As I sank into the hot spring bath and lifted my gaze, I was breathless. Before me stretched the vast Pacific Ocean, blurring the boundary between the open-air bath and the sea, creating the illusion of floating on the ocean.

The comfort of the hot spring, combined with the visual splendor, creates an unparalleled synergy. The body is enveloped by the minerals of the spring, the eyes capture the stunning scenery, and the heart sinks into deep relaxation. It's a moment where all five senses are fulfilled. This is the allure of scenic hot springs.

Japan, a volcanic country, is also a treasure trove of natural beauty. Ocean, mountains, rivers, lakes—the beauty of each landscape is fused with hot springs. No other country in the world offers such a diverse array of scenic hot springs.

Ocean View Hot Springs: A Sense of Unity with the Sea

The first time I visited an ocean view hot spring was at a ryokan on the Izu Peninsula. The open-air bath, perched on a cliff about 50 meters above sea level, offered a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

Immersed in the bath, the only thing in sight was the sea. Sky, ocean, and hot spring—nothing else. The sound of waves gently resonated in my ears. In the distance, a lone ship slowly moved along.

I bathed during sunset. The sea and sky turned orange, and the sun sank below the horizon. Watching the sunset from the hot spring made it feel even more beautiful. The warmth of the spring and the beauty of the sunset intertwined, bringing tears to my eyes.

Japan's coastline is dotted with such ocean view hot springs. Particularly on the Izu Peninsula, Shirahama in the Kii Peninsula, the coastal areas of Shikoku, and the shores of Kyushu, there are many scenic hot springs overlooking the sea.

The Ultimate Infinity Hot Springs

Recently, more Japanese ryokans have been adopting the "infinity hot spring" design.

Based on the same principle as infinity pools, the edge of the bath overflows, visually erasing the boundary with the sea, making it appear as if the hot spring and ocean are one.

This design creates a visual illusion, offering a mysterious sense of unity as if you are part of the sea. It represents the pinnacle of modern Japanese hot spring culture, where technology and design merge.

Mountain Hot Springs: Embraced by Majestic Scenery

Mountain hot springs offer a different charm from the sea—grandeur, solemnity, and tranquility.

During my stay at Hakuba Hot Springs in Nagano Prefecture, I bathed in an open-air bath facing the Northern Alps. The sight of the 3,000-meter-class mountains was overwhelming.

It makes you realize the smallness of human existence. In front of these gigantic mountains, personal worries and problems seem insignificant. Mountain hot springs offer a different scale, broadening the mind's perspective.

Seasonal Gifts of Autumn Leaves and Fresh Greenery

The beauty of mountain hot springs lies in experiencing the changing seasons up close.

Spring brings fresh greenery. Newly sprouted yellow-green leaves cover the mountains, signaling the breath of life. While soaking in the hot spring, you witness the birth of new life.

Autumn brings vibrant foliage. The entire mountain turns red and yellow, a spectacle unique to Japan's autumn. An open-air bath surrounded by autumn leaves is one of the most cherished hot spring experiences for Japanese people.

Winter offers snowy landscapes. While I'll elaborate on this in a later section, the combination of a snowy world and hot springs is also exceptional.

Mountain hot springs are worth visiting in every season. Even the same hot spring offers completely different experiences as the seasons change.

Lakeside Hot Springs: A Special Seat Wrapped in Silence

Hot springs overlooking a lake have a unique tranquility. They lack the wildness of the sea and the grandeur of the mountains. They are calm, quiet, and meditative.

During my stay at a ryokan by Lake Towada, I entered the open-air bath early in the morning. The lake surface was as still as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the surrounding mountains. It was a complete silence, an otherworldly beauty.

Lakeside hot springs have a calming effect. Gazing at the tranquil water naturally quiets the mind's waves. It's an ideal environment for meditation.

Lake Ashi, Lake Biwa, Lake Towada

Japan is home to many beautiful lakes, and many of them have hot springs.

Lake Ashi in Hakone is a scenic spot with Mount Fuji as its backdrop. A hot spring where you can view both the lake and Mount Fuji is one of Japan's most luxurious experiences.

Lake Biwa is Japan's largest lake. A hot spring overlooking this vast lake offers a different scale. It feels like looking at the sea but without waves, making it quieter.

Lake Towada, a caldera lake, possesses a mysterious beauty. The deep blue lake surface and the surrounding beech virgin forest represent the pinnacle of Japan's natural beauty.

Gorge Hot Springs: Surrounded by Nature's Sculptural Beauty

Hot springs located in gorges are also among Japan's scenic hot springs.

Kurobe Gorge, Iya Valley, Tenryu Gorge. In these V-shaped cut gorges, hot springs bubble up. Steep cliffs, flowing rivers, deep greenery. Bathing in this wild landscape evokes a primal excitement.

Gorge hot springs are often hidden gems. They are difficult to access and remote from human settlements. As a result, the sense of unity with nature is exceptional.

Traveling through the gorge by trolley train, crossing suspension bridges, and walking rugged paths. Awaiting you is an open-air bath overlooking the gorge. The effort to reach it makes the view all the more valuable.

The Synergy of Visual and Thermal Effects: Scientific Backing

Why do scenic hot springs feel so good? There are scientific reasons behind it.

In addition to the physical relaxation effects of hot springs, viewing beautiful scenery releases happiness hormones like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Visual stimuli amplify the effects of the hot spring.

Moreover, natural scenery has a calming effect on the parasympathetic nervous system. Heart rate decreases, breathing deepens, and muscle tension eases. Combined with the blood circulation-promoting effects of hot springs, it creates the ultimate relaxation state.

In my experience, the "toto-noi" (a state of complete relaxation) at scenic hot springs is deeper than at regular hot springs. Simply bathing while gazing at the scenery allows you to enter a meditative state.

Changing Scenic Experiences by Time of Day

The charm of scenic hot springs changes with the time of day.

Morning: Greet the sunrise in the hot spring. The sky and sea turn orange. It's the best way to start the day.

Daytime: Enjoy vibrant scenery under the blue sky. The sea is deep blue, the mountains green, the lake clear. The view is clear, offering a distant vista.

Evening: Watch the sunset while soaking in the hot spring. This time of day is the most moving. The sky and sea glow golden.

Night: Gaze at the starry sky. In areas with little light pollution, a sky full of stars unfolds. The combination of hot springs and starry skies is another highlight of scenic hot springs.

If possible, stay at the same hot spring for 24 hours and bathe at all times of the day. Morning, noon, evening, night—each offers a completely different scenic experience.

Japanese Aesthetics and Scenic Hot Springs

The Japanese have long valued unity with nature as a virtue. Techniques like borrowed scenery in gardens and the abstract art of karesansui (dry landscape) all strive to incorporate nature's beauty.

Scenic hot springs are based on the same philosophy. Rather than artificially creating scenery, they maximize the existing natural beauty within the framework of a hot spring.

Even the design of an open-air bath is meticulously thought out—what angle to view the scenery from, how to harmonize with nature. It's a calculated "naturalness." This is the essence of Japan's scenic hot springs.

Scenic Hot Springs: Japan's Luxury

Scenic hot springs are a luxury Japan proudly offers to the world. Beautiful nature and abundant hot springs—places where these two perfectly merge are rare worldwide.

Soak in an open-air bath overlooking the sea, listening to the sound of waves. Gaze at mountains while wrapped in the warmth of the hot spring. Look at the tranquil lake surface and calm your mind. Feel a primal excitement in the wild landscape of a gorge.

If you visit Japan, you must experience scenic hot springs. It's not just about the hot springs or the scenery. It's a unique experience born from the fusion of the two.

Visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory senses—all are fulfilled in this moment. Scenic hot springs are one of the greatest pleasures humans can experience. Soaking in a hot spring while gazing at beautiful scenery—this simple act fills the heart so profoundly. Experiencing Japan's scenic hot springs will reveal why.