JAPAN'S FINEST ONSEN & SAUNA
The Finest Onsen & Sauna in Japan
57 SELECTIONS
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.
Oct 3–6, 2025 ／ 3 nights, 4 days
Hokuriku had always been an uncharted territory for me. I had gotten wind of the incredible saunas there, and my own research had confirmed just how remarkable they were. Yet between work on weekdays and the not-so-easy journey from Shikoku all the way to Hokuriku, I simply couldn't make it happen. The dilemma kept building until I could no longer suppress the urge to go. I was determined to get there before the cold set in. With that resolve, I took Friday and Monday off and secured a four-day weekend. In the end, I visited a total of seven facilities across Toyama and Ishikawa. Remarkably, five out of those seven featured cold plunge baths with water so pure you could drink straight from them — a true testament to the exceptional water quality of the region. Every sauna I encountered felt like a dream come true, the kind of place you imagine when you think of the perfect sauna experience. This journey left me utterly convinced: Hokuriku is a true sacred land for sauna lovers.
Every stop on this itinerary was visited in person by the Editor-in-Chief.
Read it in the order we travelled.
Ishikawa
Free-flowing Natural Hot Spring & Drinkable Cold Plunge Bath
