Top 10 Most Popular Hot Springs in Japan

Hakone is a famous hot spring town and health resort in Japan. It was once a crater with splashing lava, but now it features beautiful scenery with peaks rising one after another and murmuring streams. Owakudani is a volcanic relic with continuous morning smoke over the last two thousand years. White smoke wreaths the hillside from morning till night, which is just like white clouds out of the glaze when we look at it at a distance. It is also one of the wonders of Hakone.

Hakone has long been known for its hot springs, including the famous “Seven Springs in Hakone”, which are regarded as health resorts. In addition, there are “HAKONE HACHIRI", Sounji Temple, Chisuji Falls, Sengokuhara, Kuzuryu Shrine and other places of interest. After we climb up by the mountaineering trolley, cable car and sky crane, we can enjoy the sight of meandering valley and beautiful lake scenery. It is really an attraction not to be missed.

Kusatsu Onsen, also known as Thespa Kusatsu, is famous for its beautiful environment and high curative effect. Since ancient times, it has been known far and wide as a famous hot spring for health care. The natural spring volume of Kusatsu Onsen is the largest in Japan. There is a spring field in the village street of Kusatsu Onsen , with the hot spring water steaming all year round and flowing continuously. It has also become a landmark attraction of Kusatsu Onsen.

There is also a traditional activity here, namely, to stir the spring water in the hot spring bath with a long wooden board to achieve the purpose of mixing the medicinal elements in the hot spring evenly, reducing the temperature and improving the curative effect. The daily performance of stirring hot spring water has become a big event in the hot spring street.

Yufuin Onsen once experienced a name change due to the prevalence of Japanese homophones and the local reputation for the hot spring baths. This is the famous hot spring resort of Kyushu. Both the pristine and fresh town environment and the warm and healthy open air contribute to the fascinating charm of Yufuin Onsen.

You can find an eye-catching hot spring homestay at will, put on interesting and unique special kimono for bathing, and step on clogs to bathe in the hot spring and enjoy the most beautiful natural sceneries in front of your eyes including the red maple in autumn, the sea of clouds in winter, and the wild flowers in spring and summer.

Beppu has always been famous for its “Beppu Hatto”. The hot springs in the town have their own characteristics. For example, Hamawaki used to be the main area for brothels, with old traditional hotels that can evoke visitors’ profound feelings for the ancient times. In addition, there is Kannawa here, a busy hot spring famous for its therapeutic bathing. Its spring water contains alum, which is very effective for treating chronic skin diseases. The steam spring of Kannawa is also widely known. The spring water of alum hot spring is white because of the alum composition, best represented by the “Yunohana Onsen Cottage” with a unique and strange straw roof.

Noboribetsu Onsen Town, a small town surrounded by mountains, is a typical hot spring area in Hokkaido. Along the streets, there are many hot spring hotels, lodges and various non-overnight hot springs and restaurants. In addition, famous tourist spots such as Jigokudani Valley, Oyunuma and Noboribetsu Bear Farm are also around the town.

There are many kinds of hot springs in Noboribetsu, with 11 kinds of water quality, which have certain curative effect on hypertension, skin disease, neurasthenia and other diseases. Even if you don't suffer from pain, taking a spa break can relieve your fatigue.

If it is a wintry snow day, taking a dip in an open-air hot spring is particularly romantic and comfortable. Walking around the town, you can see many statues of ghosts and a variety of sacrificial activities in different seasons.

The hot spring located in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, is said to have a history of 3,000 years. The hot spring hotel is a retro building with intricate wooden rooms, corridors and staircases. It is said that this mysterious building is also the prototype of the movie “Spirited Away”.

Kyushu is the home to many hot spring resorts. Kurokawa Onsen is one of them. Kurokawa is located in a remote area, hidden in the mountains. It takes more than 2 hours to drive there from Fukuoka, which, however, contributes to the quiet and quiet environment. The temperature at the source of Kurokawa Onsen is above 80 ℃, which is very suitable for outdoor bathing. There are many hot spring hotels in the town, most of which are built along the river. When bathing in the hot spring, you can look up from afar and see the natural mountain forest, and hear the sound of gurgling water. The plain and fresh Kurokawa Town appears aloof from the world. After a bath in the hot spring, you might as well wear the traditional kimono and clogs and take a walk in the street, which may provide you with a unique experience.

Arima Onsen is the oldest hot spring in Kansai region. It is located in Arimacho, north of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is one of the three major hot springs in Japan with a history of 1,300 years. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains, with cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in autumn and famous hot springs. Therefore, it is quite popular with tourists. It is a cluster of elegant hot spring hotels.

The water of Arima Onsen is rich in minerals. Among them, the golden spring is quite effective in the treatment of neuralgia, the silver spring is said to be effective in treating intestinal disease, and other springs such as the radium spring and carbonated spring are said to have been quite enjoyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Atami Onsen is one of the three major hot springs in Japan and the earliest record of its use as a hot spring can be traced back to more than 1200 years ago. Now it has become the leading hot spring street in Japan, which is very popular among Japanese people and one of the first choices for Japanese people to go on vacation. In the center of Atami Onsen, there is great geyser where a great deal of hot water gushes out. It spouts out of the boulders every five minutes, and is thus a great attraction.

Akiu Onsen is very famous in northeast Japan, surrounded by mountains and verdant forests. In the hot spring scenic spot, there are also Akiu Falls, Osaka Castle Natural Park and other famous local attractions.

The hot springs are not far from the center of Sendai City. Many hotels provide shuttle buses between their hotels and JR Sendai Station. You might well drop in to ease your body and mind when you refresh your visa of three years.