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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871 properties

Stay

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

Browse by prefecture

591 properties

Day-use

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

Browse by city

JAPAN'S FINEST ONSEN & SAUNA

Japan's Finest Onsen & Sauna

64 SELECTIONS

Only the 64 places worth returning to.

Most of what we surveyed never made it onto this site. This is a further cut from what did — places the editor bathed in himself, and places chosen through our own reporting.

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
SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT

Hotel & Ryokan · Visited August 2026

SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT

Osaka Osaka City

The Tea Room Sauna in the Asia Zone and the Joy of a Return Visit

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

From the JournalAll journeys