Here are our rankings for the best 200 onsens in Japan.
You'll also find plenty of information about public baths and day trip onsens in hot spring resort areas, and learn about the health benefits of various types of natural hot springs.
Also check out our onsen popularity rankings by prefecture.
-
- 2018 Top 30 Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan
- 2018.10.26
-
- Top 5 Onsen Sento in Tokyo
- 2019.01.10
- Tokyo
-
- Jigoku Meguri Tour
- 2018.04.19
- Oita
-
- Gero Onsen
- Gifu Gero-shi Yunoshima‧Koda‧Mori
- A historic hot spring district and, together with Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, considered one of the three most renowned hot spring districts in Japan. Sprawling along the Hidagawa River, the area is dotted with numerous hot spring inns, communal baths, and free footbaths, making it easy for visitors to enjoy all the delights of hot spring bathing. The area's simple alkaline hot spring waters are colorless and are notable for making the skin feel soft and smooth. The waters moisturize the skin and aid in heat retention. Also said to aid the removal of old, dead skin layers, these waters are known for their beautifying properties. The area is also dotted with natural carbonated springs welling up from underneath the ground, and this hot spring district is particularly popular with women.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- aid recovery from fatigue
- sensitivity to cold
- frozen shoulders
- Bruises
- etc
-
- Shuzenji Onsen
- Shizuoka Izu-shi Shuzenji
- A renowned hot spring district which records say was discovered by the great monk Kobo Daishi in 807. It is considered one of Japan's 100 most renowned hot spring districts alongside the famous Three Ancient Hot Springs of Izu. This area was also the site of the famous power struggle which took place in the Minamoto clan in the Kamakura period, and the town is dotted with historic sites connected to the clan such as the Shigetsuden, the oldest wooden structure in Izu. The alkaline waters of the simple springs found here are said to aid recovery from fatigue and promote health in addition to helping relieve muscle soreness, chronic digestive diseases, sensitivity to cold, and other ailments.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- frozen shoulders
- sensitivity to cold
- etc
-
- Kannawa Onsen
- Oita Beppushi-shi
- A hot spring district known for the plumes of steam which rise up from the ground throughout its borders; the picturesque scenery this creates serves as a symbol of Beppu. Many of the famous Hells of Beppu (visually stunning hot springs which are meant to be viewed rather than bathed in) are located in this district, and the waters are famously described with the poetic phrase, 1,000 ryo (old coin) worth of hot water gush forth in a single night. The Bungo fudoki, an ancient record of the region compiled in the early Nara period, notes that much steam, boiling water, and hot mud emerges from the ground in this area; called a Hell since ancient times, it is believed the land here was long abhorred and feared. In the Kamakura period, after the great priest Ippen founded the Mushiyu bathhouse, many public bathhouses and ryokan inns came to be built one next to the other in the area. Even today, the places where hot spring waters emerge from the ground continue to generate an abundance of steam and are called Hells in the area. This hot spring district is perhaps the most celebrated and well-known of all those in Beppu.
- Effect
- cuts
- sensitivity to cold
- Abnormally dry skin
- constipationetc
- etc
-
- Yuhigaura Onsen
- Kyoto Kyotango-shi Aminocho Hamazume
- Facing Yuhigaura, the western side of the Tango Peninsula, this relatively new hot spring district was first developed in 1980. The entire surrounding area is a renowned sightseeing destination and bustles with many tourists year-round. The area's sunsets are particularly beautiful and the source of its name (Yuhigaura means Sunset Beach). The area's clear hypotonic and mildly alkaline high temperature springs are said to aid recovery from fatigue in addition to helping alleviate nerve pain, muscle soreness, frozen shoulders, and rheumatic diseases. Their waters are also soft and renowned for their beautifying properties, leaving the skin nice and smooth.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- sensitivity to cold
- frozen shoulders
- etc
-
- Oirase Stream Onsen
- Aomori Towada-shi Okuse , Horyo
- A hot spring district sprawling along the Tsutagawa River flowing at the foot of the Hakkoda Mountains. The district was established by connecting to source springs in Sarukura Onsen in 1963. Here visitors can enjoy a relaxing bath while taking in the vast, seasonally varying natural beauty of Oirase Stream close by. The waters here primarily come from faintly milk white simple springs, although their qualities differ slightly by facility and location, and are said to help aid recovery from fatigue and promote health in addition to relieving muscle soreness, joint pain, sensitivity to cold, chronic digestive diseases, and a variety of other conditions.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- sensitivity to cold
- frozen shoulders
- etc
-
- Yamanaka Onsen
- Ishikawa Kaga-shi Yamanaka Onsen
- A hot spring district situated along the Kakusen-kei Valley considered one of the three most renowned in Japan. Boasting some 1,300 years of history since its discovery and considered one of the Three Great Hot Springs of Fuso (Japan), records show that this hot spring district was a favorite of the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho as well as many other writers and artists. The area's sulfate springs contain an abundance of potassium, sodium, and other minerals, and are said to aid recovery from fatigue and promote health in addition to easing muscle soreness, frozen shoulders, sensitivity to cold, chronic digestive diseases, chronic skin diseases, and other conditions. Some facilities also offer hot spring waters that can be drunk, and these are said to help relieve constipation, gout, and obesity.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- frozen shoulders
- sensitivity to cold
- etc
-
- Wakura Onsen
- Ishikawa Nanao-shi Wakuramachi
- A hot spring district located on the sea, a rarity in Japan, which according to records was discovered in the Daido era (806-810). Many hot spring hotels stand side by side along Nanao Bay, and in these facilities visitors can take a relaxing bath in hot spring waters while taking in the view of the vast ocean beyond. The area's chloride springs are rich in minerals and are said to aid recovery from fatigue and promote health as well as easing muscle soreness, skin diseases, and sensitivity to cold. The area is renowned for the beauty of its sunsets and is a highly popular driving destination. The Wakura Onsen Summer Fireworks display is also held each summer, and during this event the area bustles with many visitors come to enjoy the show.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- frozen shoulders
- sensitivity to cold
- etc
-
- Akankonsen
- Hokkaido Kushiro-shi Akancho Akankonsen
- This hot spring district situated on the shore of Lake Akan in Akan Mashu National Park is one of Hokkaido's largest and generates an amazing 3,800 liters of hot water every minute. In addition to many hot spring inns and day trip bathhouses, the district is dotted with free hot spring hand- and footbaths, and visitors can relax and enjoy the delights of hot spring waters in a scenic location commanding a view of Lake Akan and Mt. Oakan. The area's alkaline simple springs are colorless and transparent and are notable for their smooth, velvety feel. Gentle on the skin, their waters are a favorite of men and women of all ages.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- joint pain
- aid recovery from fatigue
- sensitivity to cold
- frozen shoulders
- etc
-
- Arima Onsen
- Hyogo Kobe-shi Kita-ku Arimacho
- This hot spring district, Japan's oldest, is noted in the Nihon Shoki, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, and many other ancient texts. It is said the area was a favorite of many intellectuals and emperors, as well, including Emperor Jomei and Emperor Kotoku. The area's springs are a mixture of carbon dioxide springs, chloride springs, and five other spring varieties, something found hardly anywhere in the world; containing an abundance of minerals and metasilicic acid, their waters have powerful antibacterial and moisturizing properties. They are said to aid recovery from fatigue and promote health in addition to alleviating eczema, hives, atopy, and other skin diseases; burns; cuts; and a variety of other ailments.
- Effect
- nerve pain
- muscle soreness
- aid recovery from fatigue
- sensitivity to cold
- Bruises
- gastrointestinal disorders
- etc