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A red hot-spring pond at the Hells of Beppu

Nature & hot springs

Hot springs

Steaming towns, riverside bathhouse-hopping, a spring with three thousand years of history. Wash before you get in, and keep your towel out of the water.

Travel tips

  • Some baths don't admit people with tattoos. Check ahead, or look for private baths.

10 places to go

Tap a pin to jump to that place's description.

Hokkaido

  1. 1

    Noboribetsu Onsen

    Attraction

    Many kinds of spring water rising from Jigokudani (Hell Valley).

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  2. 2

    Lake Toya Onsen

    Attraction

    Hot springs on the shore of a lake.

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Kanto

  1. 3

    Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake

    Attraction

    One of Japan's best-known hot-spring towns, with steam rising from the Yubatake. Reached by bus.

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  2. 4

    Hakone-Yumoto

    Station

    The gateway to the hot springs closest to Tokyo, with many day-use baths.

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Chubu & Hokuriku

  1. 5

    Gero Onsen

    Attraction

    A famous spring in Gifu, with inns along the river.

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Kansai

  1. 6

    Arima Onsen

    Station

    One of Japan's oldest hot springs, in the hills behind Kobe.

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  2. 7

    Kinosaki Onsen

    Station

    A town where you stroll between seven public baths in a yukata.

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Shikoku

  1. 8

    Dogo Onsen

    Station

    Reached by tram in Matsuyama; its Meiji-era main bathhouse is the landmark.

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Kyushu

  1. 9

    Beppu Hells (Kannawa)

    Attraction

    The town with Japan's largest hot-spring output; tour its colourful "hells".

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  2. 10

    Yufuin

    Station

    A relaxed hot-spring town at the foot of Mount Yufu.

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From people who went

Tips about the places in this theme, most helpful first.

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Event dates, operating days, reservation rules and opening hours can change. Please check the official information before you go.

Photo and data credits

A red hot-spring pond at the Hells of Beppu Photos of Japan (CC0) / Steam rising from Jigokudani hell valley at Noboribetsu Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Lake Toya and Nakajima island Kentaro Ohno (CC0) / Lake Ashi and the Hakone Shrine torii with Mt. Fuji beyond Charlie fong (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The riverside park along the Arima River in the hot-spring town Wpcpey (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The three-story wooden building of Dogo Onsen Honkan z tanuki (CC BY 3.0) / The street in front of Yufuin Station with Mt. Yufu ahead そらみみ (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cropped and resized.