town in the mountains of Kumamoto. You can take in the rustic ambience and beautiful natural surroundings before or after visiting one of more than 20 local ryokans, each with its own unique hot springs.

The town center itself is located in a forested valley and is lined by accommodations, public bathhouses, shops, cafes, and a small shrine. Compact in size, Kurokawa Onsen is easily explored on foot — made all the more fun while wearing a yukata and sandals provided by your ryokan if you're staying overnight. If you're just stopping by, you can purchase a special "hot spring-hopping pass" that allows visitors to try out several of the different hot spring baths in town. 

What makes the experience even more authentic is the fact that the town has made a concerted effort to maintain a pleasant, traditional atmosphere; you won't find any towering concrete hotels, neon signs, or bold colors here. What you'll find instead is a townscape celebrated with natural colors and materials, wooden buildings, earthen walls, and stone steps. There's even a river flowing through to complete the scenic picture. 

Situated along the banks of the Kinugawa River, Kinugawa Onsen is a popular hot spring resort town in Tochigi. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, the town is centered around large hotels and ryokans that lines the riverbank. Because of its proximity to Nikko (and inclusion in the free travel zone of the Nikko Pass), it’s a great place to stay overnight when visiting Nikko. 

Its many amusements, such as Tobu World Square and Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, add a healthy mix of fun and relaxation. Though Kinugawa has been extensively developed in the past decades, it still retains its old-world charm in the stunning river and mountain scenery that can be viewed while soaking in a traditional Japanese bath.