The Complete Guide to Japanese Hot Springs

When you think of Japan, certain things spring to mind: delicious food, kind people, trees filled with cherry blossoms, historic temples, and incredible natural landscapes. But did you know that Japan also has a plethora of impressive hot springs for you to indulge in?

Japan boasts some of the world’s most beautiful hot springs, each offering a wonderfully relaxing and memorable experience for travellers. It is estimated that Japan has more than 26,000 hot springs and over 3000 hot spring resorts!

With so many to choose from, it can be challenging to know what exactly to expect. But don’t worry – just read our comprehensive guide to discover absolutely everything you need to know about Japanese hot springs.

A Brief History of Hot Springs in Japan

Hot springs, or ‘onsen’ in Japanese, have always held an important place throughout Japan’s history. The first recorded hot spring in Japan, Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture, dates back to 712. The initial discovery of many of Japan’s hot springs is thanks to ancient hunters, who came across them on their hunting trips.

Given their magnificent beauty and uniqueness, hot springs were historically considered a gift of the gods. Their popularity boomed when Buddhism was brought to Japan in 552 AD due to the Buddhist belief that bathing was a form of purification and cleansing. While there were attempts by Christian missionaries around the 1550s to scale back bathing in hot springs, as they saw it as an offensive practice, their efforts were futile as Japan’s love of onsen was already deeply entrenched in the culture.

In 1709, the healing properties of hot springs were discovered, which led to the eventual commercialization of hot springs. Today, going to the hot springs remain a beloved activity for Japanese people, who recognize the benefits of health, relaxation, and enjoyment that only a dip in a hot spring offers.

Trips you may like

9-Day Authentic Samurai and Sake Experience

This 9-day trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will immerse you in rich history and culture, as you uncover two of the things that make Japan truly unique; Sake and Samurai. When it comes to Sake, you’ll learn about the various processes behind making sake and the unique properties that make each style of sake different – and just how many different ways there are as you explore local sake breweries throughout Niigata and Yamagata. Now, it is time for your first introduction to the history of the Samurai. You’ll start in Nagoya and head out to Inuyama, where your swordsmith training will begin. Beginning with an exploration of Inuyama Castle, one of Japan’s five national treasures, you will then spend the next two days learning the art of sword-making, its importance in Samurai and Japanese culture, its origins and the training behind it. Next, you will have the rare opportunity to meet with katana artisans in their own ateliers, where you will watch their crafts being practised firsthand and learn the history of their trade. You’ll visit a tsukamakishi (hilt-wrapper), a shiroganeshi (habaki-maker), a sayashi (scabbard-maker), and a togishi (sword polisher), and might even see their own personal antique collections on this tour! This bucket-list trip captures the heart and history of Japan; Samurai and Sake, but also allows you time to explore the spiritual side of Japan, following walking trails to temples, meeting extraordinary locals and embracing the culture of this unique destination. Accommodation listed or similar.

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6-Day Tradition Meets Future in Tokyo & Kyoto

Japan is a real feast for all of your senses, with sumo, geisha, sake, karaoke, onsen, and izakaya waiting to be discovered. Spend six days exploring the highlights of this enthralling country, centred around Japan’s two major cities, Tokyo and Kyoto. Begin your trip with a guided tour of incredible Tokyo, where you will explore Tokyo’s dazzling lights, the Tsukji Market, famous for its tuna auctions and the ultra-cool shopping district of Shibuya, complete with a never-ending array of lights and mega-street crossings. Boarding the Shinkansen bullet train, you will travel at up to 320km/h from Tokyo to Kyoto in complete comfort. Arriving in Kyoto, you will be guided through the wonders of this city, visiting the famous Gion ‘Geisha’ district, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Nishiki Market, otherwise known as Kyoto’s kitchen! The highlight of this trip is a traditional group tea ceremony with an authentic Geisha, where you will learn the importance of this sacred Japanese ritual. Transferring back to Tokyo for the final leg of your journey, you will have the opportunity for last minute sightseeing and shopping before your private airport transfer! Thousands of years of history are concentrated in this fascinating nation – come and explore Japan’s attractions for yourself. Accommodation listed or similar.

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10-Day Nature and Unique Culture of Japan

This 10-day journey highlights the hotspots, hidden gems, nature and unique culture of Japan! Taking you through parts of modern Tokyo, to the traditional and historical former capital Kyoto, stopping along the way in the food and nightlife capital of Japan, Osaka. From the serenity of grand gardens to conveyor belt sushi restaurants at the top of skyscrapers; from the observation decks sprinkled around the city to the humble little ramen shops tucked away on side streets, it’s understandable why Tokyo is the most popular starting point for travellers coming to Japan. Tokyo is where you will uncover the hot-spots and the hidden gems of the city. Next stop, historic Kyoto. From your first day in Kyoto, you may very well feel the elegant ambience of a city entrenched in history. Here you will be immersed in Japan’s culture with a local guide, exploring the beautiful scenery that is Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, taking part in a traditional tea-ceremony and wandering amongst free-roaming deer in nearby Nara . Known by many as the food capital of Japan, the city of Osaka, your next stop is bright, vivacious, and friendly, however it also has a historical side. Here, you will explore Osaka Castle, a monument that played an integral role in the unification of Japan, before strolling down Dotonbori, where you can see the popular Glico running man display and try out Osaka’s signature foods: Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki. This trip is the perfect trip for travellers looking for a combination of Japanese culture, nature and food. Accommodation listed or similar.

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14-Day Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto & Osaka

Embark on a two-week trip that covers all the major Japan highlights! From historical to modern, from urban to rural; you can enjoy the great diversity of Japan. In each area, local guides will show you the highlights of the region and introduce the local culture. The trip starts in Tokyo, the current capital of Japan. You will receive an introduction to Japanese culture and learn about modern Japanese life. Then, you’ll visit Hakone where you can appreciate a fantastic view of Mt. Fuji. You’ll then venture out to the countryside of Takayama, which is a small rural town with its own unique culture and traditions. From Takayama, you will visit Shirakawago, which is a well-preserved old folk village by car. Then, you’ll head to north to Kanazawa, a city produced by the Samurai which is home to the most beautiful Japanese garden. You will then visit Kyoto, one of the most beautiful cities in Japan and the mecca of Japanese culture. Here, you can experience authentic Japanese things such as food, culture, temples, art, gardens, crafts and more. You’ll then travel to Nara by train or car. Nara is an older city than Kyoto and it was the centre of Japanese religion and academia. Finally, you’ll head west to Osaka, the second biggest city in Japan. Osaka is famous as a paradise of street food with very open-minded and friendly local people! Geographically, Osaka is very close to Kyoto, but you will find a huge difference between them. From Osaka, you will take a day trip to Hiroshima by bullet train before heading back to Tokyo where your trip will come to an end!

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Must-Visit Hot Spring Areas & How to Get There

Given the sheer number of hot springs in Japan, it would be impossible to run through them all. Instead, below, we’ve highlighted some of the most famous and popular hot springs in Japan:

Beppu Hot Springs

Known as the hot spring capital of Japan, Beppu, Oita Prefecture is a quaint city well-worth adding to your Japan itinerary. Divided into eight hot spring areas, Beppu’s hot springs are well-regarded for their richness of resources. Nearly 3000 hot spring vents are located in the city – representing greater than 10% of Japan’s total. An incredible 130,000 plus tons of hot spring water flows from the ground every day!

Must-visit hot springs include Takegawara, Beppu’s oldest hot spring, the low-key but famous Hyotan Hot Spring, and the unbelievable Hells of Beppu – which are one-of-a-kind hot springs for viewing rather than bathing.

How to get there: There are frequent flights from Tokyo, only 90 minutes. Alternatively, take the six-hour train on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kokura Station, and transfer to the Sonic limited express to Beppu. You can also take a 40-minute bus from Oita Airport to Beppu.

Hakone Hot Springs

For centuries, Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, has been one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resort towns. With more than a dozen springs providing hot spring water to the countless hot springs in the region, you’ll find no shortage of unique hot springs to test out.

The most famous of all is the hot springs located in Yumoto, an area known for its rich history and high-quality water. Other places you can experience a second-to-none hot springs experience include the luxury ryokan (a type of traditional Japanese inn) Gora Kadan, the Hoshino Resort Kai Hakone located by the Sukumo River, and the Fujiya Hotel, which was founded back in 1878 and is one of Japan’s oldest hotels.

How to get there: Hakone is only a one-and-a-half-hour ride from Tokyo by train or car. Alternatively, take a 20-minute bus ride from Odawara Station on the JR Line/Odakyu Line.

Shirahama Hot Springs

Located in Wakayama Prefecture, Shirahama hot springs offer visitors a touch of history and picturesque ocean views. They hold an important place in Japan’s history, with ancient books about how several notable emperors enjoyed soaking in Shirahama’s hot springs.

Shirahama is also home to what is said to be one of Japan’s oldest hot springs, Saki-no yu. Other must-visit hot springs in the area include the all-in-one Shirahama Onsen Park and the highly-rated Kaishu ryokan. There are also many open-air baths along the beach, such as Shirasuna hot spring, which allow you to bathe in your swimsuit while taking in view of the coastline.

How to get there: Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka Station, and transfer to the JR Limited Express Kuroshiro to Shirahama station. The trip in total will take around 5 hours. Or you can take an hour and 15 minutes plane from Haneda Airport to Nanki Shirahama Airport.

Atami Hot Springs

If you’re looking for a hot spring getaway, only a short trip from Tokyo, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture is your answer. Atami’s hot springs are mainly chloride springs, which offer many healing properties such as easing nerve, muscle, and joint pain and warming up the body.

Similarly to Shirahama, Atami’s hot springs have a rich history of visiting influential figures, including the first Edo era shogun, whose obsession with them encouraged many feudal lords to make the trip over and experience them first-hand. One Atami hot spring you will not want to miss out on is Izusan Onsen, considered one of Japan’s three great hot springs. If you’re after a hot spring rich in healing properties, head to Izu-Taga Onsen. While those after variety should visit Ryori Ryokan Nagisa-kan, which has eight different kinds of baths.

How to get there: Take the hour-long Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo, JR Odoriko, or Super Odoriko limited express train from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station.

When is the Best Time to Visit

Now we’ve sparked your interest in hot springs; you’re probably wondering when the best time to visit is. The good news is that there is no “best” time to visit – hot springs are an experience you can partake in year-round. However, each season has different draw cards for hot spring goers, as outlined below:

Spring (March to May): Spring is the season of cherry blossoms in Japan. So if the sound of being surrounded by cherry blossom trees as you enjoy your hot spring experience sounds like an ideal way to spend your holiday, make sure to book your trip from March to May.

Summer (June to August): Although dipping into a pool of steaming hot water may not seem like the most relaxing thing to do in the summertime, it’s surprisingly refreshing. After soaking in steaming hot spring water, you’ll feel much more relaxed after you make your way out. As summer sees hot spring visitors decline, it’s the perfect time to visit for those who don’t like crowds.

Autumn (September to November): Autumn in Japan is famed for the sheer beauty of its foliage. Think of a landscape that houses a palette of bright reds, oranges, yellows, and greens. Schedule your hot spring trip in autumn, and you’ll be able to take advantage of this most breathtaking sight.

Winter (December to February): When temperatures drop, there’s nothing better than warming up with a dip in a hot spring. Winter is one of the most popular times to indulge in hot springs, so be prepared to face crowds during the colder months at more frequented hot springs.

What to Pack

As you may have noticed in our Japanese travel guide, almost everything is set out in a highly organized and thoughtful way. Fortunately, many hot springs are no different – and will provide all of the essential items you need. This is particularly the case if you’re staying in a ryokan with a hot spring or go to a more upper-end hot spring.

That being said, some hot springs will not provide any items for free, so it’s best to do a quick check online to see if there’s any information about what is and isn’t offered at your particular hot spring.

To be on the safe side, be sure to pack the following items “just in case”:

• A small towel to carry around with you in the hot spring
• A large towel to dry off after the hot spring
• Toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
• A hair tie to tie up medium to long hair
• A change of clothes (optional)

If you forget to pack a towel or toiletries and your hot spring doesn’t provide them for free, you’ll usually be able to buy them for a small fee.

Things to Know Before You Go

When you visit a hot spring, you must uphold specific rules of etiquette. Here are some pointers of the most important things to remember:

Swimsuits aren’t allowed: Although there are indeed Japanese hot springs that allow bathing suits, most public hot springs will require you to bathe naked. If you’re shy, consider staying overnight in a ryokan with a private bath or renting out a private hot spring room by the hour.

Take a shower before you go in: Before entering the water, you must thoroughly wash. There will be a designated washing area, usually with small stools for you to sit on as you clean yourself.

Use a small towel as you walk around: You’ll see that locals carry around a small towel for the sake of modesty as they walk around – and you should make sure to follow suit.

Don’t let your towel touch the water: When you’re soaking in the hot spring, rest your towel on your head or the side of the bath. Don’t rinse your towel in the water or let it touch it, as this is considered very rude. 

Don’t treat hot springs like a swimming pool: Jumping in, splashing, swimming, or other boisterous behaviour is strictly prohibited in hot springs. Hot springs are for relaxation, so be mindful not to disturb the peace.

An important note if you have a tattoo/s: Some hot springs have strict rules against letting in people with tattoos. This conservative approach is based on the historical link in Japan between tattoos and organized crime. Even if you’re a foreigner with traditional tattoos from your country or a small tattoo, be prepared to be turned away by some places. Don’t be disheartened, though. There are many tattoo-friendly hot springs throughout the country. Make sure to check online beforehand to avoid disappointment.

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