{"id":8294,"date":"2015-04-07T22:46:02","date_gmt":"2015-04-07T21:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insidejapanblog.com\/?p=7960"},"modified":"2018-11-29T10:19:14","modified_gmt":"2018-11-29T10:19:14","slug":"the-best-onsen-hot-springs-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/07\/the-best-onsen-hot-springs-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"The best onsen hot springs in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>If you read\u00a0<a title=\"Japanese etiquette 101: How to Onsen\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/17\/japanese-etiquette-101-how-to-onsen\/\">my recent post on hot spring bathing etiquette<\/a>\u00a0a couple of weeks ago,\u00a0it\u00a0might well\u00a0have\u00a0got you\u00a0wondering where in Japan to whip out your new-found skills and cultural know-how.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-8147\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Onsen\" width=\"468\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7-390x224.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/onsen7-510x293.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a>If you were \u2013 you\u2019ve come to the right place. The following is a list, compiled by dedicated Japan experts who have denuded and submerged themselves in every prefecture of this fine archipelago, represents our pick of the best onsen hot springs in Japan. Don\u2019t forget \u2013 there are many <em>onsen <\/em>just as marvellous as these that we have yet to discover, so this list is far from exhaustive! I&#8217;ve listed our 15 fabulous favourites in no particular order.<\/p>\n<p>N.B. <em>Onsen <\/em>purists beware \u2013 this list includes <em>sento <\/em>bathhouses as well as official <em>onsen<\/em> (if you want to know the difference, <a title=\"Japanese etiquette 101: How to Onsen\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/17\/japanese-etiquette-101-how-to-onsen\/\">read my last post<\/a>). Deal with it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Nyuto Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Located in the Akita Prefecture in Japan\u2019s northern Tohoku Region, Nyuto Onsen is one of Japan\u2019s most famous hot spring areas. The name means \u201cnipple hot spring\u201d (apparently it\u2019s named after the shape of a nearby mountain), and the water here is a milky colour \u2013 almost blue in some lights.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7961\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7961\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/nyuto.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7961\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/nyuto-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Nyuto Onsen\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7961\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nyuto Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Tsuboyu (Yunomine Onsen)<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tsuboyu is the only hot spring bath in Japan to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Given this status, you\u2019d be forgiven for imagining an idyllic, steaming pool surrounded by spectacular views, with water the consistency of milk and honey. In actual fact, what you get is a gloomy stone shack about the size of a commode, which overhangs a river and stinks to high heaven of sulphur. But it\u2019s an experience, you have to give it that!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7962\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/tsuboyu.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7962\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/tsuboyu-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Tsuboyu\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tsuboyu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Kurama Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just 30 minutes by train from the heart of Kyoto, the beautiful little hot spring village of Kurama Onsen is the perfect option for those who don\u2019t have time to trek right into Japan\u2019s deepest countryside in search of a nice soak. For the best experience, head to the <em>onsen <\/em>after hiking from the neighbouring village, across the mountain pass.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7963\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7963\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kurama-onsen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7963\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kurama-onsen-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Kurama Onsen\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kurama Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>I Love Yuu Bathhouse<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rustic, traditional <em>onsen <\/em>are lovely \u2013 but the I Love Yuu Bathhouse on Japan\u2019s art-tastic Naoshima Island really is a breath of fresh air. The name is a multilingual play on words, as <em>yuu <\/em>is the Japanese word for \u201chot water\u201d, and inside you\u2019ll bathe in kitschy baths decorated with erotic art, pink palm trees, a giant elephant statue and much more. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7964\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7964\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/i-love-yuu.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7964\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/i-love-yuu-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"I Love Yuu\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I Love Yuu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Dogo Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This venerable bathhouse in Matsuyama City is the oldest surviving bathhouse in Japan, and is said to have inspired Hayao Miyazaki\u2019s masterpiece <em>Spirited Away<\/em>. The current building was opened in 1894, but the spa has a history stretching back over a millennium. Commoners such as ourselves can bathe here in the main baths, there is a special bath set aside for the sole use of the Japanese royal family!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7965\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/dogo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7965\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/dogo-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Dogo Onsen\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dogo Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Funaoka Bathhouse<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a similar vein to Dogo Onsen, the Funaoka is one of Kyoto\u2019s most famous and best-loved bathhouses. Opened in 1923, the dressing rooms are decorated with wood carvings depicting the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (controversial), and the bathhouse boasts a great array of indoor baths, outdoor baths, cypress baths, herbal baths, and even a bath with an electric current running through it! Funaoka is technically a <em>sento<\/em>, not an <em>onsen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7967\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7967\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/funaoka-onsen_mv01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7967\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/funaoka-onsen_mv01.jpg\" alt=\"Funaoka Onsen carvings (photo: Kyo1010.com)\" width=\"468\" height=\"228\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7967\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Funaoka Onsen carvings (photo: Kyo1010.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Osaka Spa World<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Osaka Spaworld is essentially an <em>onsen <\/em>theme park, with several different floors offering restaurants, beauty treatments, shops, swimming pools \u2013 and, of course, baths. There is an Asian floor and a European floor, each with baths running the gamut from a Grecian bath with columns and fountains, to a milk-and-honey bath in a cave, to a bath with giant fish tanks in the walls, to a Finnish sauna complete with model wolves \u2013 and much, much more besides. Spa World is so amazingly epic, in fact, that Claire Brothers of InsideJapan Tours declares it her favourite place in the entire world. High praise indeed from a lady who has <a title=\"Owl always love you\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/01\/22\/a-very-japanese-christmas\/\">visited an owl caf\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7968\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7968\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/spaworld.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7968\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/spaworld-720x567.jpg\" alt=\"Islamic bath at Osaka Spa World (photo: Kansaiscene.com)\" width=\"468\" height=\"369\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7968\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Islamic bath at Osaka Spa World (photo: Kansaiscene.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Kinosaki Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Located in Hyogo Prefecture in the southwest of Japan, Kinosaki Onsen is a classic hot spring town sandwiched between mountains and sea. Hot springs were discovered here in the eighth century, and today visitors still come here to stay in the beautiful traditional inns and take the waters at the seven lovely bathhouses, connected by lantern-lit wooden bridges.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7969\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7969\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kinosaki.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7969\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kinosaki-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Kinosaki Onsen in the winter (photo: JNTO)\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7969\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kinosaki Onsen in the winter (photo: JNTO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Jigokudani Monkey Park<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A monkey park? But this is an article about hot spring baths?! Indeed it is, and no discussion of hot springs could possibly be complete without mentioning the <em>onsen<\/em>-bathing snow monkeys of Jigokudani. They. Are. Adorable. Unfortunately you can\u2019t just jump into the monkey spring, but there are human springs aplenty in the nearby town of Yudanaka Onsen.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7970\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7970\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/moneksy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7970\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/moneksy-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Monkeys relaxing at Jigokudani\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7970\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monkeys relaxing at Jigokudani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Hirayu Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A new addition to our list of favourite <em>onsen<\/em>, Hirayu Onsen is one of five <em>onsen <\/em>towns in the Okuhida area of the northern Japan Alps. Of the five, Hirayu is the oldest and largest, and is said to have been discovered in the 1560s. We highly recommend heading to the <em>onsen <\/em>after a long day of skiing on the slopes nearby!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7971\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7971\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hirayu.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7971\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hirayu.jpg\" alt=\"InsideJapan Tours customers enjoying Hirayu Onsen in the snow\" width=\"468\" height=\"352\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7971\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">InsideJapan Tours customers enjoying Hirayu Onsen in the snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Kawayu Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Located on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, deep in the countryside of the Kii Peninsula, Kawayu Onsen is a hot spring town not far from Yunomine Onsen (mentioned above). Our favourite hotel in the town, the Fujiya Ryokan, sits on the banks of the Ohto River and is famous for its giant <em>senninburo <\/em>bath, carved from the riverbank. The <em>senninburo <\/em>(meaning thousand-person-bath) is only there during the winter months, but in summer you can dig your own hot spring bath instead!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7972\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7972\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kawayu-onsen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7972\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kawayu-onsen-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"The senninburo in Kawayu Onsen (Photo: Kumano Kodo Tourist Board)\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7972\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The <i>senninburo<\/i> in Kawayu Onsen (Photo: Kumano Kodo Tourist Board)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Takaragawa Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Takaragawa Onsen is located in rural Gunma Prefecture, slap-bang in the middle of nowhere on the banks of a river surrounded by trees. This is a beautiful, peaceful <em>onsen <\/em>in a stunning location \u2013 in fact, you\u2019d have to try pretty hard to do better than this!<\/p>\n<p>[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YcxOoHpkJ2Y&amp;w=560&amp;h=315]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Kusatsu Onsen<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Though most foreigners will never have heard of it, Kusatsu is one of Japan\u2019s favourite <em>onsen <\/em>towns. Also located in Gunma (home to Takaragawa Onsen), the town is built around the Yubatake (hot water field) \u2013 the single largest source of hot spring water in Japan, providing 5,000 litres per minute.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7973\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7973\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kusatsu.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7973\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kusatsu-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yubatake at the centre of Kusatsu Onsen\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7973\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yubatake at the centre of Kusatsu Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Lake Kussharo<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One of our favourite hot spring spots on Japan\u2019s northern island of Hokkaido is Lake Kussharo, the largest of the three caldera lakes that make up Akan National Park. Here you can soak in one of the area\u2019s lovely hot spring baths, or even dig your own from the steaming lakeshore.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7974\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7974\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kussharo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7974\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/kussharo-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Kussharo\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7974\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lake Kussharo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><strong>Hakone<\/strong><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Our final hot spring favourite is Hakone, a famous hot spring resort in the shadow of Mount Fuji &#8211; just a stone&#8217;s throw from Tokyo. Here there are no end of excellent <em>ryokan <\/em>inns with their own lovely hot spring baths, and if you eat a black egg boiled in the bubbling <em>owakudani <\/em>it&#8217;s said that you&#8217;ll extend your life by seven years.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7976\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7976\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hakone.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hakone-720x333.jpg\" alt=\"View across Lake Ashi, Hakone\" width=\"468\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7976\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View across Lake Ashi, Hakone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>See yourself sinking into a relaxing\u00a0<em>onsen<\/em>? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get in touch with our team of Japan travel experts<\/a> to start planning your trip.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F8294\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! If you read\u00a0my recent post on hot spring bathing etiquette\u00a0a couple of weeks ago,\u00a0it\u00a0might well\u00a0have\u00a0got you\u00a0wondering where in Japan to whip out your new-found skills and cultural know-how. If you were \u2013 you\u2019ve come to the right place. The following is a list, compiled by dedicated Japan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2362],"tags":[1630,2517,2518,2519],"class_list":["post-8294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-places-and-where-to-stay-in-japan","tag-hot-spring-baths","tag-onsen-hot-springs","tag-sento-bathhouses","tag-hot-springs-in-japan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8294"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22312,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8294\/revisions\/22312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}