Onsen & sauna across Japan

Some onsen and saunas are worth rearranging a trip for.

A single inn deep in the mountains. An open-air bath with a view of the sea. A sauna in a city basement. Search all of Japan for the finest of them — and decide here where to go.

Find where to go
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881 properties

Stay

Onsen ryokan and hotels where the onsen is the reason to book.

Browse by prefecture

589 properties

Day-use

Sento, super sento and private sauna you can walk into between trains.

Browse by city

JAPAN'S FINEST ONSEN & SAUNA

The Finest Onsen & Sauna in Japan

64 SELECTIONS

Only the 64 places worth returning to.

Most of what we surveyed never even made it onto this site. This book is a further cut from what did. Our editor bathed in every onsen and sauna in it, and wrote only what they confirmed on the ground.

See inside, free
Editors' CollectionsAll collections
Kanagawa Sauna: The Editorial Team's Top 5 Picks

Sauna — Kanagawa

Kanagawa Sauna: The Editorial Team's Top 5 Picks

5 SELECTIONS

Hokkaido Onsen with Private Baths: 20 Picks Chosen by Our Editors

Onsen — Hokkaido

Hokkaido Onsen with Private Baths: 20 Picks Chosen by Our Editors

9 SELECTIONS

4 Best Onsen in Gifu Prefecture, Handpicked by Our Editors

Onsen — Gifu

4 Best Onsen in Gifu Prefecture, Handpicked by Our Editors

4 SELECTIONS

This Month's OneRead the visit
Utopia Shiratama Onsen

Sento (Public Bath) · Visited August 2026

Utopia Shiratama Onsen

Osaka Osaka City

Scorching-hot Bona sauna and a cold plunge where ice falls

The Editor-in-Chief's visit — August 2026

From the JournalAll journeys