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.
Mar 19–22, 2026 ／ 3 nights, 4 days
I already knew that the saunas of Yamanashi and Nagano were incredibly hot — worthy of being called sacred sauna grounds. Thanks to the extraordinary natural water cycle centered around Mt. Fuji and the Northern and Southern Alps, pristine water wells up everywhere. Just thinking about sinking into those cold plunge baths sends a shiver of excitement down my spine. I also dreamed of sitting in a sauna while gazing out at Mt. Fuji — and I wanted that dream to come true. To fulfill that desire, the ultimate journey of a lifetime was about to begin. First, let me take you to Sauna Shikiji, home to what many consider Japan's finest cold plunge bath.
Every stop on this itinerary was visited in person by the Editor-in-Chief.
Read it in the order we travelled.
Yamanashi
A Sublime Cold Plunge Where Natural Water Meets Hot Spring
