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Onsen Areas in Japan

Explore famous and hidden hot spring towns across Japan. Find your perfect onsen destination through regional highlights and facility information.

93 onsen areas found

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Onsen Areas in Japan

Explore famous and hidden hot spring towns across Japan. Find your perfect onsen destination through regional highlights and facility information.

93 onsen areas found

Kumamoto Minamioguni Town
Kurokawa Onsen
Nestled in the remote mountains of Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kurokawa Onsen is one of Japan’s most popular onsen resorts. Under the concept of “the entire town is one inn,” its cohesive Japanese atmosphere blends beautifully with the abundant natural surroundings. Using the signature nyuto tegata bath pass, you can enjoy an onsen tour, soaking in the open-air baths of more than 30 inns, each with its own distinct character.
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Oita Yufu City
Yufuin Onsen
One of Japan’s most popular onsen resorts, spread across the foot of beautiful Mount Yufu. It is known for its abundant onsen water and gentle simple springs that are kind to the skin. Sophisticated high-end ryokan, stylish cafes, and galleries are scattered throughout the area, creating a wonderful harmony between tranquil countryside scenery and refined culture. The dreamlike view of Lake Kinrin shrouded in morning mist is a must-see.
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Oita Beppu City
Kannawa Onsen
One of Beppu’s eight onsen districts (Beppu Hatto), this atmospheric onsen area is famous for the sight of steam rising from all over town, a landscape designated an Important Cultural Landscape of Japan. It is also known as the base for the famous Hells of Beppu tour. You can experience a unique onsen culture here, including the traditional hell-steamed cuisine, which uses geothermal steam to cook ingredients, and mushiyu, a steam bath lined with medicinal herbs.
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Kagoshima Ibusuki City
Ibusuki Onsen
An onsen resort located at the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, famous for its sand baths, a rarity even in Japan. This bathing method uses the heat of onsen water rising along the coast to bury your body in warm sand, and is said to have strong detox and refreshing effects. Along with coastal scenery full of tropical atmosphere, you can enjoy an open, liberating bathing experience.
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Kagoshima Kirishima City
Kirishima Onsenkyo
The collective name for the onsen scattered across the southwestern slopes of the Kirishima mountain range in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, at elevations of 600–850 m. Nine onsen, large and small, make up the area, including Maruo, Hayashida and Iodani, and the waters vary from sulfur-bearing springs to simple springs. Inns line the streets of Maruo Onsen, the heart of the area, and steam rises from all over town. Iodani Onsen is also known as the place Sakamoto Ryoma and his wife visited on their honeymoon, and in the clear mountain air you can enjoy going from onsen to onsen.
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Saga Takeo City
Takeo Onsen
A renowned onsen with a history of more than 1,200 years, said to have been visited by historical figures such as Miyamoto Musashi and Date Masamune. Its gently alkaline, soft water is excellent for retaining heat. The vivid vermilion tower gate, or romon, designed by Kingo Tatsuno, the architect of Tokyo Station, is the symbol of the area, and lets visitors appreciate the beauty of traditional Japanese architecture. In recent years, the exhibitions by the world-famous art collective teamLab, held at nearby Mifuneyama Rakuen, have become explosively popular among inbound visitors, making this a one-of-a-kind onsen destination where history, cutting-edge art, and onsen come together.
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Fukuoka Asakura City
Harazuru Onsen
The largest onsen resort in Fukuoka Prefecture, boasting the highest volume of spring water in the prefecture, bubbling up along the banks of the Chikugo River, one of Kyushu’s largest rivers. Famous as the “W” beauty bath, it combines two types of spring water: alkaline simple spring and simple sulfur spring, leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturized. With plenty of activities that let visitors experience the nostalgic atmosphere of Japan’s old waterside towns, such as watching traditional ukai cormorant fishing from a roofed boat in summer and autumn, this onsen resort strongly appeals to international travelers who want to experience Japanese traditional culture.
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Ehime Matsuyama City
Dogo Onsen
A celebrated onsen said to be the oldest in Japan, with a history of about 3000 years and even mentioned in the Nihon Shoki. Its symbol, the Important Cultural Property Dogo Onsen Honkan, is also said to have been one of the models for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s film Spirited Away, and it enjoys overwhelming popularity and recognition among international visitors. It is also famous as the setting of Natsume Soseki’s novel Botchan, and its atmospheric onsen town where you can stroll around in a yukata, along with its skin-friendly alkaline simple spring water, continue to fascinate travelers from around the world seeking a traditional onsen experience unique to Japan. It is Shikoku’s leading international onsen resort.
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Kagawa Kotohira Town, Nakatado District
Konpira Onsenkyo
This onsen area spreads through the shrine town at the foot of Kotohira-gu Shrine, often described as a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. For international visitors, the story of climbing the historic stone steps, which number 1,368, to worship at the shrine and then soothing the fatigue in their legs and lower back in the onsen makes for a highly appealing and easy-to-understand Japanese travel experience. Nearby are attractions such as the still-standing oldest kabuki theater in Japan, the Former Konpira Grand Kabuki Theatre (Kanamaruza), making this an exceptional destination where visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese culture, Sanuki udon, and excellent onsen all together.
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Tokushima Miyoshi City
Iya Onsen
Shikoku’s quintessential hidden onsen, located in Iya, one of Japan’s three most secluded regions. It was the only Japanese destination selected by the U.S. travel magazine Travel + Leisure for its list of the 50 Places to Visit, and in recent years it has seen explosive popularity among international travelers. Access to the open-air bath along the mountain stream is by a dedicated cable car that descends about 250 m down a steep V-shaped gorge cliff, creating an overwhelming sense of escape from the ordinary and stirring a strong spirit of adventure that you simply cannot experience elsewhere. With alkaline water fed straight from the source, never recirculated, in which white mineral flakes drift, and a hidden-valley experience that preserves Japan’s original landscapes such as the kazura bridge, this world-class onsen resort strongly captivates travelers from overseas.
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Hiroshima Hatsukaichi City
Miyahama Onsen
The onsen area closest to the World Heritage site of Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine). With a superb location overlooking Miyajima across the calm Seto Inland Sea (Ōno Seto), it is an ideal base for exploring Miyajima and is overwhelmingly popular with international travelers. Many places feature spectacular rooftop open-air baths where you can feel at one with the sea, and while admiring the sunrise over Miyajima and beautiful sunsets, you can soothe the fatigue of your journey in natural onsen waters containing radon that leave your skin glowing. It is an onsen destination that offers the perfect combination foreign travelers seek: World Heritage sightseeing plus a spectacular ocean-view onsen.
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Tottori Yonago City
Kaike Onsen
A beautiful seaside onsen resort stretching along Yumigahama Beach, a scenic coastline of white sand and green pines facing the Sea of Japan, and one of the premier resort areas in the San’in region. Its standout feature is a superb location with the vast ocean in front and the famous Mt. Daisen behind it. The abundant chloride spring water that wells up from beneath the sea is highly moisturizing, and soaking in an open-air bath while listening to the sound of the waves is pure bliss. It is also extremely easy to access from Yonago Airport, and with international flights now operating, it serves as a gateway for international visitors, making this onsen destination a perfect blend of convenience and resort appeal.
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Wakayama Shirahama Town
Shirahama Onsen
Along with Arima and Dogo, this premier Kansai onsen resort has a history of over 1300 years as one of the Three Ancient Onsen of Japan. Saki no Yu, a natural open-air bath built on rocks where the rough waves of the vast Pacific crash against the shore, offers an overwhelming sense of openness as if you were becoming one with the sea, and is hugely popular with international visitors as well. It is one of Japan’s most iconic ocean-view onsen destinations, combining resort areas such as the beautiful white-sand Shirarahama beach with a historic, celebrated onsen that even appears in the Nihon Shoki.
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Wakayama Nachikatsuura Town
Katsuura Onsen
An onsen resort with one of the largest volumes of onsen water in the prefecture, thriving as a base for sightseeing to the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo and Nachi Falls. With many onsen that make the most of the spectacular ria coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, its signature attraction is the grand cave bath Bokidō, where onsen water wells up inside a giant natural cave. Its immense scale delivers an overwhelming experience found nowhere else. It is also home to Katsuura Port, which boasts Japan’s No. 1 landing volume of fresh, never-frozen tuna, making this an onsen resort with everything foreign visitors love: World Heritage sightseeing, an astonishing cave bath, and top-quality seafood.
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Hyogo Kobe City
Arima Onsen
A refined retreat in Kansai that appears even in the Nihon Shoki and is counted among Japan’s three oldest onsen as well as Japan’s three great onsen. It is a historic onsen beloved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its biggest distinction is that you can enjoy two completely different types of spring water at the same time: Kinsen, rich in iron and salt and turning a cloudy reddish-brown as it meets the air, and Ginsen, which contains carbon dioxide and radium and is colorless, clear, and gentle on the skin. With excellent access from Osaka and Kyoto, it has become one of the most compelling onsen destinations in the Kansai area for inbound visitors seeking the atmosphere of a traditional onsen town and authentic onsen culture.
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Hyogo Sumoto City
Sumoto Onsen
Spanning the eastern coast of Awaji Island, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, this is the island’s largest onsen resort area. Its appeal lies in the historic townscape that once flourished as the castle town of Sumoto Castle, along with expansive ocean views overlooking the Kitan Strait. Many of the hotels and inns along the seafront feature spectacular open-air baths that seem to blend into the sea and sky. You can also savor Awaji Island’s fresh seafood, the world-renowned brand beef known as Awaji Beef, and premium local specialties such as sweet and delicious Awaji onions, making it highly popular with international visitors who love scenic views and great food.
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Hokkaido Hakodate City
Yunokawa Onsen
One of Hokkaido’s three great onsen resorts, with the best access of any onsen in Japan, just 5 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport. Located along the coast, it offers ocean views of the Tsugaru Strait and spectacular night scenes of squid-fishing boats lit by fishing fires. It pairs especially well with sightseeing in Hakodate, including the night view and gourmet seafood, and the tropical botanical garden’s monkeys soaking in the onsen are also popular with visitors from overseas.
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Hokkaido Noboribetsu City
Noboribetsu Onsen
One of Japan’s most celebrated onsen towns, often called the place to go when people think of onsen in Hokkaido. The spectacular Jigokudani, billowing white steam, leaves an overwhelming impression on foreign visitors as well. Known as a “department store of onsen,” where 9 different types of spring water gush forth, it is a world-class destination where you can feel the Earth’s energy and enjoy an exceptional onsen experience at the same time.
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Hokkaido Sapporo City
Jozankei Onsen
Known as Sapporo’s secluded retreat, it is remarkably easy to reach, about an hour’s drive from central Sapporo. Surrounded by the rich forests and valleys of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it offers seasonal natural beauty throughout the year, including the autumn foliage and winter snowscapes. It makes it easy to combine sightseeing in the city with a true onsen resort stay, and it is hugely popular with international travelers.
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Hokkaido Niseko Town
Niseko Onsenkyo
A cluster of onsen in an international resort area that draws skiers in search of the world’s finest powder snow. Soaking in an onsen while gazing at the snowy landscape after a full day of winter sports is the ultimate luxury for international visitors. It is a one-of-a-kind onsen destination where cosmopolitan resort culture and Japanese onsen culture blend together.
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Hokkaido Toyako Town
Toyako Onsen
An onsen resort spread along the shore of a beautiful caldera lake. The contrast between the terrain shaped by active volcanoes such as Mount Usu and the tranquil lake is truly spectacular. The “Toyako Long-Run Fireworks Festival,” held every night from spring through autumn, strongly attracts visitors from overseas as an extraordinary experience where fireworks can be enjoyed from open-air baths and guest rooms.
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Mie Komono Town
Yunoyama Onsen
An onsen resort with a history of about 1,300 years since it first opened, nestled at the foot of Mt. Gozaisho, the main peak of the Suzuka Mountains. An elegant onsen town surrounded by rich, untouched nature, it has long been beloved by many writers and artists. The colorless, transparent radium spring known as a beauty bath is gentle on the skin and has a smooth, silky texture. By taking the Gozaisho Ropeway, you can get up close to spectacular seasonal scenery throughout the year—from spring azaleas, to cool summer air, autumn foliage, and winter frost-covered trees—making this a famed onsen where sightseeing and relaxation can be enjoyed at the same time.
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Aichi Minamichita Town
Minamichita Onsenkyo
A seaside onsen resort that stretches across the southern tip of the Chita Peninsula and represents Aichi Prefecture. Onsen inns are scattered along the coast facing Ise Bay, and bathing while admiring the spectacular view of the setting sun turning the sea red is a truly exceptional experience. It is also easily accessible from Nagoya and Chubu Centrair International Airport, making it a popular upscale beach resort where international travelers seeking fresh seafood and onsen can easily stop by.
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Aichi Gamagori City
Nishiura Onsen
An onsen resort at the tip of the Nishiura Peninsula, which juts out into Mikawa Bay, where large ryokan line the heights rising from the shore. Its greatest appeal is the spectacular 360-degree view of Mikawa Bay, and it boasts scenic beauty that was also loved by poets of the Manyoshu era. Many upscale inns offer an ocean view from every room, or rooms with their own open-air bath, making it an extremely compelling onsen destination for overseas travelers seeking a high-quality stay while enjoying a panorama of the sea and sky.
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Shizuoka Atami City
Atami Onsen
One of Japan’s premier onsen resorts, boasting excellent access—as little as about 40 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen. Its greatest attractions are the spectacular open-air baths with ocean views overlooking Sagami Bay, and the seaside fireworks displays held regularly throughout the year. Thanks to the convenience of being able to enjoy the sea, onsen and Japan’s fireworks culture all at once, it has become hugely popular with international travelers in recent years.
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Shizuoka Izu City
Shuzenji Onsen
Also known as the Little Kyoto of Izu, this famous onsen has a history of over 1,200 years, making it the oldest on the Izu Peninsula. With the atmospheric Bamboo Grove Path, which earned two stars in the Michelin Green Guide, and wooden inns designated as Important Cultural Properties, this onsen town is rich in the enduring beauty of old Japan. It is a highly compelling destination for foreign visitors from Europe, North America, and beyond who are seeking the atmosphere of the quintessential Japanese onsen town, wrapped in tranquility.
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Shizuoka Higashiizu Town
Inatori Onsen
An onsen resort on a cape jutting out from the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula, Inatori is known for the many inns with infinity open-air baths that seem to merge with the vast ocean. Spectacular ocean views of the Izu Seven Islands floating on the sea and the beautiful sunrise over the Sagami Sea are especially popular with foreign travelers seeking an extraordinary experience. It is also a resort packed with unique attractions, including superb seafood such as the richly flavored simmered whole kinmedai, a premium fish caught at Inatori Fishing Port, and hina no tsurushi-kazari, the traditional hanging doll decorations that brighten early spring.
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Shizuoka Ito City
Ito Onsen
An onsen resort boasting one of the largest spring outputs in Japan, with an abundant flow of about 30,000 liters per minute. It features historic wooden ryokan, such as Tokaikan, that preserve the nostalgic atmosphere of the Taisho and Showa eras, allowing visitors to enjoy the retro beauty of traditional Japanese architecture. In a warm climate, this well-rounded onsen resort lets you fully enjoy fresh seafood from the Sagami Sea, marine activities such as diving, and authentic onsen all in one trip.
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Gifu Gero City
Gero Onsen
One of Japan’s great onsen, counted alongside Kusatsu and Arima as one of Japan’s three most celebrated onsen. Its colorless, crystal-clear, silky alkaline simple spring is highly praised as a beauty bath for the skin. The charming onsen town stretching along the Hida River is dotted with free foot baths, and strolling while sampling local gourmet treats such as Hida beef is also a highlight. Easy to pair with Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go on the Shoryudo, a golden route for international visitors, Gero is hugely popular with travelers from overseas seeking the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese onsen town.
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Gifu Gifu City
Nagaragawa Onsen
Ryokan line the banks of the clear Nagara River in this onsen town, with superb views of Mt. Kinka and Gifu Castle. It is characterized by a cloudy, iron-rich bath that turns reddish brown when exposed to air. Its biggest highlight is ukai, the traditional cormorant fishing of the Nagara River, with a history of about 1,300 years. In recent years, premium lodging experiences combining ukai viewing from a luxury private boat with French gastronomy have been offered, drawing strong interest from affluent international travelers seeking authentic traditional culture and a luxurious stay. Easy access is also a major attraction, with Nagoya about 30 to 40 minutes away by car or train.
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Gifu Takayama City
Hida Takayama Onsen
Also known as the “Little Kyoto of Hida,” this onsen rises within Takayama, a city hugely popular with international visitors. You can seamlessly combine a relaxing onsen stay with experiences of Japanese culture, such as strolling through the Historic Old Town that preserves the atmosphere of the Edo period, visiting the Miyagawa Morning Market, and savoring exquisite Hida beef cuisine. It also serves as an excellent base for sightseeing in Shirakawa-go, making it an indispensable destination for foreign travelers who want to experience Japan’s history, culture, food, and onsen all at once.
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Yamanashi Fujikawaguchiko Town
Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen
A highly renowned onsen resort spread along the beautiful shores of Lake Kawaguchi at the foot of Mount Fuji, the iconic symbol that Japan proudly shares with the world. For international travelers, the experience of soaking in an onsen while gazing at Mount Fuji is one of the ultimate goals of sightseeing in Japan, and the area is lined with luxury ryokan and resort hotels where every room looks out on spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the lake. With the overwhelming scenery of Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perfectly blended with Japan’s onsen culture, it is Japan’s most international and compelling onsen destination.
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Yamanashi Fuefuki City
Isawa Onsen
An onsen resort in the heart of the Kofu Basin, with one of the most abundant flows of onsen water in the prefecture, at 2,000 liters per minute. In addition to its excellent access, about 90 minutes by limited express from Shinjuku, it is also very conveniently located as a base for sightseeing around Mt. Fuji. Because visitors can combine onsen with unique experiences such as fruit picking for Yamanashi peaches and grapes, which are produced in the largest quantities in Japan, and winery tours, it has recently been attracting a great deal of attention from international travelers seeking Japan’s diverse food culture and resort experiences.
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Nagano Yamanouchi Town
Yudanaka Shibu Onsenkyo
This onsen area keeps a nostalgic atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time, with historic wooden onsen inns lining its stone-paved alleys. Overnight guests receive a special key to make the round of the nine public baths, a tradition called kyuto meguri, a bathing pilgrimage to ward off misfortune. It also lies at the foot of Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, where wild monkeys bathe in the onsen and travelers from all over the world come to see the Snow Monkeys, which has made it a leading international destination as the base for visiting them.
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Fukui Awara City
Awara Onsen
Known as “Kansai’s secluded retreat,” this is one of Fukui Prefecture’s leading onsen resorts, with more than 140 years of history. It has 74 separate sources, and because each ryokan has its own source, guests can enjoy subtly different spring water at each inn. With the 2024 extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, access from the Tokyo metropolitan area has improved dramatically, and it is highly praised by international travelers who want to spend an evening the way locals do, such as experiencing traditional Japanese geisha (geigi) culture and mingling with locals at the retro, steam-filled Yukemuri Yokocho.
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Ishikawa Kaga City
Yamanaka Onsen
One of the Kaga Onsen Resorts, this renowned onsen boasts a history spanning 1,300 years since its opening. It is known for the scenic beauty of the Kakusenkei Gorge, which was praised by Matsuo Basho, and for its atmospheric onsen town, where traditional crafts such as Yamanaka lacquerware are still alive. Its landscape, which beautifully blends rich nature and traditional culture, has been praised by foreign influencers as one of the most beautiful onsen towns in Japan, drawing visitors from around the world.
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Ishikawa Kaga City
Yamashiro Onsen
An onsen town that serves as the heart of Kaga Onsen, where the traditional Hokuriku streetscape known as Yunogawa, centered around the communal bath Soyu, remains vividly preserved. With a history cherished by many cultural figures such as Rosanjin Kitaoji, it is also deeply rooted in artistic culture, including Kutani ware. It is highly regarded by culturally minded international travelers seeking authentic Japanese history and art, as well as onsen that leave the skin feeling smooth and beautiful.
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Ishikawa Nanao City
Wakura Onsen
With a history dating back 1,200 years, this is one of Japan’s rare onsen that rise from the sea. Set in an ideal location overlooking the calm waters of Nanao Bay and Notojima, it is lined with some of Japan’s finest traditional ryokan. Known for its abundant mineral-rich waters with a high salt content, as well as Noto’s bountiful seafood and Japan’s highest level of omotenashi, it has become a dream destination for affluent travelers from overseas seeking a luxurious stay.
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Ishikawa Kaga City
Katayamazu Onsen
The newest onsen destination in Kaga Onsen Village, this modern resort onsen spreads along the shores of the magnificent Shibayama Lagoon. Its appeal lies in the breathtaking view of the Hakusan mountain range across the lake and the beautiful surface of Shibayama Lagoon, said to change color seven times a day. Contemporary art elements are also incorporated, including the modern Machiyu, the town’s public bathhouse, designed by a world-renowned architect. With the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, this destination is attracting growing attention from international travelers who want to experience a fusion of Japan’s traditional onsen culture and a modern resort stay.
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Niigata Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma District
Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen
An onsen destination world-renowned as the setting of Snow Country, the novel by Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata. It boasts excellent access, just a short walk from Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen, and the surrounding area is dotted with numerous ski resorts. After enjoying top-quality powder snow, visitors can relax in an open-air bath with a view of the snow and savor Niigata’s exceptional sake and gourmet cuisine, making it an international snow resort and spa hub that attracts many international travelers from Asia, Europe, and North America, especially in winter.
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Niigata Myoko City
Akakura Onsen
The oldest onsen town in the Myoko Kogen Onsen area, with a history of more than 200 years since it first opened, bubbling up at the foot of Mount Myoko, one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains. Its plentiful water combines two spring types, sulfate and bicarbonate, and is known as a bath for beautiful skin. The Myoko area, including the adjacent Akakura Onsen Ski Resort, boasts world-class heavy snowfall and exceptional powder snow (JAPOW), and as an international snow resort it draws visitors from around the world, with a fervent following among skiers from Australia, Europe, and North America.
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Niigata Shibata City
Tsukioka Onsen
Founded in the Taisho era, this is the largest onsen town in Niigata Prefecture. Its biggest hallmark is the vivid emerald-green color of the water, so striking it is often mistaken for bath additives. It is one of Japan’s most sulfur-rich onsen and is hugely popular with women as “the bath that makes you even more beautiful.” In this onsen town, where the scent of sulfur lingers in the air, there are plenty of spots for strolling and sampling local food, sake from Niigata, and regional specialties. It is also highly regarded by international visitors seeking the nostalgic atmosphere of a classic Japanese onsen town and a stay at high-quality Japanese-style ryokan.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Hakone Yumoto Onsen
The gateway to the Hakone onsen area, and the oldest area in Hakone, said to have first opened in the Nara period. Its appeal lies in the convenience of direct access from Shinjuku by Romancecar, and it is also the starting station of the Hakone Tozan Railway. In front of the station, countless souvenir shops and eateries line the streets, and a wide range of places are concentrated here, from day-use onsen bathhouses to long-established large ryokan. As the starting point for sightseeing around Hakone, including Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, it is one of the busiest and most popular hubs for international visitors.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Hakone Gora Onsen
A refined onsen area located at the terminus of the Hakone Tozan Railway, developed from the Meiji era onward as a villa district for political and business elites as well as literary figures. Even within Hakone, it is especially known for its concentration of luxury ryokan and upscale resort hotels, and for the chance to enjoy five different types of spring water, known as the Five-Color Pastel Onsen. It also offers excellent access to places such as Gora Park, a French-style formal garden, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum, making it extremely popular among affluent travelers from overseas and couples seeking a calm, high-quality stay.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Hakone Miyanoshita Onsen
An onsen area with a retro-modern charm that developed from the Meiji era as a summer retreat and resort for foreigners. Around Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, there are antique shops and cafes scattered throughout the area, evoking a sepia-toned sense of history. With historic classic hotels that have long been loved by overseas dignitaries and celebrities, its uniquely nostalgic atmosphere, where Japanese tradition and Western culture blend beautifully, has earned high praise from international travelers, especially from Europe and North America.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Hakone Kowakidani Onsen
An entertainment-rich onsen destination home to large-scale onsen theme parks and resort hotels, including Hakone Kowakien. What was once a barren area known as Kojigoku has been developed since the Meiji era and is also famous for the natural beauty of every season, including cherry blossoms, azaleas, and autumn foliage. Because it offers a wide range of facilities where visitors can enjoy Japanese onsen culture, it is a very approachable and appealing destination for foreign families and group travelers who are not yet familiar with onsen.
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Gunma Kusatsu Town
Kusatsu Onsen
A celebrated onsen renowned as one of Japan’s finest, it has long ranked No. 1 in the “Top 100 Onsen in Japan”. From the dramatic steam rising over Yubatake in the heart of the onsen town to traditional yumomi performances, it perfectly embodies the quintessential Japanese onsen that visitors from abroad imagine. It is also known for its highly acidic water with powerful antibacterial properties, and with dreamlike evening illuminations and street-food strolls, it blends entertainment with authentic onsen culture and is hugely popular with international travelers.
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Gunma Minakami Town
Minakami Onsenkyo
A major onsen area that collectively refers to the 18 onsen destinations scattered throughout Minakami Town, including Minakami Onsen, Tanigawa Onsen, Sarugakyo Onsen, and others. A wide variety of onsen inns line the foot of Mount Tanigawa and the areas around the Tone River and Akaya Lake. In winter, it is known as a powder snow ski resort, and in summer as a mecca for rafting and canyoning. Because visitors can experience top-class onsen and world-class outdoor activities together, it is hugely popular with active travelers from Europe, North America, and Oceania who are drawn to adventure tourism.
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Tochigi Nikko City
Kinugawa Onsen
One of the Kanto region’s leading large-scale onsen resorts, this onsen area features large ryokan and hotels lined up overlooking the magnificent Kinugawa Gorge. Also known as “Tokyo’s secluded retreat,” its appeal lies in the convenience of direct access from central Tokyo via Tobu Railway limited express trains, including the Spacia X. With a history dating back to its discovery in the Edo period, it is known for its alkaline, skin-friendly waters. As a base for sightseeing routes combining Nikko attractions such as the World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, it has become an international tourist destination where a very large number of international visitors stay overnight.
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Tochigi Nasu Town
Nasu Onsenkyo
A vast highland onsen resort spread across the foothills of Mount Chausu, originating from Shika no Yu, the oldest onsen in Tochigi Prefecture, first opened more than 1,300 years ago. In an elegant area also known for its Imperial villa, you can enjoy a wide range of onsen stays, from historic communal baths in wooden buildings to secluded onsen deep in nature and modern resort hotels. It is ideal for hiking to historic scenic spots such as Sessho-seki and through the rich natural surroundings, and is attracting attention as a destination that combines Japanese tradition with the refined atmosphere of a highland resort.
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Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu City
Higashiyama Onsen
Known as Aizu’s secluded retreat, this is a representative onsen resort in Fukushima Prefecture with a history spanning 1,300 years since its discovery. It has been loved by many cultural figures, including Yumeji Takehisa and Akiko Yosano. The scenery of historic wooden ryokan lining the riverside is deeply atmospheric, and it is also close to Aizu’s historic sightseeing spots such as Tsuruga Castle and Ouchijuku. Because visitors can experience the traditional culture of Samurai City Aizu together with an authentic onsen atmosphere, it has become extremely popular among international travelers with a strong interest in Japan’s deep history and culture.
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Yamagata Yamagata City
Zao Onsen
Zao Onsen, a famous onsen at the foot of the Zao mountain range, one of the largest mountain resorts in Tohoku, has a history of some 1,900 years. It is known for its strongly acidic sulfur spring and is celebrated as a beauty onsen that leaves the skin white and smooth. In winter, visitors can see juhyo, the “snow monsters,” a natural work of art that is rare worldwide, and enjoy superb powder snow at a vast ski resort together with authentic onsen, which has made it hugely popular with foreign visitors who love winter sports.
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Miyagi Sendai City
Akiu Onsen
Ranked as one of the “Three Great Onsen of Oshu,” this historic onsen was also cherished by Date Masamune. Its greatest appeal is its outstanding accessibility, about a 30 to 40 minute drive from central Sendai. Surrounded by magnificent natural scenery such as the scenic Rai Rai Gorge and Akiu Great Falls, one of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls, the area is lined with large luxury hotels and ryokan boasting lavish dining and extensive facilities. Because it makes it easy to combine urban sightseeing in Sendai with a high-quality onsen resort stay in nature, it is extremely popular among inbound travelers seeking convenience and comfort.
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Miyagi Osaki City
Naruko Onsenkyo
One of the Three Great Onsen of Oshu, this major onsen area is made up of five bathing destinations: Naruko, Higashi-Naruko, Kawatabi, Nakayamadaira, and Onikobe. It boasts an exceptionally rare diversity of spring types, with 9 of the 11 types in Japan’s former classification, allowing visitors to truly make their way around its baths. It is also world-famous as the production area of Naruko kokeshi, one of Japan’s representative traditional crafts, and it is popular with discerning international travelers who want to experience deep local Japanese culture and history through kokeshi painting and leisurely strolls through nostalgic onsen towns.
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Miyagi Matsushima Town
Matsushima Onsen
A resort onsen area in Matsushima, one of Japan’s Three Great Scenic Views and a world-renowned scenic destination. The breathtaking views created by more than 260 islands floating in Matsushima Bay have long captivated literary figures such as Matsuo Basho, and in recent years new inns have opened where guests can soak in natural onsen water while taking in the spectacular seaside scenery. Combined with pleasure-boat cruises and historical attractions such as the National Treasure Zuiganji Temple, it has become an international hub that is hugely popular with travelers from Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America, as visitors can fully enjoy the beautiful sunrise and moonlight over Matsushima Bay from the onsen.
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Iwate Hanamaki City
Hanamaki Onsenkyo
Set against the backdrop of Ihatov, the ideal world cherished by Kenji Miyazawa, this is the collective name for 12 onsen areas, including Hanamaki, Osawa, and Namari Onsen, that bubble up along a river flowing through a quiet mountain valley. From the famed standing baths and historic therapeutic inns with a secluded-onsen atmosphere to modern large hotels with expansive rose gardens, a wide variety of onsen stays are available. It enjoys overwhelming popularity among travelers from Asia, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, and is one of Iwate Prefecture’s leading destinations for international travelers, where visitors can experience Japan’s traditional onsen atmosphere along with the rich nature and food culture of Tohoku.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Lake Ashi and Motohakone Onsen
An onsen area spread along the shores of Lake Ashi. The view of Mount Fuji across the lake is known as one of the iconic scenes of Hakone, and the “Peace Torii” of Hakone Shrine standing in the water is a famous photo spot visited by travelers from around the world. Highlights such as the ruins of Hakone Checkpoint, sightseeing boats on Lake Ashi, and the Komagatake Ropeway are all concentrated along the lakeshore, making this area an easy and convenient base for sightseeing around the region. Many inns here offer rooms and open-air baths with views of the lake, making a soak while gazing at the lake surface as it changes from morning mist to evening glow a luxurious pleasure unique to this place.
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District
Hakone Sengokuhara Onsen
An onsen resort area opened up on a high plateau in the northwest of Hakone. Many inns here have milky white baths drawn from Owakudani, offering a different bathing experience from other areas that are centered on clear water. In autumn, the golden Sengokuhara pampas grass field spreads across the landscape, attracting travelers in search of seasonal scenery unique to Japan. Cultural institutions such as the Pola Museum of Art, the Hakone Lalique Museum, and the Hakone Wetland Flower Garden are scattered throughout the area, and the quiet atmosphere of a villa district is part of its charm. It is an area travelers choose for a calm stay, away from the bustle.
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Akita Senboku City
Nyuto Onsenkyo
An onsen village made up of seven inns, embraced by the primeval beech forests of Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Akita Prefecture. Each inn has its own source and its own type of spring water, so in a single stay you can make your way around everything from milky-white sulfur springs to colorless, clear bicarbonate springs. In winter, it is cut off by deep snow and is known as the epitome of Japan’s hidden onsen.
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Tochigi Nikko City
Okunikko Yumoto Onsen
An onsen town said to date back to the Nara period, where sulfur springs rise in the innermost reaches of Nikko National Park. The source wells up on the shore of Lake Yunoko, and the originally colorless, clear water takes on a milky-white or greenish hue as it comes into contact with the air. Located on a plateau at an elevation of 1,500 meters, it is also known as a base for excursions to Senjogahara and Yudaki Falls.
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Nagano Azumino City
Hotaka Onsenkyo
An onsen resort where inns scattered among the red pine forests of Azumino share onsen water drawn from the Nakabusa Valley, the trailhead for the Northern Alps. The alkaline waters are known for their soft feel and are called beauty baths. It is a quiet highland retreat with views of the peaks of the Northern Alps, including Mount Jonen.
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Iwate Shizukuishi Town
Amihari Onsen
An onsen area with sulfur springs that rise on the southern foothills of Mount Iwate, within Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The source spring is located about 2 kilometers away in the mountains, and the water is piped from there. With multiple baths, including open-air baths set along the stream, the highlight is being able to enjoy bath-hopping. In winter, it also serves as a base for the ski resort.
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Gunma Tsumagoi Village
Kazawa Onsen
A therapeutic onsen village in Gunma with a thousand-year history, whose founding legend tells of an injured deer soaking in its waters. It draws water from a source upstream on the Yujiri River. Located on a plateau at an elevation of 1,400 meters, it is also known as the place where the famous song Yukiyama Sanka was born.
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Tochigi Nasushiobara City
Shiobara Onsenkyo
An onsen village in Tochigi with a 1,200-year history, where eleven onsen sources are scattered along the gorge of the Hoki River. Within just a few kilometers, six different types of spring water emerge, and the color of the baths also varies from inn to inn, from milky white to brown. Suspension bridges spanning the gorge and famous autumn foliage spots line the area, making this a mountain onsen retreat where you can make your way around the baths and enjoy strolls as well.
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Hokkaido Chitose City
Shikotsuko Onsen
An onsen area in Hokkaido whose waters rise on the shore of Lake Shikotsu, Japan’s northernmost lake that never freezes. Surrounded by the primeval forest of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, its iron-rich waters turn a pale brown when exposed to the air. From the inns standing on the lakeshore, you can view Mount Eniwa and Mount Fuppushi, and in winter the lights of the Hyoto Festival decorate the lakeside.
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Tottori Misasa Town, Tohaku District
Misasa Onsen
An onsen area in Tottori that first opened more than 850 years ago, where radioactive springs boasting one of the world’s highest radon concentrations gush forth. Along the banks of the Mitoku River, there is a naturally flowing open-air bath, and the riverside is lined with three-story wooden inns, creating an atmospheric onsen town. It is a place where the medicinal bathing culture unique to radium springs still lives on today.
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Niigata Murakami City
Senami Onsen
A seaside onsen town in Murakami, Niigata, known for its sunsets over the Sea of Japan. It began with a high-temperature spring that gushed out during oil drilling in the Meiji era, and it still boasts an abundant flow of onsen water today. From the baths at inns facing the sea, you can gaze out at the sun setting on the horizon and Sado Island, while enjoying the seafood of the Sea of Japan.
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Gifu Ena City
Enakyo Onsen
An onsen resort in Gifu overlooking Enakyo, a scenic area shaped by the Kiso River. From the baths, you can take in the striking rock formations rising above the dam lake, while spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage shimmer on the water’s surface. It also serves as a starting point for the post towns of the Nakasendo and the mountain ranges of the Central Alps, offering a location where you can enjoy the onsen alongside the beauty of the valley.
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Kumamoto Minamiaso Village
Minamiaso Onsenkyo
A collective name for the Kumamoto onsen that rise in Nangodani, embraced by the outer rim mountains of Aso. In this village of fields and springs spread across the floor of one of the world’s largest calderas, the type of onsen water differs from inn to inn. Many open-air baths overlook the Five Peaks of Aso, and it also serves as a base for visiting springs such as Shirakawa Spring, selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Waters.
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Chiba Tateyama City
Tateyama Onsen
An onsen resort at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, overlooking Tateyama Bay in Chiba. Located in southern Boso, where the climate stays mild even in winter thanks to the Kuroshio Current, each inn has its own distinct source. From hillside inns with ocean views to secluded inns set in restored old houses, the atmosphere varies widely, and you can enjoy the onsen along with local seafood caught right in front of you. It is a seaside onsen area you can reach in about two hours from central Tokyo.
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Toyama Kurobe City
Unazuki Onsen
An onsen area in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, at the gateway to Kurobe Gorge. It was developed in the Taisho era by bringing onsen water from Kuronagi Onsen upstream through the mountains. The colorless, clear, slightly alkaline simple spring has a smooth feel and boasts some of the highest clarity in the prefecture. It is the starting point of the narrow-gauge torokko train that runs through the gorge, and has long been beloved as a base for journeys to the deep mountain wilderness.
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Aichi Kota Town
Gamagori Onsen
An onsen area in Aichi Prefecture, on high ground overlooking Mikawa Bay. Inns are also scattered on the Kota Town side, a little way into the mountains from Gamagori city center, and the elevated location makes it possible to enjoy panoramic views of Mikawa Bay and the night scenery. The alkaline water has a soft feel on the skin, and because it leaves your skin smooth after bathing, it is affectionately known as the Bihaku-sen, the “skin-brightening spring”.
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Gifu Takayama City
Okuhida Onsengo
A collective name for five onsen areas nestled in the embrace of the Northern Alps in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio, and Shin-Hotaka are scattered along the valley, each with its own distinct water and scenery. It is one of the country’s leading destinations for open-air baths, and thanks to its high-elevation setting, many baths offer views of the Hotaka mountain ridgeline. In winter, it is well known as a place to enjoy baths while admiring the snow.
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Hokkaido Kushiro City
Akan-ko Onsen
An onsen town developed along the shores of Lake Akan in Akan-Mashu National Park, Kushiro, Hokkaido. Inns line the shore of this lake famous for its marimo, and from the baths you can look out over the lake surface and Mount Oakan. A kotan where Ainu people live adjoins the area, and the chance to experience wood carving and traditional dance is unique to this place. In winter, fireworks and ice events are held on the frozen lake.
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Hokkaido Higashikawa Town
Asahidake Onsen
An onsen area in the heart of Daisetsuzan National Park, in Higashikawa Town, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido. Inns are scattered across the highlands near the trailhead for Mount Asahidake, Hokkaido’s highest peak, and each inn offers a different bath experience, from crystal-clear water to cloudy water rich in iron. It is a place with wide seasonal contrasts, from alpine plants in summer to Japan’s earliest autumn colors in fall, and dry powder snow in winter.
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Yamagata Tsuruoka City
Atsumi Onsen
An onsen resort that has been drawing its waters for about 1,000 years, tucked into the mountains of the Shonai region in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, not far from the Sea of Japan. Inns line both banks of the Atsumi River, and as you walk along the riverside, the steam and sound of flowing water never cease. Its spring water is a sodium-calcium chloride spring, known for warming you to the core and helping you stay warm long after bathing. At the morning market, which has continued for more than 200 years, locally grown vegetables and wild mountain plants are lined up, and people stop by on their way to breakfast at their inns. The seafood of the Sea of Japan and the rice of the Shonai Plain. This is a place known not only for its onsen, but also for its food.
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Yamagata Kaminoyama City
Kaminoyama Onsen
An onsen town spread across a basin in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture, with a view of the Zaō mountain range right in front of you. According to legend, the spring was discovered in 1458 after a crane was found healing a wound on its leg, and it was once called Tsuruhagi no Yu. Inns are scattered across several districts, including Yumachi, Shinyu, Hayama, and Takamatsu, each with its own distinct atmosphere. The water is a sodium-calcium sulfate-chloride spring. Kaminoyama Castle stands in the center of town, and there are also foot baths dotted around where you can soak while taking in views of the Zaō mountain range. As the Yamagata Shinkansen stops here, it is an onsen destination with easy access from Tokyo.
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Yamagata Nanyo City
Akayu Onsen
An onsen town at the foot of a hill surrounded by vineyards in Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture, with a history of about 900 years since it first opened. In 1093, it is said that the younger brother of Minamoto no Yoshiie healed his battle wounds in this water, and the spring came to be called Akayu after the water turned red with blood. The spring is a sodium-calcium sulfate-chloride spring. Though colorless and clear, it is rich and its warmth lingers long after bathing. The surrounding area is one of Japan’s leading grape-producing regions, with wineries scattered throughout. Enjoying the onsen and local wine together is a way of spending time unique to this land.
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Tochigi Nasu Town
Nasu Kogen Onsen
An onsen area spread across the plateau in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, on the foothills of the Nasu mountain range. Away from Nasu Yumoto in the mountains, large hotels and resort inns are scattered across the gentle highlands, each with its own source. Ranches, museums, and theme parks are all within driving distance, making this area a long-favored base for family stays. Summers are cool, making it a retreat from the heat; autumn brings brilliant foliage and winter a blanket of snow, so the scenery changes with every season.
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Yamagata Tsuruoka City
Yunohama Onsen
An onsen resort in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, where inns line the sandy beach along the Sea of Japan. With a history of about 1,000 years since its opening, it is said that an injured turtle once bathed in its waters, and it was formerly called Kame no Yu. Its chloride spring warms the body from deep within and helps you stay warm long after bathing. Many inns offer views of the sunset sinking into the sea from the bath, and in winter, winter cod (kandara) is served, while in summer, rock oysters and other seafood from Shonai appear on the table.
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Shizuoka Higashiizu Town
Atagawa Onsen
An onsen resort in Higashiizu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, where inns line the slopes overlooking Sagami Bay. It is said to have been discovered by Ōta Dōkan during the Muromachi period. Abundant spring water gushes forth, and the sight of steam rising from all over town has become one of its signature attractions. There is even a crocodile park that uses the heat. Inns are clustered within walking distance of the Izukyū Line station, and from the baths you can see as far as Izu Ōshima.
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Shizuoka Minamiizu Town
Yumigahama Onsen
An onsen area in Minamiizu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, where inns are gathered near Yumigahama, a beach with a white shoreline that curves like a bow. The coast, selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Beaches, stretches out right in front of you, becoming a swimming beach in summer and a quiet walking path in other seasons. Located close to the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, it is also near the cliffs of Irozaki and the onsen area of Shimogamo. It is one of the less crowded places in Izu, making it ideal for a peaceful stay.
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Tochigi Nikko City
Kawaji Onsen
An onsen town in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, where inns line the valley where the Ojika and Kinugawa rivers meet. It is said to have been discovered after a flood in the Edo period, and has long been known as a place for therapeutic bathing, with the saying, “For wounds, Kawaji; for burns, Taki.” Its simple alkaline spring water is gentle on the skin and easy for children to enjoy. Along the river, there is an open-air bath that anyone can use, where you can soak while listening to the sounds of the gorge.
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Shizuoka Izu City
Yugashima Onsen
A mountain onsen town in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, located upstream on the Kano River. It is known for the inn where Yasunari Kawabata wrote “The Izu Dancer,” and many literary figures, including Yasushi Inoue, stayed here. There are not many inns, but some have open-air baths set along the mountain stream, and the area has a quiet atmosphere surrounded by the forests of Amagi. Joren Falls and wasabi fields are nearby, and it serves as the gateway to Amagi Pass.
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Hokkaido Shari Town
Utoro Onsen
An onsen town facing the Sea of Okhotsk in Shari Town, Hokkaido, at the gateway to the Shiretoko Peninsula. Inns grew up here as a base for visiting Shiretoko, which is registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The slightly brownish chloride spring keeps your body warm for a long time. In summer there are the Shiretoko Five Lakes and sightseeing cruises; in winter, drift ice. Different natural scenery awaits in every season. Fresh seafood brought in at the port is also part of the pleasure of staying here.
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Mie Shima City
Hamajima Onsen
An onsen resort in a fishing town facing the entrance to Ago Bay in Shima City, Mie Prefecture. Inns stand in the town of Hamajima, known for its catch of spiny lobster, and from the baths you can enjoy views of the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean. It is within easy reach of the Ise Grand Shrine and Yokoyama Observatory, which overlooks Ago Bay, and is chosen as a base for exploring Ise-Shima. It is also a place where the culture of the ama, the women free divers of Japan, lives on today.
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Gunma Nakanojo Town
Shima Onsen
An onsen area stretching along the Shima River valley in Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture. Its name comes from the legend that it can cure 40,000 ailments, and it was designated as one of the first National Health and Recreational Onsen Resorts. At some inns you can also drink the onsen water. The sight of vermilion-lacquered bridges and wooden buildings lined up together is emblematic of the onsen town, and it is also known as a setting for films. Nearby is Oku-Shima Lake, which holds blue water known as Shima Blue.
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Shizuoka Yaizu City
Yaizu Kuroshio Onsen
An onsen that rises at the foot of Takakusa Mountain in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, facing Suruga Bay. The slightly brownish chloride spring is said to retain heat well, so you stay warm longer after bathing. Some inns offer views of Mt. Fuji across Suruga Bay from the bath. Yaizu Port, one of Japan’s busiest fishing ports, is nearby, and tuna and bonito from its catch come to the table. There is also a seaside promenade and Kokuzozan, a mountain that juts out into the sea, close by.
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Mie Toba City
Toba Ohama Onsen
An onsen area in Toba City, Mie Prefecture, where inns are scattered across a gentle hill overlooking Toba Bay. Located in a quiet cove a little away from the city center, it offers a peaceful stay with views of the islands floating in the bay and the boats passing by. It is within easy reach of the Toba Aquarium, Mikimoto Pearl Island, and Ise Grand Shrine, making it a convenient base for exploring Ise-Shima. You can also enjoy seafood caught right in the sea in front of you.
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Hokkaido Abashiri City
Abashiri Lakefront Onsen
An onsen resort area in Abashiri, Hokkaido, with inns built along the shore of Lake Abashiri. In its quiet, elevated setting overlooking the lake, only the forest on the opposite shore and the water come into view. In summer, you can walk through the primeval forest along the lakeshore; in winter, smelt fishing takes place on the frozen lake. It is also close to the Abashiri Prison Museum and the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum, and during drift ice season you can head out to the sea.
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Nagano Nagiso Town
Nagiso Onsenkyo
An onsen area in the mountains along the Kiso River in Nagiso Town, Nagano Prefecture, where inns are scattered throughout the area. Nearby is Tsumago-juku, which flourished as a post town on the Nakasendo and still preserves its Edo-period streetscape of stone-paved roads and lattice-fronted houses. The water has a soft, gentle feel on the skin. Surrounded by forests of Kiso hinoki, it offers easy access to scenery of water and woodland, including the Momosuke Bridge and Kakizore Valley.
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Ishikawa Nomi City
Tatsunokuchi Onsen
An onsen area in Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, fed by springs on the alluvial fan formed by the Tedori River. With a history spanning 1,300 years, it has long been cherished as a place for therapeutic onsen stays. The water contains a small amount of sulfur, and it is said to leave the skin feeling smooth after bathing. It is located about a 30-minute drive from Kanazawa and Komatsu Airport, with the Kutani ware village and a scenic hill park nearby.
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Oita Hita City
Hita Onsen
An onsen area in Oita Prefecture’s Hita City, where inns line the banks of the Mikuma River. This town once flourished as a direct territory of the Edo shogunate, and in Mamedamachi, white-walled merchant houses still remain. The water is colorless, clear, and gentle. In summer, cormorant fishing and Yakatabune boat cruises on the river are famous, while in autumn the morning river mist is a signature sight. You can also enjoy local flavors from the river and mountains, such as Hita yakisoba and ayu sweetfish.
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