Focus on
温泉で楽しむ
enjoying the onsen
Healing powers and stunning views
More than 3,000 onsen towns dot Japan’s mountain ranges, river valleys, and coastlines, offering a unique cultural experience and some of the most breathtaking views of Japan from the waters of outdoor rotenburo. Don’t miss a chance to enjoy this quintessential Japanese custom, as onsen are the perfect place not only to rejuvenate but also to meet Japanese people on weekend getaways or on extended stays for balneotherapy.
Whether it’s a sento or onsen, etiquette is the same. With few exceptions, bathing is done in the nude, and customers must soap up and rinse off from head to toe at one of the taps lining the wall before entering the bath. Washcloths, provided free or for sale, should never touch the bathwater (it’s a good idea to drape it over your head to keep track of it).
For a unique experience beyond the typical onsen, there are other spa treatments to discover—some of which allow patrons to be clothed or wear swimsuits. At Yunessun Spa Resort in Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture) you can swim in pools filled with wine or sake, each claiming to have specific health benefits. On Ibusuki beach (Kagoshima Prefecture) customers dress in yukatas (cotton kimonos) and are buried up to their necks in the hot, black sand, supposedly to improve fertility and help with weight loss.
Fuji views
Head to Lake Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi Prefecture)for onsen with views of Mount Fuji.
Ryokan
Traditional inns (ryokan) often have their own private onsen or sento for patrons.
split baths
Baths are usually separated by gender, with a blue curtain signifying the men and a pink one for women.
Be More Japan Enjoying The Onsen
D Clockwise from top left: Ibusuki beach (Kagoshima Prefecture); Nyuto Onsen (Akita Prefecture); Beppu (Oita Prefecture); washcloth etiquette; Hell Valley (Hokkaido Prefecture); Hoshi Chojukan ryokan (Gunma Prefecture); Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi Prefecture); Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture)