From our other sites
Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, Japan Trove may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Soaking in an onsen (hot spring) is one of Japan’s great pleasures — and staying overnight in an onsen town, with a ryokan dinner and a soak under the stars, is unforgettable. Here are the best onsen towns and how to enjoy them.
Top onsen towns
- Hakone — easiest from Tokyo, with Mt. Fuji views; see our day trips guide (great overnight too).
- Kinosaki — a storybook town where you stroll between seven public baths in a yukata.
- Kusatsu — one of Japan’s most famous hot-spring resorts, with a dramatic steaming water field.
- Beppu & Yufuin (Kyushu) — a hot-spring wonderland and a chic, arty retreat side by side.
- Nyuto Onsen (Tohoku) — remote, rustic milky baths deep in the mountains.
Onsen etiquette (important)
- Wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath.
- No swimsuits — you bathe undressed; baths are usually gender-separated.
- Keep the small towel out of the water (rest it on your head or the side).
- Tie up long hair and don’t put it in the water.
- Tattoos can be restricted at some baths — look for tattoo-friendly onsen or private (kashikiri) baths; a ryokan room with a private bath sidesteps the issue.
Staying overnight
The magic is a ryokan with a kaiseki dinner and your own or a shared onsen. Book early, especially in autumn and winter — filter for onsen ryokan on Booking.com and Agoda .
When to go
Onsen are wonderful year-round, but a snowy outdoor bath in winter is peak Japan. See our best time to visit guide, and slot an onsen night into your itinerary.