Warm Up in Winter While Admiring Scenic Views: A Tour of Japan’s Top 10 Hot Springs

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Japan’s distinctive hot spring culture has led to the creation of dedicated hot spring inns and bathhouses, and the Japanese have further diversified their offerings to provide a rich array of bathing experiences for enthusiasts. Some hot spring sightseeing areas even boast over 20 different types of baths. Rakuten Travel’s booking site surveyed the top ten most worthwhile hot springs for a hot spring pilgrimage, ensuring that travelers looking to experience authentic Japanese bathing culture this winter will leave feeling thoroughly warmed—body and soul.

The top ten most worthwhile hot springs for a hot spring pilgrimage in Japan are jointly claimed by the premium bathhouse “Naruko Onsen Ryokan Onuma” and “Ikaho Onsen Kinoe Ryokan” for first place, while Hokkaido’s “Kitayuzawa Onsen Yumoto Holoholo Mountain Villa” and Iwate Prefecture’s “Iwate Hanamaki Onsen Nanao Onsen Fujisan Ryokan” share third place.

Naruko Onsen Ryokan Onuma – Experience a Premium Private Open-Air Bath

The first-place winner, “Naruko Onsen Ryokan Onuma,” boasts a century-long history and is known for its healing hot springs. It features a natural free-flowing open-air bath and offers private, family, and mixed-gender nude baths, with a total of eight differently styled bathhouses. Five of them can also be reserved for private use, allowing each guest to enjoy an ultra-private bathing experience. The separate open-air bath “Moeri-no-Yu,” surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, feels like stepping into a travel poster. Visitors rave about the breathtaking views and praise it as Japan’s top choice for seasonal hot spring getaways.

Ikaho Onsen Kinoe Ryokan – A 400-Year-Old Hot Spring Inn in Gunma Prefecture

Also taking first place, “Ikaho Onsen Kinoe Ryokan” is famed for its spring water output of 1,000–1,100 liters per minute. Operating for 400 years, the inn houses 21 different bathhouses, each with its own unique characteristics and therapeutic benefits. Among them, the most well-known are the standing bath “Senraku,” which offers views of majestic distant mountains and has a water depth of 1 meter, and “Sennyu,” featuring spa massage functions that help improve eczema and promote beautiful skin. The garden area also includes five open-air baths and saunas among other facilities. Additionally, to ensure every guest enjoys the most beautiful scenery, the inn rotates the locations of the men’s and women’s baths at different times of the day, allowing visitors to fully experience the diverse features of each bathhouse.

Yumoto Holoholo Mountain Villa / Fujisan Ryokan – A Myriad of Hot Spring Types and Rare Rock Baths with Unique Character

Ranked third, “Kitayuzawa Onsen Yumoto Holoholo Mountain Villa” offers guests 10 types of free-flowing hot springs to choose from, including tub baths, standing baths, aromatic baths, jet baths, shower streams, reclining baths, and open-air baths. Their rarity and playful variety make them especially popular. Also earning third place, Iwate Prefecture’s “Iwate Hanamaki Onsen Nanao Onsen Fujisan Ryokan” is a 600-year-old traditional inn, featuring five bathhouses where guests can soak in a semi-open-air bath with views of Shiraito Falls or enjoy a rock bath carved naturally from stone, experiencing a uniquely styled hot spring journey.

Japan’s Top Ten Popular Hot Springs Ideal for a Hot Spring Pilgrimage:

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