Onsen Areas in Japan
Explore famous and hidden hot spring towns across Japan. Find your perfect onsen destination through regional highlights and facility information.
87 onsen areas found
Kumamoto Minamioguni TownKurokawa Onsen
Nestled in the remote mountains of Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kurokawa Onsen is one of Japan’s most popular hot spring 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 a hot spring tour, soaking in the open-air baths of more than 30 inns, each with its own distinct character.
3 listed facilities
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Kumamoto Tamana CityTamana Onsen
A historic hot spring town said to have a 300-year history. Its mildly alkaline simple spring water is highly moisturizing and has long been cherished as a beauty bath. There are many inns with free-flowing spring water sourced directly from the spring, boasting one of Japan's highest radium contents, and it attracts many therapeutic bathers from both within and outside Kumamoto Prefecture as one of the prefecture's leading hot spring destinations.
6 listed facilities
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Kumamoto Kikuchi CityKikuchi Onsen
Selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Hot Springs, this hot spring area is known for its high-quality water and its smooth, silky feel on the skin. It is also praised as a beauty bath and a cosmetic bath, and the moist feeling of the skin after bathing is highly regarded. Nearby is Kikuchi Gorge, also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Springs, where you can enjoy beautiful nature throughout the seasons.
3 listed facilities
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Kumamoto Yamaga CityYamaga Onsen
A hot spring resort with a long history, mentioned in literature from the Heian period and one of the most renowned in the prefecture. The spring water is relatively hot, and the abundant volume of water is one of its charms. You can enjoy strolling through a nostalgic hot spring town rich in history and culture, with attractions such as the Edo-period playhouse Yachiyoza and the Yamaga Lantern Festival, held every August, where women dance with golden lanterns balanced on their heads.
4 listed facilities
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Kumamoto Yamaga CityHirayama Onsen
A quiet hot spring resort located in the back parlor of Yamaga City, with peaceful rural scenery spreading all around. Its biggest feature is its smooth, beauty-serum-like water with a faint sulfur scent. Highly regarded as a skin-beautifying bath, it has in recent years continued to attract visitors seeking high-quality hot springs with a hidden-gem feel, both for day trips and overnight stays.
4 listed facilities
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Kumamoto Aso CityUchimaki Onsen
A hot spring resort with over 100 years of history, located at the foot of Mount Aso, and long cherished by many literary figures, including Natsume Soseki and the couple Tekkan and Akiko Yosano. Many inns have their own private hot spring sources, allowing guests to enjoy high-quality free-flowing spring water directly from the source without any added water or heating. There are also several local public baths known as machiyu, where you can enjoy retro-style hot spring hopping while mingling with local residents. It is also an ideal base for sightseeing in Aso, including Daikanbo and Kusasenri.
3 listed facilities
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Oita Beppu CityBeppu Onsen
Oita Prefecture's flagship hot spring destination, boasting Japan's highest volume of spring water and largest number of hot spring sources. It sits at the center of the eight hot spring areas known as Beppu Hattō, and offers a wide variety of facilities, from seaside resort hotels to historic public bathhouses. Its appeal lies in the many ways you can enjoy it, like a theme park of hot springs, including a sand bath experience at retro Takegawara Onsen and open-air baths with sweeping views of Beppu Bay.
4 listed facilities
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Oita Yufu CityYufuin Onsen / Yufuin Onsen
A highly popular hot spring resort in Japan, spread across the foot of beautiful Mount Yufu. It is known for its abundant hot spring 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.
3 listed facilities
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Oita Beppu CityKannawa Onsen
One of Beppu's Eight Hells, this atmospheric hot spring area is famous for the sight of steam rising from all over town, a landscape selected as a nationally important cultural landscape. It is also known as the base for the famous Hells of Beppu tour. You can experience unique hot spring culture here, including the traditional hell-steamed cuisine, which uses geothermal steam to cook ingredients, and mushiyu, a steam bath lined with medicinal herbs.
4 listed facilities
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Oita Taketa CityNagayu Onsen
A famed hot spring renowned for having one of the highest carbon dioxide contents in the world, and known as Japan's best carbonated spring. The fizzy carbon dioxide is absorbed through the skin, and this therapeutic spring is said to be highly effective for promoting blood circulation and relieving fatigue. It is also the hot spring area that made the first source-fed bathing declaration in Kyushu. Visitors can enjoy a variety of unique bath-hopping experiences, from the rustic public bath Ganiyu on the banks of the Serikawa River to modern hot spring facilities designed by architects.
4 listed facilities
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Kagoshima Ibusuki CityIbusuki Onsen
A hot spring resort located at the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, famous nationwide for its rare sand bath hot springs. This bathing method uses the heat of hot spring 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.
9 listed facilities
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Kagoshima Kirishima CityKirishima Onsenkyo
An onsen area at the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, famous for its sand bath hot springs, which are rare even nationwide. By using the heat from hot springs that well up along the coast, this bathing method involves burying your body in warm sand and is said to offer strong detox and refreshing effects. Along with the tropical seaside scenery, you can enjoy an open, liberating bathing experience.
5 listed facilities
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Miyazaki Miyazaki CityAoshima Onsen
A seaside resort hot spring area at the entrance to the Nichinan Coast, facing the Pacific Ocean and overlooking the national natural monument known as the Devil's Washboard and Aoshima Shrine. Its high-quality alkaline spring water has a pleasant, silky feel and is renowned as a beautiful skin bath, and you can enjoy open-air baths while looking out at the sea. It is an area where you can fully enjoy both the tropical charm of Miyazaki and hot springs at the same time.
3 listed facilities
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Saga Ureshino CityUreshino Onsen
A hot spring resort with a history spanning over 1,300 years, renowned nationwide as one of Japan's three most beautiful hot springs for skin. Its uniquely silky, alkaline sodium bicarbonate spring, with a smooth, lotion-like texture, leaves the skin feeling as if it were bathing in beauty essence. It is also the production area of Ureshino tea, which has been growing in popularity overseas, and its distinctive culinary culture, such as the local specialty onsen yudofu, in which tofu is simmered in hot spring water, offers foreign visitors a highly appealing cultural experience.
6 listed facilities
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Saga Takeo CityTakeo Onsen
A renowned hot spring with a history of more than 1,200 years, said to have been visited by historical figures such as Musashi Miyamoto and Masamune Date. 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 hot spring destination where history, cutting-edge art, and hot springs come together.
4 listed facilities
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Nagasaki Unzen CityUnzen Onsen
A historic hot spring resort located within a national park at an altitude of about 700 m in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula. During the Meiji era, it flourished as a summer retreat for foreigners, and it has long had a history as an international resort destination. The high-temperature springs and the dramatic bursts of white steam from Unzen Jigoku create an immense visual impact, making it a hugely popular spot even among overseas visitors. The strong sulfur aroma and milky-white water enhance the atmosphere of a hot spring retreat, and you can fully enjoy a highly antibacterial acidic sulfur spring amid magnificent nature.
3 listed facilities
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Nagasaki Unzen CityObama Onsen
A seaside hot spring resort spreading along the western side of the Shimabara Peninsula, facing Tachibana Bay. It boasts some of the highest temperatures in Japan, at around 105 degrees, as well as abundant spring output. Taking advantage of its coastal location, it offers many spectacular open-air baths with ocean views, and the beautiful sunset over Tachibana Bay is a must-see. It is also highly praised by overseas visitors for offering a unique hot spring culture experience, including the 105-meter foot bath, the longest in Japan, called Hotto Futto 105, and steamed pot experiences that make use of hot spring steam.
2 listed facilities
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Fukuoka Chikushino CityFutsukaichi Onsen
With a history spanning more than 1,300 years, this is one of Kyushu's most renowned old hot spring areas, and it was also praised in Japan's oldest poetry anthology, the Manyoshu. While boasting superb access, just 15 to 20 minutes by train from the center of Fukuoka City, including Hakata and Tenjin, you can enjoy an authentic natural hot spring with the scent of sulfur drifting through the air. Because it is very close to Dazaifu Tenmangu, a site that is hugely popular with inbound travelers, it has become an extremely attractive destination for overseas visitors, as they can enjoy a historical tour of shrines and temples together with a hot spring experience.
3 listed facilities
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Fukuoka Asakura CityHarazuru Onsen
The largest hot spring 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 viewing the traditional ukai fishing method from a roofed boat in summer and autumn, this hot spring resort strongly appeals to international travelers who want to experience Japanese traditional culture.
3 listed facilities
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Ehime Matsuyama CityDogo Onsen
A famous hot spring 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 inbound foreign visitors. It is also famous as the setting of Natsume Soseki's novel Botchan, and its atmospheric hot spring 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 hot spring experience unique to Japan. It is a highly powerful international hot spring resort representing Shikoku.
9 listed facilities
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Kagawa Kotohira Town, Nakatado DistrictKonpira Onsen Village
This hot spring area spreads around the castle town in front of Kotohira-gu Shrine, often described as a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. For inbound 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 hot springs 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 (Kanemakuza), making this an exceptionally powerful destination where visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese culture, Sanuki udon, and excellent hot springs all together.
3 listed facilities
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Kagawa Shodoshima Town, Shozu DistrictShodoshima Onsen
A hot spring that springs up on the scenic remote island of Shodoshima in the Seto Inland Sea. In recent years, its global reputation has risen sharply, with the island being selected for the United Nations World Tourism Organization's "Best Tourism Villages". Its Mediterranean-like spectacular setting, overlooking olive groves and the island-studded beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, along with the unique remote-island resort experience of taking a ferry to the island and then soaking in a hot spring, has made it hugely popular with international travelers, especially those from Europe and North America. The highly moisturizing water, which leaves your skin smooth and silky after bathing, is another major attraction.
5 listed facilities
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Tokushima Miyoshi CityIya Onsen
A legendary hidden hot spring in Shikoku, 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 inbound tourists. 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, free-flowing spring water adorned by white mineral deposits drifting through the bath, 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.
4 listed facilities
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Shimane Matsue CityTamatsukuri Onsen
It appeared in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki 1,300 years ago and is known as Japan’s oldest hot spring for beautiful skin, described as a spring where one soak makes your skin look younger and a second soak can cure any illness. Even today, a water-quality survey by a pharmaceutical company has proven its moisturizing effects to be at the level of a premium lotion, giving it overwhelming skin-beautifying power. It is also extremely convenient as a base for visiting Izumo Taisha, and its clear, easy-to-understand themes of Japanese mythology and a hot spring for beautiful skin make it an exceptionally powerful hot spring destination that strongly appeals to foreign visitors interested in beauty and wellness.
4 listed facilities
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Yamaguchi Nagato CityNagato Yumoto Onsen
The oldest hot spring resort in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with a history of about 600 years. In recent years, it has undergone a dramatic transformation through "onsen town renovation," and has been reborn as an "outdoor paradise that makes leisurely strolls a pleasure," featuring riverside terrace seating along the Otozure River, enchanting night illuminations, and the day-use bathhouse "Otozure." World-class luxury resort brands have also moved in, and its beautiful landscape, where the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese hot spring town blends with a refined modern resort space, has become an exceptionally compelling destination for travelers from overseas seeking a high-quality stay.
2 listed facilities
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Hiroshima Fukuyama CityTomonoura Onsen
An onsen that bubbles up in Tomonoura, a historic port town with a long history dating back to ancient times, located almost in the center of the Seto Inland Sea. This area is associated with Sakamoto Ryoma and is said to have been a model for the setting of Studio Ghibli's film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. The nostalgic scenery of this old-fashioned port town remains intact. The beautiful landscape, which feels like stepping into the world of Ghibli, combined with high-quality hot spring water boasting one of the highest radium contents in Japan, makes it immensely popular with foreign visitors who long for Japan's traditional original landscapes.
2 listed facilities
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Hiroshima Hatsukaichi CityMiyahama Onsen
The hot spring resort 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 exceptionally strong base for sightseeing in Miyajima and is overwhelmingly popular with inbound travelers. Many facilities 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 hot spring waters containing radon that leave your skin silky smooth. It is a hot spring destination that offers the perfect combination foreign travelers seek: World Heritage sightseeing plus a spectacular ocean-view onsen.
2 listed facilities
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Tottori Yonago CityKaike Onsen
A beautiful seaside hot spring 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 inbound tourists, making this hot spring destination a perfect blend of convenience and resort appeal.
10 listed facilities
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Wakayama Shirahama TownShirahama Onsen
Along with Arima and Dogo, this premier Kansai hot spring resort has a history of over 1300 years as one of the Three Ancient Hot Springs 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 hot spring destinations, combining resort areas such as the beautiful white-sand Shirarahama beach with a historic celebrated hot spring that even appears in the Nihon Shoki.
6 listed facilities
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Wakayama Nachikatsuura TownKatsuura Onsen
A hot spring resort with one of the largest volumes of hot spring water in the prefecture, thriving as a base for sightseeing to the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo and Nachi Falls. With many hot springs that take advantage of the spectacular ria coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, its signature attraction is the grand cave bath Bokidō, where hot spring water springs up inside a natural giant 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 bluefin tuna, making this a hot spring resort with everything foreign visitors love: World Heritage sightseeing, an astonishing cave bath, and top-quality seafood.
3 listed facilities
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Hyogo Kobe CityArima Onsen
A refined retreat in Kansai that appears even in the Nihon Shoki and is counted among Japan's three oldest hot springs as well as Japan's three famous hot springs. It is a historic famed spa 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 reddish-brown as it comes into contact with 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 powerful onsen destinations in the Kansai area for inbound visitors seeking the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring town and authentic onsen culture.
6 listed facilities
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Hyogo Toyooka CityKinosaki Onsen
With a history spanning 1,300 years, this famous hot spring is one of the Kansai region’s most celebrated and beloved by many literary giants, including Naoya Shiga. The beautiful streetscape of the hot spring town, with willow trees lining the Ootani River and arched taiko bridges, is truly "the Japanese hot spring town." The greatest appeal of this hot spring resort is the culture of "sotoyu meguri," where visitors change into yukata and geta and tour the "7 public bathhouses." This unique system, which regards the entire town as one large inn, is immensely popular with foreign travelers seeking an authentic local Japanese experience of strolling through a hot spring town in yukata, and it attracts many visitors from around the world.
2 listed facilities
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Hyogo Sumoto CitySumoto Onsen
Spanning the eastern coast of Awaji Island, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, this is the island's largest resort hot spring 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 inbound travelers who love scenic views and great food.
4 listed facilities
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Hyogo Shinonsen TownYumura Onsen
A historic hot spring destination nestled in the mountains in northwestern Hyogo Prefecture, with a history dating back to the Heian period. At the heart of the hot spring town, the 98-degree source, Arayu, one of the hottest in Japan, sends up plumes of steam with great force, and the local tradition of boiling eggs and vegetables brought by visitors in the hot spring water—known as yukagi culture—still lives on today. The nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere that drifts through the hot spring town, combined with the experience of Arayu, where you can feel the energy of the earth directly, makes this an extremely unique and appealing onsen destination for foreign travelers who want to experience deep local Japanese culture.
2 listed facilities
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Hyogo Ako CityAko Onsen
Located within Setonaikai National Park, this famous hot spring is affectionately known as the "revival bath." Many inns here feature infinity open-air baths built so they seem to extend out over the sea, offering an overwhelming ocean view that feels as if you are one with the water itself. The breathtaking evening scenery viewed from Ako Misaki is so beautiful that it has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Sunset Spots, leaving a powerful impression on foreign visitors in search of spectacular views. This seaside destination lets you enjoy an exceptional combination of Seto Inland Sea seafood, including winter oysters, and soothing hot springs with truly stunning scenery.
4 listed facilities
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Shiga Otsu CityOgoto Onsen
Located on the western shore of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, this historic famous hot spring is said to have opened around 1,200 years ago by Saicho, the founder of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei. Its greatest strength is its unbeatable accessibility, with Kyoto Station just about 20 minutes away by train, making it hugely popular with inbound travelers from around the world as the easiest place to enjoy an authentic hot spring resort and spectacular views of Lake Biwa. Soaking in the smooth, highly alkaline water known as a beauty bath, while taking in the gorgeous sunrise from an open-air bath overlooking Lake Biwa, becomes an unforgettable highlight of any trip to Japan. Some ryokan also offer a global environment that welcomes travelers from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including halal-friendly services.
5 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Hakodate CityYunokawa Onsen
One of Hokkaido's three major hot spring resorts, boasting some of Japan's best access, 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 hot spring are also popular with visitors from overseas.
8 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Noboribetsu CityNoboribetsu Onsen
One of Japan's most celebrated hot spring resorts, often called the place to go when people think of hot springs in Hokkaido. The spectacular Jigokudani, billowing white steam, leaves an overwhelming impression on foreign visitors as well. Known as a "department store of hot springs," where 9 different types of spring water gush forth, it is a world-class destination where you can experience the Earth's energy and an exceptional hot spring experience at the same time.
6 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Sapporo CityJozankei Onsen
Known as the "inner parlor of Sapporo," it boasts excellent access, about a 1-hour 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 is easy to combine urban sightseeing with a full-scale hot spring resort stay, and it enjoys overwhelming support from inbound travelers.
10 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Niseko TownNiseko Onsenkyo
A cluster of hot springs in an international resort area that attracts skiers in search of the world's highest-quality powder snow. Soaking in a hot spring while gazing at the snowy landscape after enjoying winter sports to the fullest is the ultimate luxury for inbound visitors. It is a one-of-a-kind hot spring destination where cosmopolitan resort culture and Japanese onsen culture blend together.
4 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Toyako TownToyako 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.
3 listed facilities
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Hokkaido Otofuke TownTokachigawa Onsen
This is a hot spring resort where the very rare moor onsen, even by global standards, springs forth. Because it rises through a lignite layer formed from ancient plant deposits, it contains a high amount of plant-based organic matter and has an amber color, like barley tea. Renowned as a beautiful-skin bath and a bath for gorgeous skin, it is known for leaving the skin smooth and silky after soaking. You can also fully enjoy the peaceful scenery of the Tokachi Plain and delicious Tokachi gourmet cuisine.
2 listed facilities
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Mie Kuwana CityNagashima Onsen
A major hot spring area that bubbles up within Nagashima Resort, one of Japan’s largest multi-purpose leisure complexes, located at the mouth of the Kiso Three Rivers. Its greatest feature is the alkaline simple spring, boasting an overwhelming output of about 10,000 tons a day. You can fully enjoy the luxurious free-flowing spring water in a vast open-air bath and a wide variety of indoor baths. Adjacent to one of Japan’s largest amusement parks, an outlet mall, and Nabana no Sato, famous for its illuminations, it is a modern famed hot spring where entertainment and healing come together, allowing you to refresh your fatigue in superb waters after an active day of fun.
2 listed facilities
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Mie Komono TownYunoyama 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. In an elegant hot spring town surrounded by rich, untouched nature, it has long been beloved by many writers and literary figures. 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 summer freshness, autumn foliage, and winter frost-covered trees—making this a famed hot spring where sightseeing and relaxation can be enjoyed at the same time.
2 listed facilities
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Aichi Minamichita TownMinamichita Onsenkyo
A seaside hot spring resort that stretches across the southern tip of the Chita Peninsula and represents Aichi Prefecture. Hot spring 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 (Centrair), making it a popular upscale beach resort where inbound travelers seeking fresh seafood and hot springs can easily stop by.
3 listed facilities
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Aichi Gamagori CityNishiura Onsen
An onsen resort located at the tip of the Nishiura Peninsula, which juts out into Mikawa Bay, where large ryokan line the elevated area extending from the coastline. 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 all-ocean-view rooms and guestrooms with private open-air baths, making it an extremely compelling onsen destination for overseas travelers seeking a high-quality stay while enjoying a panorama of the sea and sky.
5 listed facilities
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Shizuoka Atami CityAtami Onsen
One of Japan’s premier hot spring resorts, boasting excellent access—just 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, hot springs, and Japan’s fireworks culture all at once, it has won tremendous support from inbound travelers in recent years.
11 listed facilities
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Shizuoka Izu CityShuzenji Onsen
Also known as the Little Kyoto of Izu, this famous hot spring 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.
4 listed facilities
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Shizuoka Higashiizu TownInatori Onsen
A hot spring resort that emerges on a cape jutting out from the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula, it is known for the many inns and hotels 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 Sagami Bay 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 tsurushikazari, a traditional Japanese culture that brightens early spring.
7 listed facilities
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Shizuoka Ito CityIto Onsen
A hot spring 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 Sagami Bay, marine activities such as diving, and authentic hot springs all in one trip.
2 listed facilities
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Gifu Gero CityGero Onsen
A renowned hot spring of the highest rank, counted alongside Kusatsu and Arima as one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan. Its colorless, crystal-clear, silky alkaline simple spring is highly praised as a beauty bath for the skin. The charming hot spring 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. Conveniently located for visiting together with the inbound Golden Route, the Shoryudo, including Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go, it is hugely popular with travelers from overseas seeking the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese hot spring town.
8 listed facilities
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Gifu Gifu CityNagaragawa Onsen
Ryokan line the banks of the clear Nagaragawa River, making this an outstanding hot spring area with beautiful 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 the traditional fishing method of Nagaragawa ukai, which has a history of about 1300 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 inbound 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.
4 listed facilities
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Gifu Takayama CityHida Takayama Onsen
Also known as the "Little Kyoto of Hida," this hot spring area bubbles up in Takayama City and is immensely popular with inbound visitors. You can seamlessly combine a relaxing hot spring 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 hot springs all at once.
4 listed facilities
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Yamanashi Fujikawaguchiko TownFuji Kawaguchiko Onsen
A highly renowned hot spring 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 inbound travelers, the experience of soaking in a hot spring 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, many with spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the lake from every room. With the overwhelming scenery of Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perfectly blended with Japan's hot spring culture, it is Japan's most international and powerful hot spring destination.
8 listed facilities
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Yamanashi Fuefuki CityIsawa Onsen
A hot spring resort located in the heart of the Kofu Basin, boasting one of the largest abundant hot water flows 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 hot springs 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 inbound travelers seeking Japan's diverse food culture and resort experiences.
1 listed facility
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Nagano Yamanouchi TownYudanaka Shibu Onsen Area
This hot spring district has a nostalgic atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time, with historic wooden inns lining the stone-paved alleys. There is a culture of the nine public bath tour, called kyu-yu meguri (warding-off-evil bath pilgrimage), using a special key reserved for overnight guests to visit nine public baths. It is also located at the foot of Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (wild monkeys that bathe in hot springs), which attracts inbound tourists from all over the world who come to see the Snow Monkey, making it an extremely powerful international destination as a base for Snow Monkey tourism.
4 listed facilities
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Nagano Achi VillageHirugami Onsen
The largest hot spring resort in Minami Shinshu, spread across the mountain foothills in southern Nagano Prefecture. Its strongly alkaline spring water is known as one of Japan's finest beauty baths. What elevates this hot spring destination to a world-class attraction is the breathtaking night sky over Achi Village, recognized by the Ministry of the Environment as Japan's best starry sky. After polishing your skin in the superb hot springs, the "Starry Sky Night Tour," where countless stars shimmer above the highlands at an elevation of 1,400m, offers overseas travelers who love nature-based experiences a romantic and unforgettable Japanese experience.
2 listed facilities
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Fukui Awara CityAwara Onsen
Known as the "back parlor of Kansai," this is one of Fukui Prefecture's leading hot spring resorts, with more than 140 years of history. It has 74 separate sources, and because each ryokan has its own private spring 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 inbound travelers who want to enjoy a local Japanese night, such as experiencing traditional Japanese geiko culture and mingling with locals at the retro, steam-filled Yukemuri Yokocho.
11 listed facilities
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Ishikawa Kaga CityYamanaka Onsen
One of the Kaga Onsen Resorts, this famous hot spring boasts a history spanning 1,300 years since its opening. It is known for the scenic beauty of the Kaksenkei Gorge, which was praised by Matsuo Basho, and for its atmospheric hot spring 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 hot spring towns in Japan, attracting inbound tourists from around the world.
3 listed facilities
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Ishikawa Kaga CityYamashiro Onsen
A hot spring area that serves as the heart of Kaga Onsen, where the traditional Hokuriku streetscape known as Yuno-gawara, 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 hot springs that leave the skin feeling smooth and beautiful.
8 listed facilities
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Ishikawa Nanao CityWakura Onsen
With a history dating back 1,200 years, this is one of Japan’s rare hot springs that flows 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.
5 listed facilities
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Ishikawa Kaga CityKatayamazu Onsen
The newest hot spring 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 (general bath) 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.
3 listed facilities
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Niigata Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma DistrictEchigo-Yuzawa Onsen
An onsen destination world-renowned as the setting of Yasunari Kawabata’s Nobel Prize-winning novel Snow Country. 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 inbound travelers from Asia, Europe, and North America, especially in winter.
3 listed facilities
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Niigata Myoko CityAkakura Onsen
The oldest hot spring resort 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. Known as a beauty bath, it combines two components, sulfate spring and bicarbonate spring, and is proud of its abundant hot spring water. The Myoko area, including the adjacent Akakura Onsen Ski Resort, boasts world-class heavy snowfall and exceptional powder snow (JAPOW), and attracts tourists from all over the world as an international snow resort that especially enjoys passionate support from skiers from Australia, Europe, and North America.
2 listed facilities
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Niigata Shibata CityTsukioka Onsen
An onsen town opened in the Taisho era, boasting the largest scale 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 hot springs 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.
3 listed facilities
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Kanagawa Yugawara Town, Ashigarashimo DistrictYugawara Onsen
An elegant hot spring resort town with a long history, even celebrated in the Manyoshu, and beloved by many literary giants and cultural figures including Natsume Soseki. Known as a gentle, skin-friendly beauty bath, it is dotted with long-established luxury Japanese inns along a nature-rich mountain stream surrounded by sea and mountains, preserving the charm of old Japan. In contrast to bustling Hakone, it is strongly supported by affluent overseas travelers and repeat visitors seeking the serenity of a hidden retreat away from the noise of the city, along with the highest level of Japanese hospitality.
4 listed facilities
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo DistrictHakone Yumoto Onsen
The gateway to the Hakone hot spring 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 facilities are concentrated here, from day-use hot spring baths 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.
10 listed facilities
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo DistrictGora Onsen
A refined hot spring 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 Hot Springs. 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.
6 listed facilities
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo DistrictHakone 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 inbound travelers, especially from Europe and North America.
2 listed facilities
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Kanagawa Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo DistrictHakone Kowakudani Onsen
An entertainment-rich hot spring destination home to large-scale onsen theme parks and resort hotels, including Hakone Kowakuen. 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.
3 listed facilities
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Gunma Kusatsu TownKusatsu Onsen
A celebrated hot spring renowned as one of Japan's finest, it has long ranked No. 1 in the "Top 100 Hot Springs in Japan". From the dramatic steam rising over Yubatake in the heart of the hot spring town to traditional yumomi performances, it perfectly embodies the image of The Japanese hot spring that foreign visitors picture. It is also known for its highly acidic water with powerful antibacterial properties, and with night illuminations, food walks, and more, it is a destination where entertainment and authentic hot spring culture merge at a high level, making it an immensely popular inbound destination.
7 listed facilities
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Gunma Shibukawa CityIkaho Onsen
An onsen town with a long history, even appearing in the Manyoshu, whose greatest charm is the atmosphere of Ishidan-gai, a street lined with ryokan, game arcades, and souvenir shops around a 365-step stone staircase. Visitors can wear a yukata and stroll casually up and down the steps while enjoying target shooting and snacking their way through town, offering a retro hot spring street experience that is uniquely Japanese and highly rated by overseas tourists. You can enjoy two types of spring water: the distinctive brownish Kogane no Yu and the colorless, clear Shirogane no Yu, and its easy access from Tokyo also helps make it a popular onsen destination.
11 listed facilities
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Gunma Minakami TownMinakami Onsenkyo
A major hot spring resort area that collectively refers to the 18 hot spring destinations scattered throughout Minakami Town, including Minakami Onsen, Takaragawa Onsen, Sarugakyo Onsen, and others. A wide variety of ryokan and hotels 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 hot springs and world-class outdoor activities together, it has earned overwhelming support from active inbound travelers from Europe, North America, and Oceania who are drawn to adventure tourism.
6 listed facilities
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Tochigi Nikko CityKinugawa Onsen
One of the Kanto region's leading large-scale hot spring resorts, this hot spring area features large ryokan and hotels lined up overlooking the magnificent Kinugawa Gorge. Also known as the "back parlor of Tokyo," 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 inbound visitors stay overnight.
7 listed facilities
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Tochigi Nasu TownNasu Onsen Village
A vast highland hot spring resort spread across the foothills of Mount Chausu, originating from Shika no Yu, the oldest hot spring in Tochigi Prefecture, with a history of more than 1300 years since opening. In an elegant area also known for the presence of an Imperial villa, you can enjoy a wide range of hot spring stays, from historic communal baths in wooden buildings to hidden hot springs embraced by grand nature and modern resort hotels. It pairs well with hiking through historic scenic spots such as Sessho-seki and the rich natural surroundings, and is attracting attention as a destination that combines Japanese tradition with the refined atmosphere of a highland resort.
5 listed facilities
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Chiba Choshi CityInubosaki Onsen
A hot spring resort that springs up in a spectacular scenic area at the easternmost tip of the Kanto Plain, surrounded by the sea on three sides. It is nationally famous as one of the places in Japan where you can see the first sunrise of the year earliest, and its greatest appeal is the dramatic scenery created by the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean and the white lighthouse of Inubosaki. Because you can enjoy a magnificent sunrise and a panoramic view of the Pacific from its scenic open-air baths, it enjoys strong support from foreign visitors seeking extraordinary natural landscapes.
2 listed facilities
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Ibaraki Tsukuba CityMount Tsukuba Onsen
A hot spring resort at the mid-slope of Mount Tsukuba, one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, praised as "Fuji in the west, Tsukuba in the east." It is easily accessible from central Tokyo via the Tsukuba Express and other routes, and visitors can casually experience the history of mountain worship and the grandeur of nature by taking the cable car or ropeway, which is why it is drawing attention from overseas tourists as a new sightseeing spot. From the open-air baths at the hot spring inns, you can take in sweeping views of the vast Kanto Plain, and on especially clear evenings and nights, the scenery offers inbound travelers a truly memorable experience of Japan's majestic natural beauty.
3 listed facilities
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Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu CityHigashiyama Onsen
Known as the inner parlor of Aizu, this is a representative hot spring resort in Fukushima Prefecture with a history spanning 1,300 years since its discovery. It has been loved by many cultural figures, including Takehisa Yumeji 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 hot spring atmosphere, it has become extremely popular among inbound travelers with a strong interest in Japan’s deep history and culture.
5 listed facilities
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Fukushima Fukushima CityTsuchiyu Onsenkyo
A vast hot spring area that stretches along the Arakawa River, encompassing everything from the atmospheric hot spring town known as the home of kokeshi dolls to a cluster of hidden hot springs such as Noji Onsen scattered around the Tsuchiyu Pass area at an elevation of 1,200m. The Tsuchiyu hot spring town, where you can enjoy strolling through town and traditional kokeshi doll painting experiences, coexists with secluded hot springs surrounded by magnificent nature. Because you can enjoy entirely different spring qualities and untouched nature at the same time within a single area, it has earned high praise from inbound travelers who seek authentic hot spring hopping and nature experiences.
3 listed facilities
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Fukushima Fukushima CityIizaka Onsen
A historic hot spring resort counted as one of the Three Great Hot Springs of Oshu, and a famous bath said to have been visited by Matsuo Basho on his journey along Oku no Hosomichi. Large inns and old public bathhouses are scattered along the Surikami River, and nostalgic onsen town scenery remains, including Sabako-yu, the oldest wooden public bathhouse in Japan. Visitors can also enjoy eating their way through local specialties such as round gyoza, and because access from Tokyo is good, it is popular with foreign travelers who want to experience the energy of a local Japanese onsen town and its food culture.
4 listed facilities
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Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu CityAizu Ashinomaki Onsen
An onsen resort about 15 km south of the central area of Aizuwakamatsu City, with ryokan lined up along the gorge of the O River. Surrounded by abundant nature, it has a history of being called a "phantom hot spring." In particular, Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen Ookawaso drew worldwide attention through social media for its floating stage, which closely resembles the "Infinity Castle" from the popular anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and saw a sharp increase in inbound tourists. Offering both a spectacular open-air bath with views of the beautiful gorge and an experience that feels like a pilgrimage to a sacred site for Japanese pop culture, especially anime, it is attracting attention as a new kind of inbound destination.
3 listed facilities
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Yamagata Yamagata CityZao Onsen
Zao Onsen, a famous hot spring at the foot of the Zao mountain range, one of the largest mountain resorts in Tohoku, has a history dating back to its opening in 1900. It is known for its strongly acidic sulfur spring and is celebrated as a beauty hot spring that leaves the skin white and smooth. In winter, visitors can see juhyo, a natural artistic wonder that is rare worldwide, and enjoy superb powder snow at a vast ski resort together with authentic hot springs, which has earned overwhelming support from foreign tourists who love winter sports.
4 listed facilities
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Yamagata Obanazawa CityGinzan Onsen
A hot spring town in Yamagata Prefecture with world-renowned fame, and one of the region's signature destinations. Historic wooden ryokan with three and four stories line both banks of the Ginzan River, and the scene of the gas lamps lighting up at dusk is full of the nostalgic atmosphere of Taisho romanticism. In particular, the winter nightscape covered in snow has gone viral worldwide on social media as something with the fantastical beauty of a Ghibli film, making this one of Japan's premier onsen destinations and a huge favorite among inbound travelers seeking snowy landscapes and traditional Japanese architecture.
2 listed facilities
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Miyagi Sendai CityAkiu Onsen
Ranked as one of the "Three Great Hot Springs of Oshu," this historic famous hot spring has also been 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 hot spring resort stay in nature, it is extremely popular among inbound travelers seeking convenience and comfort.
5 listed facilities
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Miyagi Osaki CityNaruko Onsenkyo
One of the Three Great Hot Springs of Oshu, this major hot spring area is made up of five bathing destinations: Naruko, Higashi-Naruko, Kawado, Nakayamadaira, and Onikobe. It boasts an exceptionally rare diversity of spring qualities, with 9 of the 11 old spring types found in Japan, allowing visitors to enjoy an authentic hot spring tour. It is also world-famous as the production area of Naruko kokeshi, one of Japan's representative traditional crafts, and it is strongly supported by discerning international travelers who want to experience deep local Japanese culture and history through kokeshi painting and leisurely strolls through nostalgic onsen towns.
3 listed facilities
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Miyagi Matsushima TownMatsushima Onsen
A resort hot spring area that springs up 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 accommodations have been developed where guests can soak in natural hot spring water while taking in the spectacular seaside scenery. Combined with sightseeing by pleasure boat cruise and historical attractions such as the National Treasure Zuiganji Temple, it has become an international tourist hub that draws overwhelming popularity from inbound travelers from Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America, as visitors can fully enjoy the beautiful sunrise and moonlight over Matsushima Bay from the hot spring.
6 listed facilities
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Iwate Hanamaki CityHanamaki Onsenkyo
Set against the backdrop of Ihatov, the ideal world cherished by Kenji Miyazawa, this is the collective name for 12 hot spring areas, including Hanamaki, Osawa, and Nyuto 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 hot-spring atmosphere to modern large hotels with expansive rose gardens, a wide variety of hot spring stays are available. It enjoys overwhelming popularity among travelers from Asia, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, and is one of Iwate Prefecture's leading inbound destinations, where visitors can experience Japan's traditional onsen atmosphere along with the rich nature and food culture of Tohoku.
8 listed facilities
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