An explanation of onsen rankings as Edo-period prints that ranked hot spring resorts in the style of sumo banzuke. We organize the format, terms like koshoku onsen kounou kagami, famous baths placed as East and West Ozeki, and their link to modern ranking culture.
Published: Jun 28, 2026
An explanation of onsen rankings as Edo-period prints that ranked hot spring resorts in the style of sumo banzuke. We organize the format, terms like koshoku onsen kounou kagami, famous baths placed as East and West Ozeki, and their link to modern ranking culture.
Published: Jun 28, 2026
An onsen ranking was an Edo-period print trend that ranked hot spring resorts around Japan by borrowing the format of sumo banzuke. It compared the benefits and scale of each bath, assigned ranks in East and West, and placed the highest tier, just like in sumo, at Ozeki. In modern terms, it was a precursor to a popular hot spring ranking, and it reflected the onsen tourism boom of the time.
In short, onsen rankings were not just playful entertainment. They show that people saw hot springs not merely as places to bathe, but as things to compare and choose from. The idea of lining up baths and competing them against one another led directly to modern lists such as Nippon no Onsen 100 and various popular hot spring rankings. This article explains what onsen rankings were, their format and terminology, which baths were said to rank highest, and how they connect to today's ranking culture, while keeping in mind differences between editions and differing theories. For a broader view of bathing culture, see the history of bathing culture.
An onsen ranking was a type of mitate banzuke that became popular in the Edo period. A mitate banzuke is a print that borrowed the format of a sumo ranking sheet and listed hot spring resorts, famous products, shops, scenic spots, and other things in ranking form. Because Edo commoners were familiar with the style of banzuke, the format made it easy to see at a glance which items were ranked higher.
One well-known onsen-related banzuke is Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami. As its title suggests, it is said to have ranked hot spring resorts across Japan by their effects and scale, and to have arranged them in East and West columns in the style of a sumo banzuke. These prints were not limited to a single version. It is believed that multiple editions were produced by different publishers and in different periods, so the hot spring resorts included and their rankings varied from one edition to another.
What matters here is that onsen rankings were essentially a form of perception in their time, not an official ranking based on objective standards. Who assigned the rankings and on what basis differed from edition to edition, but factors such as volume of spring water, fame, and connections to the local area are thought to have been reflected. For that reason, it is not appropriate to treat a rank written in a specific edition as a historical fact of value. It is better read as a source that reflects how hot springs were viewed at the time.
A useful way to understand an onsen ranking is to know the sumo terms it borrowed. Banzuke had a formal structure, and once you understand the terminology, it becomes easier to see what is written where.
| Banzuke term | Meaning in sumo | Role in an onsen ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Ozeki | The de facto highest rank at the time | The hot spring resort placed at the top of that banzuke |
| Sekiwake / Komusubi | Ranks just below Ozeki | Strong hot spring resorts below the top tier |
| Maegashira | Ordinary wrestlers in the top division | The many hot spring resorts listed on the banzuke |
| Gyoji | Referee who oversees matches | Written in the center of the banzuke, symbolizing progress and organization |
| Kanjinmoto | Organizer of the event | Indicates the party responsible for publication and sponsorship |
One important point is that Ozeki was the highest rank. In modern sumo, Yokozuna is the top rank, but in Edo-period banzuke, Yokozuna had not yet been established as a rank on the chart, and Ozeki was effectively the highest position. That is why, in onsen rankings as well, the most prestigious hot spring resorts were listed as Ozeki. When reading a banzuke, it is best to first look for the East and West Ozeki and then read downward through Sekiwake, Komusubi, and Maegashira.
Gyoji and Kanjinmoto were not hot spring resorts themselves. They were roles placed there to give the banzuke its proper appearance. By including them, the print took on the dignity of a real sumo ranking sheet and gave viewers the impression that this was an official assessment.
A frequently discussed feature of onsen rankings is the hot spring resorts placed at the highest rank in the East and West. In a widely known edition, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture was said to be the East Ozeki, and Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture the West Ozeki. The structure places Kusatsu as the representative of eastern Japan and Arima as the representative of western Japan.
However, this is only one known edition, and which hot spring was placed at Ozeki differed depending on the edition. Onsen rankings were likely created in multiple versions, and the lineup at the top sometimes changed depending on regional circumstances and the publisher. Therefore, it is not possible to say that Kusatsu and Arima were always Ozeki in all onsen rankings. The accurate understanding is that there are editions in which they were listed that way.
Even so, the fact that Kusatsu and Arima were often ranked highly shows that both hot springs had nationwide recognition since the Edo period. Kusatsu was known for its strong acidic water and abundant spring flow, while Arima was valued for its long history and proximity to the capital. Both were highly regarded as hot spring destinations at the time. The rankings likely reflected, to some extent, such real popularity and fame.
The rise of onsen rankings in the Edo period was driven by the hot spring travel boom of the time. The Edo period saw the development of highways and a widening of travel among common people. The culture of long stays at hot spring resorts for therapeutic bathing also spread among the public, and interest in which waters were best naturally grew.
Around the same time, publishing and printing technology advanced, and prints such as banzuke, guide maps, and illustrated sheets became widely available at low cost. People needed information to help them choose where to go before traveling, and onsen rankings served that demand. They were close to what we would now call a guidebook or a ranking article.
The mitate banzuke format itself was also a trend of the time. Not only hot springs, but restaurants, entertainment districts, local specialties, and all kinds of things were turned into banzuke for enjoyment. Onsen rankings had both a playful and a practical side as travel guides. They clearly show how Edo-period people viewed hot springs as subjects to compare, rank, and talk about in terms of their benefits.
The idea of comparing hot springs and ranking them did not end in the Edo period. Even today, popular hot spring rankings in travel magazines, projects like Nippon no Onsen 100 by tourism organizations, and various review-based ratings all show how deeply rooted the culture of ranking hot springs has become. Even though the format and evaluation methods have changed, the desire to line up baths and talk about which one is best has continued from the era of onsen rankings to the present.
| Perspective | Edo onsen rankings | Modern hot spring rankings |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Prints modeled after sumo banzuke | Magazine and web articles, voting projects, and more |
| Who evaluates | Publishers and printmakers, with criteria varying by edition | Editorial teams, experts, general votes, and more |
| How they are arranged | Ranked in East and West with Ozeki at the top | Numerical rankings or list formats |
| Role | Helping people choose travel destinations and entertaining them | Helping people choose travel destinations and sharing information |
Seen this way, modern rankings clearly inherit the lineage of onsen rankings. At the same time, there is a shared caution: every ranking is something selected by someone according to a certain standard. Just as Edo rankings changed from edition to edition, modern rankings also vary depending on the evaluation method and timing.
That is why it is important not to rely blindly on rankings alone, but to choose a hot spring based on what you personally want. Famous hot springs are not always the best fit, and lesser-known baths may offer exactly the water quality and atmosphere you prefer. This point is explored further in famous hot springs vs hidden gems, which is useful when thinking about how to use rankings. If you want to learn about Japan's most representative hot spring destinations, 10 famous hot springs in Japan is also helpful.
It is a print that became popular in the Edo period, ranking hot spring resorts around Japan in the style of a sumo banzuke. It compared the effects and scale of the baths, arranged them in East and West, and placed the highest tier at Ozeki, just like sumo. Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami is one well-known example. The hot spring resorts included and their rankings differ by edition.
It is Ozeki. In modern sumo, Yokozuna is the highest rank, but in Edo-period banzuke, Yokozuna had not yet been established as a rank on the chart, and Ozeki was effectively the highest position. That is why the most prestigious hot spring resorts were listed as Ozeki.
In a widely known edition, Kusatsu Onsen was placed as the East Ozeki and Arima Onsen as the West Ozeki. However, onsen rankings were likely created in multiple versions, and which hot spring was placed at Ozeki differed by edition. The accurate understanding is that there are editions in which they were listed that way.
No. Gyoji and Kanjinmoto were roles placed there to give the banzuke its proper appearance by borrowing sumo style, and they do not refer to hot spring resorts themselves. Gyoji symbolized progress and organization, while Kanjinmoto symbolized the organizer. Their presence gave the print the dignity of an official ranking sheet.
The formats are quite different, but both are based on the idea of comparing hot springs and ranking them. Just as Edo rankings changed from edition to edition, modern rankings also change depending on evaluation methods and timing. In both cases, they are simply selections made by someone using a certain standard, so it is important not to accept the top spots uncritically and to choose based on your own goals.
An onsen ranking was an Edo-period print that ranked hot spring resorts in the style of sumo banzuke, and Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami is one well-known example. It ranked hot springs in East and West, and in a widely known edition, Kusatsu was placed in the East and Arima in the West as the de facto highest rank, Ozeki. However, rankings differed from edition to edition, so this cannot be stated universally.
Once you understand how to read a banzuke, you can decode the hot spring worldview of the time, including terms like Gyoji and Kanjinmoto. This culture of comparing and choosing hot springs continues directly into modern hot spring rankings. Both banzuke and rankings are simply choices made by someone according to a certain standard. Rather than focusing only on whether something is at the top, choosing a bath based on what you want is the first step to enjoying hot springs more deeply.
An onsen ranking was an Edo-period print trend that ranked hot spring resorts around Japan by borrowing the format of sumo banzuke. It compared the benefits and scale of each bath, assigned ranks in East and West, and placed the highest tier, just like in sumo, at Ozeki. In modern terms, it was a precursor to a popular hot spring ranking, and it reflected the onsen tourism boom of the time.
In short, onsen rankings were not just playful entertainment. They show that people saw hot springs not merely as places to bathe, but as things to compare and choose from. The idea of lining up baths and competing them against one another led directly to modern lists such as Nippon no Onsen 100 and various popular hot spring rankings. This article explains what onsen rankings were, their format and terminology, which baths were said to rank highest, and how they connect to today's ranking culture, while keeping in mind differences between editions and differing theories. For a broader view of bathing culture, see the history of bathing culture.
An onsen ranking was a type of mitate banzuke that became popular in the Edo period. A mitate banzuke is a print that borrowed the format of a sumo ranking sheet and listed hot spring resorts, famous products, shops, scenic spots, and other things in ranking form. Because Edo commoners were familiar with the style of banzuke, the format made it easy to see at a glance which items were ranked higher.
One well-known onsen-related banzuke is Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami. As its title suggests, it is said to have ranked hot spring resorts across Japan by their effects and scale, and to have arranged them in East and West columns in the style of a sumo banzuke. These prints were not limited to a single version. It is believed that multiple editions were produced by different publishers and in different periods, so the hot spring resorts included and their rankings varied from one edition to another.
What matters here is that onsen rankings were essentially a form of perception in their time, not an official ranking based on objective standards. Who assigned the rankings and on what basis differed from edition to edition, but factors such as volume of spring water, fame, and connections to the local area are thought to have been reflected. For that reason, it is not appropriate to treat a rank written in a specific edition as a historical fact of value. It is better read as a source that reflects how hot springs were viewed at the time.
A useful way to understand an onsen ranking is to know the sumo terms it borrowed. Banzuke had a formal structure, and once you understand the terminology, it becomes easier to see what is written where.
| Banzuke term | Meaning in sumo | Role in an onsen ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Ozeki | The de facto highest rank at the time | The hot spring resort placed at the top of that banzuke |
| Sekiwake / Komusubi | Ranks just below Ozeki | Strong hot spring resorts below the top tier |
| Maegashira | Ordinary wrestlers in the top division | The many hot spring resorts listed on the banzuke |
| Gyoji | Referee who oversees matches | Written in the center of the banzuke, symbolizing progress and organization |
| Kanjinmoto | Organizer of the event | Indicates the party responsible for publication and sponsorship |
One important point is that Ozeki was the highest rank. In modern sumo, Yokozuna is the top rank, but in Edo-period banzuke, Yokozuna had not yet been established as a rank on the chart, and Ozeki was effectively the highest position. That is why, in onsen rankings as well, the most prestigious hot spring resorts were listed as Ozeki. When reading a banzuke, it is best to first look for the East and West Ozeki and then read downward through Sekiwake, Komusubi, and Maegashira.
Gyoji and Kanjinmoto were not hot spring resorts themselves. They were roles placed there to give the banzuke its proper appearance. By including them, the print took on the dignity of a real sumo ranking sheet and gave viewers the impression that this was an official assessment.
A frequently discussed feature of onsen rankings is the hot spring resorts placed at the highest rank in the East and West. In a widely known edition, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture was said to be the East Ozeki, and Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture the West Ozeki. The structure places Kusatsu as the representative of eastern Japan and Arima as the representative of western Japan.
However, this is only one known edition, and which hot spring was placed at Ozeki differed depending on the edition. Onsen rankings were likely created in multiple versions, and the lineup at the top sometimes changed depending on regional circumstances and the publisher. Therefore, it is not possible to say that Kusatsu and Arima were always Ozeki in all onsen rankings. The accurate understanding is that there are editions in which they were listed that way.
Even so, the fact that Kusatsu and Arima were often ranked highly shows that both hot springs had nationwide recognition since the Edo period. Kusatsu was known for its strong acidic water and abundant spring flow, while Arima was valued for its long history and proximity to the capital. Both were highly regarded as hot spring destinations at the time. The rankings likely reflected, to some extent, such real popularity and fame.
The rise of onsen rankings in the Edo period was driven by the hot spring travel boom of the time. The Edo period saw the development of highways and a widening of travel among common people. The culture of long stays at hot spring resorts for therapeutic bathing also spread among the public, and interest in which waters were best naturally grew.
Around the same time, publishing and printing technology advanced, and prints such as banzuke, guide maps, and illustrated sheets became widely available at low cost. People needed information to help them choose where to go before traveling, and onsen rankings served that demand. They were close to what we would now call a guidebook or a ranking article.
The mitate banzuke format itself was also a trend of the time. Not only hot springs, but restaurants, entertainment districts, local specialties, and all kinds of things were turned into banzuke for enjoyment. Onsen rankings had both a playful and a practical side as travel guides. They clearly show how Edo-period people viewed hot springs as subjects to compare, rank, and talk about in terms of their benefits.
The idea of comparing hot springs and ranking them did not end in the Edo period. Even today, popular hot spring rankings in travel magazines, projects like Nippon no Onsen 100 by tourism organizations, and various review-based ratings all show how deeply rooted the culture of ranking hot springs has become. Even though the format and evaluation methods have changed, the desire to line up baths and talk about which one is best has continued from the era of onsen rankings to the present.
| Perspective | Edo onsen rankings | Modern hot spring rankings |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Prints modeled after sumo banzuke | Magazine and web articles, voting projects, and more |
| Who evaluates | Publishers and printmakers, with criteria varying by edition | Editorial teams, experts, general votes, and more |
| How they are arranged | Ranked in East and West with Ozeki at the top | Numerical rankings or list formats |
| Role | Helping people choose travel destinations and entertaining them | Helping people choose travel destinations and sharing information |
Seen this way, modern rankings clearly inherit the lineage of onsen rankings. At the same time, there is a shared caution: every ranking is something selected by someone according to a certain standard. Just as Edo rankings changed from edition to edition, modern rankings also vary depending on the evaluation method and timing.
That is why it is important not to rely blindly on rankings alone, but to choose a hot spring based on what you personally want. Famous hot springs are not always the best fit, and lesser-known baths may offer exactly the water quality and atmosphere you prefer. This point is explored further in famous hot springs vs hidden gems, which is useful when thinking about how to use rankings. If you want to learn about Japan's most representative hot spring destinations, 10 famous hot springs in Japan is also helpful.
It is a print that became popular in the Edo period, ranking hot spring resorts around Japan in the style of a sumo banzuke. It compared the effects and scale of the baths, arranged them in East and West, and placed the highest tier at Ozeki, just like sumo. Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami is one well-known example. The hot spring resorts included and their rankings differ by edition.
It is Ozeki. In modern sumo, Yokozuna is the highest rank, but in Edo-period banzuke, Yokozuna had not yet been established as a rank on the chart, and Ozeki was effectively the highest position. That is why the most prestigious hot spring resorts were listed as Ozeki.
In a widely known edition, Kusatsu Onsen was placed as the East Ozeki and Arima Onsen as the West Ozeki. However, onsen rankings were likely created in multiple versions, and which hot spring was placed at Ozeki differed by edition. The accurate understanding is that there are editions in which they were listed that way.
No. Gyoji and Kanjinmoto were roles placed there to give the banzuke its proper appearance by borrowing sumo style, and they do not refer to hot spring resorts themselves. Gyoji symbolized progress and organization, while Kanjinmoto symbolized the organizer. Their presence gave the print the dignity of an official ranking sheet.
The formats are quite different, but both are based on the idea of comparing hot springs and ranking them. Just as Edo rankings changed from edition to edition, modern rankings also change depending on evaluation methods and timing. In both cases, they are simply selections made by someone using a certain standard, so it is important not to accept the top spots uncritically and to choose based on your own goals.
An onsen ranking was an Edo-period print that ranked hot spring resorts in the style of sumo banzuke, and Koshoku Onsen Kounou Kagami is one well-known example. It ranked hot springs in East and West, and in a widely known edition, Kusatsu was placed in the East and Arima in the West as the de facto highest rank, Ozeki. However, rankings differed from edition to edition, so this cannot be stated universally.
Once you understand how to read a banzuke, you can decode the hot spring worldview of the time, including terms like Gyoji and Kanjinmoto. This culture of comparing and choosing hot springs continues directly into modern hot spring rankings. Both banzuke and rankings are simply choices made by someone according to a certain standard. Rather than focusing only on whether something is at the top, choosing a bath based on what you want is the first step to enjoying hot springs more deeply.