In this article, we have carefully selected 15 must-visit tourist spots in Gifu, from classic attractions you can’t miss to hidden gems recommended for seasoned travelers. You are sure to find a place that suits your travel style!

[Conclusion] Two Major Gifu Sightseeing Itineraries

We propose two model courses for efficiently touring the vast Gifu Prefecture.

• Golden Route (Enjoying the Hida Area):
  • Day 1: Base yourself at Takayama Station, stroll through the “Hida Takayama Old Town,” and stay overnight in Takayama.
  • Day 2: Take a day trip to “Shirakawa-go” by bus. In the evening, stay at Okuhida Onsen-go or Gero Onsen.
• History and Nature Route (Mino & Tono Areas):
  • Day 1: Head from Nagoya to “Magome-juku.” Walking the Nakasendo trail to Tsumago-juku is also recommended.
  • Day 2: Move to the Gifu Station area and enjoy “Gifu Castle” and “Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River.”

MAP

[Hida Area]

1. Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village | A Quintessential Japanese Landscape Recognized by the World

Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, this is one of Japan’s most representative tourist destinations. The scenery, with over 100 large and small Gassho-zukuri farmhouses, feels as if you’ve wandered into a fairy tale. The view during the winter light-up events, with snow blanketing the village, is breathtakingly beautiful. The classic way to enjoy it is to view the entire village from the observatory.

https://jatrabridge.com/2020/10/03/6852/gasshozukuri-minkaen-outdoor-museum/

2. Hida Takayama Old Town (Sanmachi) | A Castle Town Fun for Food Hopping

Known as the “Little Kyoto of Hida,” this is a central tourist spot in Takayama. The area strongly retains the atmosphere of an Edo-period castle town, and the “Sanmachi-dori” street, with its beautiful latticed houses, is a must-see. You’ll find sake breweries offering local sake tasting, miso shops, and traditional craft stores. A major attraction is strolling and eating delicious local gourmet food like Hida beef nigiri sushi and mitarashi dango.

https://jatrabridge.com/2025/04/11/13878/a-perfect-day-in-hida-takayama-the-ultimate-walking-tour-for-foodies-history-lovers/

3. Shinhotaka Ropeway | Panoramic Views of the Northern Alps

Ride Japan’s only double-decker gondola to a world above the clouds at an altitude of 2,156 meters. From the mountaintop observatory, a 360-degree grand panorama of the majestic Northern Alps, including Mt. Nishi-Hotakadake and Mt. Yarigatake, unfolds. You can enjoy stunning views throughout the year, from the fresh green of spring and the colors of autumn to the silver world of winter.

4. Gero Onsen | “Waters of Beauty,” One of Japan’s Three Famous Springs

One of the “Three Famous Hot Springs of Japan,” alongside Arima Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen. The smooth water is gentle on the skin and is known as “Bijin-no-yu” (Waters of Beauty) because it leaves your skin feeling smooth after bathing. The hot spring town is dotted with free footbaths, which you can casually enjoy during a stroll. Walking through the charming town in a yukata is also recommended.

https://jatrabridge.com/2019/12/10/3434/lets-look-for-frogs-in-gero-onsen-hot-spring-in-gifu/

5. Takayama Jinya | A Precious Historic Site with a Remaining Edo-Period Office

This was the government office (daikansho/gundai yakusho) established by the Edo shogunate to directly rule the Hida region. As the only remaining gundai yakusho building in the entire country, it is a place of extremely high historical value. Inside the building, you can tour the offices of the officials of the time and the “oshirasu” (a place like a courtroom), making you feel as if you’ve slipped back in time to the Edo period.

6. Okuhida Onsen-go | Five Hot Spring Areas Embraced by Nature

This is the collective name for five hot spring areas: Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio, and Shinhotaka. Located at the foot of the Northern Alps, each hot spring area is surrounded by rich nature. The open-air baths with views of the magnificent mountains are exceptional. It is the perfect place to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and refresh both mind and body.

[Mino & Tono Area]

7. Gifu Castle & Mt. Kinka Ropeway | The Grand View Seen by Oda Nobunaga

This castle is famous as the base from which the warlord Oda Nobunaga aimed to unify Japan. It stands atop Mt. Kinka and can be easily reached by ropeway. From the castle keep, you can get a panoramic view of the Nagara River flowing below, the city of Gifu, and even the skyscrapers of Nagoya in the distance, truly making you feel as if you have “conquered the world.”

https://jatrabridge.com/2020/04/25/4932/a-powerful-night-view-looking-down-from-gifu-castle/

8. Magome-juku | A Beautiful Post Town with Cobblestone Slopes

This was one of the post towns on the Nakasendo, a major highway that once connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyo (Kyoto). The scenery, with old houses, souvenir shops, and tea houses lining the steep, cobblestone slope, is very atmospheric. The hiking trail to the neighboring Tsumago-juku is also popular, allowing you to enjoy walking the old highway as if you were a traveler of the past.

9. Monet’s Pond (Nemichi Shrine Pond) | A Fantastical Pond Famous on Social Media

This is a nameless pond on the grounds of Nemichi Shrine, but it shot to fame on social media because its beauty closely resembles Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” series of paintings. The sight of colorful carp swimming and water lilies floating in the surprisingly clear spring water is truly like a living painting.

https://jatrabridge.com/2019/12/25/3652/like-a-painting-monets-pond-is-a-new-famous-sightseeing-place-of-gifu-2/

10. Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River (Ukai) | A Traditional Fishing Method with 1300 Years of History

A summer tradition in Gifu City. In the pitch-black darkness, blazing bonfires (kagaribi) illuminate the river surface as master fishers (usho) skillfully handle cormorants to catch ayu (sweetfish). You can watch this traditional fishing method up close from a viewing boat, which is a very fantastical and powerful experience. It is held annually from May 11th to October 15th.

11. Gujo Hachiman | A Castle Town of Water and the Gujo Odori Dance

Known as the “Town of Water,” with waterways running throughout the town. The summer “Gujo Odori” is famous as Japan’s longest Bon dance festival, where anyone can freely participate. It is also known as the birthplace of food replicas, and the replica-making workshops are popular.

https://jatrabridge.com/2020/04/26/4862/what-is-the-charm-of-the-gujo-odori-how-to-have-fun-all-night-dance-2/

12. Sekigahara Battlefield | The Site of the Battle that Divided the Nation

This is the stage for the “Battle of Sekigahara” in 1600, where the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari clashed. It’s a must-visit place for history buffs. At the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum, you can learn about the battle through powerful videos and exhibits.

13. Yoro Falls & Yoro Park | A Park of Filial Piety Legends and Art

A famous waterfall with a legend of a “filial son who brought back spring water for his father, only to find it had turned into sake.” It is also selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls. The surrounding area is developed as Yoro Park, and the “Site of Reversible Destiny,” dotted with eccentric art installations, is also a unique and popular spot.

14. Tsukechi Gorge | Emerald Green Mountain Stream

A nature-rich gorge selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Forests for Forest Bathing. The river water is incredibly clear and shines emerald green. The contrast between the fiery reds and yellows of the autumn leaves and the clear stream is particularly stunning during the fall foliage season.

15. Hida Great Limestone Cave | Japan’s Highest Tourist Limestone Cave

Located at an altitude of 900 meters, this is the highest tourist limestone cave in Japan. The average temperature inside the cave is about 10°C throughout the year, feeling cool in summer and warm in winter. You will be overwhelmed by the mystical beauty of the formations created by nature over tens of thousands of years.

Summary

Gifu Prefecture is full of tourist destinations with completely different charms in each area. From the stunning views of World Heritage sites and historic townscapes to untouched nature, you are sure to find a place that piques your interest. Please use this article as a reference to plan a wonderful trip to Gifu!

A one-day trip to Shirakawago to visit Gujo Hachiman and Hida Takayama (departing from Nagoya)

https://jatrabridge.com/2020/09/26/6685/hida-takayama-best-food-and-places-to-eat-handpicked-by-local-residents-2/

These accommodations are perfect as tourist bases in Kanazawa, dotted with attractive landmarks like “Kenrokuen” and “Kanazawa 21st Century Museum.”

Why not plan a trip that fully enjoys both the hot springs and the sights of Kanazawa?

Natural Hot Spring Kaga no Takara-sen Oyado Nono Kanazawa

Opened in April 2021, “Natural Hot Spring Kaga no Takara-sen Onyado Nono Kanazawa” is a hot spring inn from the Dormy Inn chain, where you can feel the softness and gloss of Japanese style throughout the building.

The pride of the inn is its spacious bathhouse, which includes a wide sauna and a cold bath, creating an open and liberating space. There are also open-air baths and pot baths available for a relaxing time. The tatami-mat rooms equipped with beds offer the comfort of feeling like you are at home. You can choose from single, twin, or double rooms depending on the number of people.

Don’t miss the breakfast where you can enjoy local menus and freshly made egg dishes, starting with a customizable seafood bowl where you can top it with your favorite seafood like yellowtail, sweet shrimp, and salmon roe.

Natural Hot Spring Relax Park Terume Kanazawa

Enjoy a tour of the baths at “Natural Hot Spring Relax Park Terume Kanazawa,” the largest bathing facility in the Hokuriku area. Centered around a large bathhouse using natural hot springs, it offers over 10 types of baths for both men and women, including 100% free-flowing source water baths, high-concentration carbonated baths, and daily medicinal herb baths.

Rooms are available in various sizes for both Japanese and Western styles. For dinner, enjoy Japanese izakaya dishes heavily featuring seafood from the Sea of Japan, or choose a genuine yakiniku restaurant offering quality meats and seafood. The breakfast buffet with over 30 dishes is also popular.

The hotel also features a full range of facilities, including an esthetic salon, a kids’ corner, and karaoke, making it perfect for a comfortable stay with family.

Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Hyakurakuso

Enjoy a private adult getaway at the secluded “Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Hyakurakuso.” Upon arrival, you’re welcomed with a stylish Japanese afternoon tea. The spacious lounge allows for an elegant moment of relaxation.

Rooms are available in two buildings, one themed around “beauty and excitement” for great social media shots, and another offering suites and a premium lounge for an upgraded stay. Enjoy the hot springs in the main building with a large communal bath and private open-air baths, or one of the four private baths in the auxiliary building, allowing for undisturbed relaxation.

Dinner is a kaiseki meal incorporating the seasons of Kanazawa. For special occasions, consider adding exquisite dishes like “Selected Noto Beef Rock Salt Grill” or “Whole Salt Grilled Blackthroat Seaperch.”

Access to Yuwaku Onsen is about a 45-minute bus ride from JR Kanazawa Station.

Natural Hot Spring Kaga no Yuizumi Dormy Inn Kanazawa

“Natural Hot Spring Kaga no Yuizumi Dormy Inn Kanazawa,” located about a 2-minute walk from JR Kanazawa Station, offers excellent accessibility. This facility is the Dormy Inn Group’s first designer hotel, boasting a stylish space that belies its business hotel classification.

It features the only gender-separated natural hot spring large public bath around Kanazawa Station, offering a fantastical and modern Japanese aesthetic. With a spacious sauna and cold bath, as well as an open-air bath and pot baths, you can relax to your heart’s content. The tatami mat rooms equipped with beds offer a homely comfort. Choose from single, twin, or double rooms according to the number of guests.

Don’t miss the breakfast options, including local specialties like your choice of seafood donburi and Hanton Rice, as well as a variety of small dishes and freshly made egg dishes. The late-night ramen service is also popular.

APA Hotel <Kanazawa Chuo>

“APA Hotel <Kanazawa Chuo>,” a large urban hotel boasting 513 rooms, is located about an 8-minute drive from JR Kanazawa Station. Close to attractions like Kenrokuen Garden and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, it’s ideal for both business and sightseeing.

The top-floor scenic open-air bath “Souken no Yu” offers spectacular views of Kanazawa city and the distant Sea of Japan. After enjoying the hot springs, why not relax with a healing sauna (stone sauna), massage, or Korean-style scrub?

Rooms are functional Western-style, and all are equipped with free VOD, allowing access to over 200 titles, including movies. Breakfast is served at the in-house “Seattle’s Best Coffee,” offering a daily Japanese set meal.

Natural Hot Spring Kogado no Yu Super Hotel Premier Kanazawa Ekimae

Located approximately 7 minutes on foot from JR Kanazawa Station and an ideal base for sightseeing in Kanazawa, “Natural Hot Spring Kogado no Yu Super Hotel Premier Kanazawa Ekimae” offers gender-separated large public baths using simple thermal springs, allowing guests to thoroughly unwind from their travels.

The hotel features a variety of room types, including ladies’ rooms for solo female travelers, theater rooms with large screens, and family rooms. The breakfast includes a spread of organic vegetables, specially cultivated rice, and locally sourced dishes. In the evening, guests can relax in the lounge with alcoholic and soft drinks, although dinner is not served on the premises—allowing guests to enjoy their evening meal out in Kanazawa before returning to the hotel for drinks.

Oyado Yamashita

“Oyado Yamashita,” known for having been visited by the painter Takehisa Yumeji and his lover, features a gallery displaying Yumeji’s works on each guest room floor, allowing guests to enjoy art viewing while enveloped by Kanazawa’s nature.

The pride of the inn, the hot spring, uses water from the historically loved Yamanaka Onsen. Facilities are child-friendly, with bath toys and chairs available. After a relaxing bath, guests can unwind further in the relaxation space.

Rooms include standard rooms with wide edges and stepping stones, and a maisonette type available for one group per day. The dining experience features creative kaiseki cuisine using seasonal ingredients served in the rooms for both breakfast and dinner. Special plans featuring local delicacies like Noto beef and boxed crabs are also recommended.

Access to Yamanaka Onsen is about a 45-minute bus ride from JR Kanazawa Station.

Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Yuno Ryokan

“Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Yuno Ryokan” is a place where you can feel the Japanese ambiance at every corner, from the tea rooms to the lush green courtyards. The onsen is a colorless, transparent, weak alkaline saline spring gentle on the skin. Guests can enjoy a spacious indoor bath with two bath types—one made from red granite shaped like plum flowers and another with the fragrance of cypress—and an open-air bath.

The guest rooms vary from cozy traditional rooms to special rooms and rooms with their own open-air baths. Dining at the ryokan features kaiseki meals that change monthly, utilizing seasonal seafood and local specialties like Noto beef, nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), and Kaga vegetables. The breakfast buffet includes local dishes like “toppe” and “berobero” and is not to be missed.

Natural Hot Spring & Health Land Kanazawa Yumenoyu

“Natural Hot Spring & Health Land Kanazawa Yumenoyu” boasts extensive facilities including a healing corner and karaoke room. Though it’s about a 15-minute drive from JR Kanazawa Station, a free shuttle bus is available for convenience.

Enjoy a variety of baths such as an open-air bath with natural stones, the largest bath in the prefecture featuring radium water, powerful jet baths, and carbonated baths infused with natural hot spring water. It’s a bonus that you can enjoy the natural hot spring water in the baths of the Western-style rooms as well.

With diverse dining facilities offering Japanese, Western, Chinese, Indian, and barbecue options, you can choose whatever suits your mood or preference. The breakfast is a Japanese set meal with free refills on drinks, rice, and miso soup.

Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Yamane

Perched on a hill and enveloped by the greenery of the countryside, “Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Yamane” offers a 100% natural hot spring that is gentle on the skin. Its open-air baths are set amongst bamboo groves, allowing guests to enjoy the changing seasons and natural soundscape while soaking in the healing waters.

The indoor bath features a small stained-glass window that evokes the spirit of painter Yumeji Takehisa, who once stayed in the area. Another highlight is the private open-air bath carved from a single block of Kaga clan’s secret stone “Tomuroishi.”

The ryokan has ten guest rooms in total. Options include purely Japanese-style rooms, rooms with living areas furnished with sofas, and special rooms equipped with their own open-air baths. Dining here is a particular treat with dishes such as rice cooked in a traditional kamado stove, and local seafood grilled on a Suzu diatomite charcoal grill, all curated by the head chef. Be sure to check out the irori (sunken hearth) dining room, which can be booked in advance for an exclusive dining experience.

Access to Yuwaku Onsen is approximately 45 minutes by bus from JR Kanazawa Station.

MAP

Osaka has long been known as “the nation’s kitchen,” and is now also known as a city of gluttony.

There are markets that gather fresh seafood, so you can enjoy a fish breakfast. If you go with friends, you can wake each other up without worrying about oversleeping!

If you’re traveling to Osaka, try spending a lovely morning time at the market.

Want to have a good breakfast when traveling!

Even if you want to have a proper breakfast, it’s hard to find time to eat leisurely in your busy daily life, and you often end up with something simple or skipping it.

Why not take your time for breakfast on your trip, a chance to enjoy a richer time than usual?

Enjoy breakfast at the “market” in gourmet city Osaka

Osaka, known long ago as “the nation’s kitchen,” is now renowned as a city of gluttony.

If you travel to Osaka, you’ll look forward to a delicious breakfast.

If you’re wondering where to go, I recommend the shops inside “Osaka City Central Wholesale Market” and “Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market.”

These markets gather delicious things like seafood and seasonal vegetables, and many shops are open from the morning, so you can enjoy a satisfying breakfast.

“Osaka City Central Wholesale Market” with famous stores on its vast grounds

The “Osaka City Central Wholesale Market” is located in Fukushima Ward, Osaka City.

The nearest station is JR Loop Line “Noda Station,” about a 10-minute walk from the station.

It’s a vast area where fresh fish and vegetables are gathered from all over the world.

The restaurants are open to the public, not just to traders, so check their business hours and head out.

Central Market Endo

Fresh and Delicious “Grab Sushi”

The sushi restaurant “Endo,” with over 100 years of history, is known for its “Grab Sushi,” where instead of forming the rice, warm rice is gently grabbed and topped with the ingredient.

The restaurant opens around 5:00 AM and is popular enough to be fully booked from the morning.

What most people order is the “Jou-maze,” which is a set of five pieces of chef’s choice sushi.

If you have any dislikes, they’ll ask beforehand, so make sure to let them know.

If you ask for seconds, another set of five different pieces will be added.

Each piece is fresh and voluminous, and needless to say, delicious.

You’ll also want to try the red miso soup, blended with several kinds of miso.

It pairs perfectly with sushi! It’s an indispensable menu item at this restaurant.

Dining Place Daiki

Choose Seafood, Meat, or Udon Depending on Your Mood

“Dining Place Daiki ” is a friendly restaurant with the charm of a local diner.

Its seafood bowls, made with fresh seafood, are extremely popular, beloved by market workers and the general public alike.

The restaurant’s famous seafood bowl is a popular menu item that many people visit just to enjoy.

With market-freshness, your stomach will be fully satisfied from the morning.

There are also a variety of set meals and à la carte dishes, making it hard to choose just one.

The set meals range from fish dishes like grilled fish and sashimi to meat dishes like ginger pork and tonkatsu.

There are also noodle dishes like udon and soba, so you can choose whatever you feel like eating that day.

Miyoshi Dining Hall

Choose Your Side Dishes in a Self-Service Style for a Happy Feeling

The homely atmosphere of “Miyoshi Dining Hall” is irresistible.

It opens around 4:00 AM. You can select your favorite side dishes from those lined up on the counter in a self-service style.

The counter is lined with homemade dishes such as fresh fish used in simmered and grilled dishes, as well as other homely dishes.

There’s also mom’s taste in dishes like tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) and sesame-dressed dishes.

Of course, there are also market-unique side dishes like fresh sashimi.

Enjoying a little side dish and sashimi from the morning can make your whole day feel happy.

Central Market Dining Hall(Maido Ookini)

Fun with Customizable Set Meals.

The “Central Market Dining Hall” is located on the 2nd floor of the market’s east building. Although a bit hard to find, this restaurant is worth seeking out for its delicious, low-priced, and generously portioned dishes.

The “Four-item Set Meal” comes with one main dish, three small side dishes, rice, miso soup, and even includes dessert and coffee.

The side dishes change daily, featuring seasonal ingredients.

Deciding how to combine them is a delightful dilemma, and with three side dishes, you can enjoy a well-balanced meal.

It’s a recommended restaurant for those concerned about beauty, as you can have a healthy meal right from the morning.

The 300-Year-Old Kitchen of Osaka: “Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market”

The “Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market,” supporting the stomachs of Osaka residents, is conveniently located about a 4-minute walk from the Midosuji Line’s “Daikokucho Station” and about 5 minutes from the Nankai Electric Railway’s “Imamiyaebisu Station”.

It’s a market with a welcoming atmosphere for both regular customers and tourists, offering a range of shops where you can easily shop and enjoy delicious meals.

Maruyoshi

Fresh and Luxurious Yet Affordable and Satisfying

There are many popular shops in the Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market, but “Maruyoshi” stands out among sushi restaurants for its cost-performance.

It’s the ideal place for those who want to indulge in sushi in the morning but prefer to keep the price reasonable!

Even if you order a sushi platter, it’s more affordable than typical sushi restaurants. Of course, since it’s in the market, everything you eat is fresh.

While the sushi is delicious, the specialty of the restaurant is the “Seafood Bowl”.

The bowl is overflowing with the bounty of the sea, making you wonder where to start.

It’s voluminous, but so delicious that you’ll finish it in no time.

Kanae Sushi

Excitement at an Established Store Serving “Grab Sushi”

“Kanae Sushi,” popular alongside “Maruyoshi,” is a place where you can enjoy Osaka’s unique “Grab Sushi.”

The fluffy texture of rice that melts in your mouth offers a unique experience different from typical sushi, definitely something to try when in Osaka.

The restaurant focuses solely on nigiri, without offering other dishes like seafood bowls.

A standard serving of nigiri assortment includes 8 pieces.

The toppings are generously sized, ensuring a substantial volume.

The overflowing uni (sea urchin) is exciting to behold and deliciously rich. If you want to satisfy your hunger with fresh fish, this is definitely a place to visit.

Mitsuwa Shokudou

Savor Osaka’s Specialty “Meat Rolls”

“Mitsuwa Shokudou” is a set meal restaurant in the market, offering a menu with fresh ingredients unique to its location and a wide variety of à la carte dishes.

The taste of the meat was great too~

The signature dish of the restaurant is the “Meat Roll Set Meal.”

Meat rolls, beloved by Osakans, are a specialty where sweet and spicy simmered beef is wrapped in a dashimaki tamago (Japanese omelette).

The seasoning makes you want to eat more and more rice, and you’ll find yourself eating heartily even in the morning.

The “Sashimi Set Meal” with fresh sashimi is, of course, delicious too. You might want to eat everything, so it could be a good idea to share with friends.

Kawakami Shop

Indulge in Perfectly Grilled Eel

“Kawakami Shop” is an established eel specialty store dating back to the Meiji era.

The shop opens around 5:00 AM, so you can enjoy delicious eel from the morning.

It’s nice to indulge yourself once in a while when traveling.

The eel is grilled to a crisp on the outside while keeping the inside fluffy, in the Kansai style.

Unlike the Kanto style, it’s not steamed, offering a different texture.

Their popular “Unagi Tamago Roll,” eel wrapped in fluffy tamagoyaki, is a must-try.

Takeaway eel is also available.

Eel bento boxes are delicious even when cold, so it’s a good idea to buy one for lunch if you’ve already eaten breakfast at another shop.

Super Public Bath “Taihei no Yu Namba Store” on the Second Floor of the Market

In the heart of Osaka Minami, near Namba, is the super public bath “Taihei no Yu Namba Store.”

Its most unique feature is its location. It’s a super public bath situated on the second floor of the over 300-year-old “Osaka Kizu Regional Wholesale Market.”

Due to its location above the market, the “dining area” inside offers fresh seafood directly from the market, which is the biggest charm of “Taihei no Yu Namba Store.” Its allure has even been featured on TV! Super public bath gourmet using chef’s choice fresh fish is an exclusive benefit here.

MAP

You can enter the open-air bath anytime you like, making it perfect for couples or family trips.

This time, we introduce recommended hotels and ryokans in Osaka Prefecture with rooms that have open-air baths.

Also, check out the world’s first “Official Champagne Hotel”!

We also picked up a few rare hot spring inns in Osaka Prefecture.

The Singulari Hotel & Skyspa

After playing at USJ, relax in the semi-open-air bath with a view of the night sky at The Singulari Hotel & Skyspa.

For those celebrating an anniversary, why not stay at USJ’s official hotel and fully enjoy Universal Studios Japan (USJ)?

It is directly connected to Universal City Station and has excellent access.

The journey between Universal City Station and Osaka Station takes about 15 minutes by train.

The limited “The Singulari King” rooms feature a semi-open-air bath with views of the Osaka city night. After a fun day, relax in your private spa.

After playing at USJ, take a break in the semi-open-air bath with a view of the night sky.

The “The Singulari King” rooms have a simple and relaxing atmosphere. The night view outside the window will also add color to your special day.

The hotel’s top floor has separate observation open-air baths for men and women.

From the large windows, you can enjoy the beautiful night view of Osaka Bay and the city. It seems like a trip that will create lasting memories.

Randor Hotel Namba Osaka Suites

Randor Hotel Namba Osaka Suites is a hidden gem with all-suite rooms located in the city of Osaka.

For those who want to spend time in the convenient Osaka city area, why not stay at “Randor Hotel Namba Osaka Suites,” just a short walk from the Ebisucho subway station?

All rooms are suites, so both the room and the bathroom are luxurious.

The “Executive Penthouse” and “Presidential Penthouse” with open-air baths are perfect for couples.

Relax on the sofa or lounge on the bed.

Enjoy dinner prepared by a dedicated chef in this hidden gem with all-suite rooms in the city.

The open-air bath in the “Executive Penthouse” has a large round tub.

Let it ease the tension of your journey.

CANDEO HOTELS Osaka Namba / Osaka City

Located in Higashi Shinsaibashi, in the heart of Osaka Minami, “CANDEO HOTELS Osaka Namba” has a sky spa on the top floor!

Enjoy a special time soaking in the bath and gazing at the night sky or stars while being caressed by the wind in the middle of the city. Relish the overwhelming sense of openness in the atrium.

Luxurious suites with bath time in the room, complete with terrace and open-air bath!

Enjoy timeless relaxation.

Relax on the spacious green sofa overlooking the city and indulge in a luxurious moment.

Hotel Code Shinsaibashi / Osaka City

Celebrate an elegant anniversary in the jacuzzi at Hotel Code Shinsaibashi, a designer hotel in Shinsaibashi.

Why not stay at “Hotel Code Shinsaibashi,” just a 3-minute walk from the subway’s Shinsaibashi Station?

It offers 10 types of rooms, including the “Premium Room” with an outdoor jacuzzi, which feels like stepping out of a movie into a modern room.

Soak in the tub with a glass in hand for a celebrity-like holiday.

Celebrate an elegant anniversary in the jacuzzi at this designer hotel in Shinsaibashi.

The “Premium Room” is stylish not only in the bath but also in the room itself.

From the wallpaper to the lighting and furnishings, everything is supervised by a designer, creating a cohesive look.

Despite being in the center of the city, the 41m² space allows for a comfortable stay.

Fushio Onsen Fushioukaku / Ikeda City

Surrounded by rich nature, “Fushio Onsen Fushioukaku“.

It’s about a 10-minute drive by the reservation-only free shuttle bus from the nearest station, Hankyu Takarazuka Line’s Ikeda Station.

A reservation for the bus is required.

There are 20 rooms with open-air baths here.

Depending on the room, you can enjoy various types of baths, such as cypress baths and jar baths.

If the weather is nice, you can enjoy a private bath time under the starry sky or moon at night.

This hot spring inn lets you savor seasonal ingredients and game dishes in a place brimming with seasonal atmosphere.

On the higher floors, there are 4 types of rooms with natural, folk, sukiya-modern, and Asian themes, all with open-air baths. The baths come in 3 types: cypress, jar, and rock.

After a leisurely bath amidst lush greenery, unwind on the in-room massage chair and let go of your daily fatigue.

Shuttle Bus Timetable

The shuttle bus stop information is translated from the Japanese site.

Minoo Sansou Kazenomori / Ikeda City

“Minoo Sansou Kazenomori” is an accommodation located on a hill in northern Osaka’s Minoo City. The view overlooking the Osaka Plain, especially the night view, is breathtaking!

For those who want to fully enjoy their trip, the special rooms with observation baths are recommended.

Bathing while gazing at the night view can make you feel like you’re on top of the world.

You’ll want to gaze endlessly at the changing night view of Osaka and the colors of the sky.

There’s also an attractive shuttle bus service about once an hour from Hankyu Minoo Station, taking just about 10 minutes to arrive.

The special rooms with observation baths, “Yamatsubaki” and “Hanasuizuki,” both offer great views.

Fudouguchikan / Izumisano City

A hidden retreat surrounded by deep greenery, the culinary inn

Located along the Kashii River in Izumisano City, the culinary inn “Fudouguchikan” is recommended for gourmet couples.

It’s about a 15-minute bus ride from JR Hineno Station, and a free shuttle bus is available if you make a reservation.

This inn, enveloped in deep greenery, exudes the ambiance of a hidden retreat.

There are only 2 rooms with open-air baths.

It’s a comfortable space with traditional Japanese atmosphere and functional amenities.

Listen to the murmuring river and chirping birds as you spend an extraordinary moment.

After relaxing in your room bath, why not head to the inn’s open-air bath?

This inn is located in the Kongou Ikoma Kisen National Park, making it perfect for nature enthusiasts.

The photo captures the view from the open-air bath.

A hidden retreat surrounded by deep greenery, the culinary inn

For dinner, enjoy dishes made with local ingredients and crafted with artisanal skill.

There’s a variety of menus including seasonal kaiseki, duck pot, peony pot, or assorted hot pot plans, and Wagyu beef plans with options like sukiyaki or shabu-shabu. Enough to satisfy even the most food-loving partner.

CuveeJ2 Hotel Osaka by Onkochishin / Osaka City

“CuveeJ2 Hotel Osaka by Onkochishin” is located in Shinsaibashi and is the world’s first official champagne hotel with 11 rooms, each occupying one floor, and equipped with a semi-open-air anytime bath.

Each room, created in collaboration with 11 prestigious Champagne Maisons = producers, offers a unique and valuable experience of each Maison’s history and culture.

You’ll receive a bottle of champagne as a gift from the Maison.

Enjoy a luxurious night in a room enveloped in pure white, reminiscent of a scene from a movie.

Matsuba Onsen Taki no Yu / Kaizuka City

Located about 40 minutes by car from Osaka city in Kaizuka, “Matsuba Onsen Taki no Yu” is a private inn with only 4 rooms.

All rooms have natural radon hot springs open-air baths made entirely of Japanese cypress.

Two rooms are barrier-free, making them accessible for wheelchair users.

Relax with the sound of the river and free massage machines.

For dinner, enjoy exquisite seasonal Wakayama crab dishes.

There’s even a direct sale of natural radon hot spring water, 20 liters for 100 yen!

Okumizuma Onsen / Kaizuka City

“Okumizuma Onsen” is a solitary inn located in the back room of Senshu, a picturesque spot with beautiful views of cherry blossoms in spring, fireflies in summer, autumn leaves, and winter snowscapes reflected in the clear stream.

One of the 4 rooms has a private open-air bath overlooking the mountains and river.

Though not a hot spring, the bath’s Shigaraki ware tub changes color with water, adding a stylish touch.

The rooms, with floor heating in both the Japanese-style room and living room, are comfortable even in cold weather.

Enjoy the “beauty water” and “miracle water,” known as Osaka’s best natural sodium spring, for its silky and beauty-enhancing qualities.

Yamanobe Riyu / Nose Town

“Yamanobe Riyu” is a secluded inn located in a 10,000-square-meter area of Nose Onsen in Nose Town, Osaka.

You can fully enjoy the 100% natural hot spring source in the open-air baths of the three buildings: Kaede-no-Yakata, Hiiragi-no-Yakata, and Katsura-no-Yakata.

The open-air baths amidst the quiet of the countryside, spacious rooms, and cuisine featuring local fresh ingredients and seasonal produce all promise ultimate relaxation.

Enjoy a leisurely time in the calm flow of time. The view from the private dining area for dinner is also beautiful.

Kamenoi Hotel Tondabayashi

“Kamenoi Hotel Tondabayashi” is located about an hour’s drive from Osaka in Tondabayashi City.

It is about 20 minutes by the free shuttle bus, available 5 times a day, from the nearest station, Kintetsu Nagano Line’s Tondabayashi Station.

Among the variety of rooms, the 56.2 m² “Special Japanese-Western Room with Scenic Bath” is recommended for couples!

High-quality furnishings and amenities will enhance your mood. The large windows offer a sense of openness.

The inn is located at an altitude of about 280 meters on the summit of Dakeyama, offering an exceptional view!

This area is a hidden gem for night views.

From the observation room on the top floor, you can view the Osaka Plain sparkling like jewels.

Also, the inn has an open-air bath with views of the countryside and Kongou and Yamato Katsuragi Mountains, making it irresistible for scenery lovers.

Here is the shuttle bus timetable

Perfect Choice for Staying in Hotels or Ryokans with Open-air Baths in Osaka

For a unique stay in Osaka, why not try rooms with open-air baths?
Perfect for couples or family trips, you can enjoy the baths anytime you like.

The convenience of being just 30 minutes to an hour’s drive from the city center of Osaka is also great.

In this article, we introduced recommended hotels and ryokans in Osaka Prefecture with open-air baths.

Don’t miss the world’s first “Official Champagne Hotel”! Be sure to visit at least once.

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It’s not just about natural hot springs anymore.

We recommend Nagoya’s hot spring resort where you can spend a relaxing day.

Nagoya has few hot springs, so there are some hot springs a bit far from the stations. Please give them a try!

Sannou Onsen Kita no Yu

Yuto Pia Takara

＜Highlights＞

1. Amazing Entertainment Services!
Various entertainment services are available, including a “Theater Room” where you can watch popular movies for free, seven karaoke rooms for 1 to 10 people, a “Free Manga Library” with 12,000 books and magazines, a game corner, a table tennis corner, a fitness studio, a kids’ space, and eight relaxation spots. You can choose the healing method according to your mood.

2. Staying Overnight is Also a Good Option!
While using it as a day trip hot spring is great, here you can also stay at the adjacent Nagoya Kasadera Hotel at an affordable rate, allowing you to relax at your own pace. There are nine types of rooms, and you can enjoy a buffet with about 30 types in the morning.

3. Well-Equipped Sauna
In the “Kaen Sekifusou” sauna of the “Ki no Yu,” there is an automatic sauna throw, and in the “Kaen Sekifusou” sauna of the “Ishi no Yu,” a self-throw is possible. Starting from March 3, 2023, an automatic sauna throw will also be installed in the “Tower Sauna” of the “Ishi no Yu.” In addition to this, a mist sauna and a freezing sauna are also available. On weekdays at 4 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM, entertainment sauna throws are held in the men’s sauna room.

Natural Hot Spring Urbanqua SPA & LIVING

Urbanqua is a natural hot spring that you can enjoy in the city center.

A natural hot spring gushing from 800 meters underground.

With effects such as fatigue recovery and blood circulation promotion expected from simple springs, at Urbanqua, this hot spring is broken down into nano-level molecules.

Because the hot spring components are easily absorbed by the skin, you can feel the fatigue of your journey melting away smoothly!

In the large bath, there are 11 baths, including the popular source bath, high-concentration oxygen bath, and carbonated spring, as well as two saunas.

＜Highlights＞

1. Warm up in the Finnish Sauna and Ganban’yoku!
Enjoy the Finnish Sauna using aromatic stones imported from Finland and Ganban’yoku, said to have mineral and negative ion far-infrared effects.

Sweat plenty and refresh your mood!

2. Private Spaces Where You Don’t Have to Worry About Others!
For women, shared spaces after bathing can be uncomfortable.

But here, there are women-only rest areas with white curtains for privacy and various small rooms separated, so it’s safe for women alone. With free hot coffee, around 20,000 magazines and manga, and Free Wi-Fi, it’s the perfect environment for a relaxing time!

Canal Resort

Tenku Spa Hills Ryusenji-no-Yu Nagoya Moriyama Store

Ryusenji-no-Yu is said to be the birthplace of the “Super Sento” culture.

It is known as the first in Japan to introduce highly concentrated carbon dioxide baths, now common in many super sentos.

There are 15 types of baths and saunas, including source baths, beautiful foam pots, and relaxation baths.

Unique baths such as the Korean-style sauna “Han Jun Mak” and “Aroma Salt” with steam of saltwater are a delight for bath lovers.

The annex has six Ganban’yoku rooms, an excellent Ganban’yoku lounge with over 10,000 books, magazines, and comics, a lodging zone, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely sauna life and the “forest villa,” a healing space only for Ganban’yoku users, where you can relax while enjoying a superb view.

Recommended sauna meals include the fluffy and rich “Super Katsu-don” and the fragrant “Stone-grilled Garlic Rice.”

They seem even more delicious when eaten after a sauna session.

＜Highlights＞

1. Breathtaking Views from the Hilltop!
Inspired by the “Infinity Pool” on the rooftop of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, this is a “top-class spa facility.”

The open-air baths surrounded by greenery have a refreshing openness. At night, they are lit up and create a mysterious atmosphere.

*The women’s open-air bath has a more limited view than the men’s open-air bath.

2. Convenient Post-Payment System
You only pay the bathing fee at the entrance, and charges for restaurants and vending machines inside are settled later.

3. Auto-Loyly Yellow Soil Sauna
The sauna room equipped with the popular Isnes stove for sauna enthusiasts uses yellow soil known to “dispel a hundred poisons,” enhancing detoxification.

Auto-loyly is performed every hour at 00 and 30 minutes, with both hard and soft options, allowing you to choose according to your preference.

In the open-air space, there are 18 to-toi beds and to-toi chairs.

4. Aroma-filled Salt Sauna
The salt sauna, where you can enjoy aromas, has a high sweating effect and is a popular sauna for achieving smooth and silky skin.

Raku Spa Garden

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Among them, we will introduce recommended day-use hot springs in Osaka City!

From hot spring inns with a secluded atmosphere to open-air baths with stunning views and natural hot springs near stations for a quick visit after work, Osaka offers a variety of hot springs!

There are even spa resorts where you can spend the whole day.

In this article, we will focus on introducing recommended day-use hot springs in Osaka Prefecture at spots where you can enjoy them for a day.

*Please note that this information is as of June 14, 2022, and details such as closing days and operating hours may have changed.

As the situation is dynamic, please contact each facility or store for the latest information.

Osaka is known for its convenient transportation and short travel distances, making it easy to explore. From glamorous spa resorts to traditional hot spring inns, you can enjoy a rich variety.

Solaniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER

Time travel to Azuchi-Momoyama! Luxurious and colorful hot spring theme park

If you proceed from Bentencho Station’s ticket gate to the 2nd floor of Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower, you will find the entrance to time travel. Once you step in, it’s a luxurious and colorful hall of Azuchi-Momoyama culture!

“Solaniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER” is a day-use hot spring facility where you can enjoy bathing in a gorgeous atmosphere.

Inside the facility, you can handle everything, including shopping, with a key band and settle the bill at the end.

After receiving a key band at the reception and changing into the facility’s attire, you can enjoy the baths with the lightness of strolling around a festival in a yukata.

In the hot spring area on the 4th and 5th floors, you can enjoy various baths such as garden-view baths and outdoor baths with water springing from 1000 meters underground.

There are baths with silk-like fine bubbles and baths with high-concentration carbon dioxide gas dissolved.

The “Sky Garden” on the rooftop is a vast Japanese garden of about 1000 tsubo (approx. 3300 square meters), where you can stroll around in a yukata.

For an additional fee, you can also enjoy a rock bath called “Heat Wind Alley” and private outdoor baths.

Near the 2nd-floor entrance, there is a gourmet alley, Benten Ennichi, esthetic treatments, fish therapy, and more, making it a relaxing facility where you can spend a whole day.

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Naniwa-no-Yu Natural Hot Springs

Located in the heart of the city, just “within 2 km from Osaka Station,” is the natural hot spring, “Naniwa-no-Yu.”

Drawing abundant spring water from 659 meters underground, it fills the open-air baths and indoor baths up to the 8th floor.

The water quality is sodium-chloride-carbonate hydrogen ion spring.

Derived from the geological layers of 1.5 million years ago when this area was under the sea, the hot spring is renowned as “beauty water.”

With a trace amount of carbon dioxide, you can particularly enjoy a leisurely soak in the open-air bath called the “Source Bath.”

Comparing it with the artificial carbonated bath in the indoor section could be interesting. There are also sitting baths, lying baths, saunas, and more.

Renovated and reopened in April 2022.

Introduced “Auto Louver” by Izness in the Tower Sauna (men’s bath, as shown in the upper photo) and far-infrared sauna (women’s bath)!

The women’s steam sauna also features “Collagen Light.”

The indoor carbonated bath is also new, and the wooden deck in the open-air bath has been replaced with Ryukyu tatami. New delights abound.

Kamigata Onsen Ikkyu

This is a day-use hot spring facility located in the seaside area of Konohana Ward, Osaka City.

Just a 10-minute drive from a nearby large-scale movie theme park.

Seems like the perfect place to relax and recover after a day of hearty play.

The “commitment” here is that they use natural hot spring water in all baths.

Since the source temperature is relatively high at 50.3°C, it is slightly cooled by passing through a heat exchanger’s pipes but remains completely undiluted. They flow the water without adding any, and there is no recirculation.

Separated into the “Wooden Bath” zone and the “Stone Bath” zone, the genders alternate on odd and even days.

The photo here is the “Rock Carved Bath” in the Stone Bath zone.

Various baths are available, including open-air baths, ceramic baths, beating baths, and an ultra-fine mist sauna.

Kowanoyu Natural Hot Springs

Known as the “second-highest mountain in Osaka City,” Mount Showa (Showazan) stands at an elevation of 33 meters.

The entire area has become a leisure spot known as Showa Park.

Kowanoyu is a day-use hot spring facility located just east of Mount Showa.

From open-air baths like Tsubo-yu and Atsu-yu to indoor baths like Attraction Bath and Relaxation Bath, it offers various types of baths for a relaxing time to soothe fatigue.

The spacious and clean sauna is also highly recommended.

Enjoy the pleasant scent of wood, and with the combination of cold-water baths and exposure to the open air, you can experience a fulfilling “refreshing time.”

Seasonal events such as Ayame-yu are also something to look forward to!

Operating late into the night, it’s a convenient spot to drop by for a quick relaxation after day trips or leisure activities.

Spa World: World’s Grand Hot Springs

A grand collection of baths from 12 countries around the world!

Spa World, the world’s grand hot springs, is a day-use hot spring facility where you can experience baths from all over the world.

The Spa World facility is divided into two zones: “European Zone” and “Asian Zone,” with a monthly rotation of genders.

The European Zone features numerous “Thermae” baths, such as ancient Roman baths, the mythical Atlantis of Greece, and Finland’s sauna house.

The Asian Zone includes baths inspired by Islamic stone baths, the Persian bathhouse modeled after the Palace of Persepolis, a Singaporean SPA, and various Japanese baths like a mountain stream open-air bath and a large cypress bath.

There’s also a swimsuit (unisex) Bade Zone, as well as a warm water and indoor amusement pool, accessible with the common entrance fee for Spa World.

(Additional charges may apply for individual attractions, etc.)

Located near Jan Jan Yokocho, you can enjoy both experiences!

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Natural Open-Air Hot Spring: Spa Suminoe

Located within the all-weather leisure facility “Mag Suminoe,” which offers activities such as bowling, golf, futsal, and karaoke, Spa Suminoe is a day-use hot spring facility.

The spring quality, gushing from 700 meters below the ground, is sodium-sulfate spring.

It is said to originate from groundwater formed about 100 million years ago when the Osaka Plateau was shaped, providing a gentle and soothing touch to the skin.

From open-air baths like the Forest Tub Bath and Bamboo Grove Bath to a variety of indoor baths, you can indulge in the pleasures of famous hot springs and relax, forgetting your daily routine.

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Yumoto Suisyun

A comprehensive hot spring facility located in the greenery of Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, a favorite spot for Osaka citizens.

With an outstanding 2-minute walk from Tsurumi Ryokuchi Station and long operating hours, it’s easy to drop by casually.

The spring source gushes from approximately 1300m underground at about 47°C, containing high concentrations of hot spring minerals, and is known as the “hot water” because it retains heat well.

You can enjoy spacious open-air rock baths, and there are also artificial carbonated baths with high levels of carbon dioxide gas and milky baths infused with plenty of enzymes.

In the relaxation space “Recliner Area,” you can enjoy unlimited reading of about 10,000 comics. The facility also features the authentic fitness center “B-fit.”

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With the beach close by, Atami is a popular destination for summer vacationers, and you can enjoy delicious seafood dishes at the same time.

There are also many recommended plans for those who do not have time to stay overnight or for those who want to enjoy a day-trip date at a hot spring resort.

Check out the top 10 popular hot spring resorts for one-day trips that you can go to as soon as you think of it!

Atami Onsen Aji to Yu no Yado New Tomiyoshi

Enjoy seven private open-air baths with a tasteful atmosphere.

Seashore cuisine featuring the taste of the sea is also popular!

The first on the list is “Atami Onsen Aji to Yu no Yado New Tomiyoshi,” located right in front of Nagahama Beach.

The inn boasts four private open-air baths with free-flowing hot-spring water and a garden-style open-air bath “Hamanoyu” that overlooks Sagami Bay over 200-year-old black pine trees, and hearty meals featuring fresh seasonal fish.

The inn is a hot-spring resort where you can fully enjoy the unique attractions of Atami, such as the scenery and tastes.

The day-trip plans include a short stay in a Western-style room with an open-air bath and meal, or a casual plan that includes use of seven private open-air baths and a meal, making it possible to spend a relaxing and meaningful time even on a one-day holiday.

Nearby is Nagahama Seaside Park, which is surrounded by nature, including a 400-meter-long sandy beach, a grassy park, and a promenade.

After enjoying the hot springs, a stroll around the park is also recommended.

Atami Onsen HOTEL HOTEL MICURAS

Refresh yourself after a long day at a hot spring with a spectacular ocean view.

French dinner plan available.

Atami Onsen HOTEL MICURAS, located right in front of Atami Sun Beach, is No. 2, where you can enjoy Atami’s famous fireworks display from your room or open-air bath.

The stylish atmosphere is popular among women, and offers a one-rank higher adult one-day stay.

The hot spring baths offer an ocean view and a sense of openness, and with an unobstructed view, you will feel as if you have become one with the sea.

The view of Hatsushima and Izu Oshima in the distance, as well as the sunrise, illuminated sun beach, fireworks, and other scenery that changes with the time of day, is another attraction.

The in-house hot spring water, which contains high metasilicic acid and calcium ions, is a skin-softening hot spring that easily blends with the skin.

The combination of Atami’s famous hot spring and the beautiful view of the sea makes for a perfect healing experience.

We also offer a one-day plan that includes a full-course French dinner.

Atami Onsen Atami Korakuen Hotel

The large observation bath about 25 meters above the ground, using its own hot spring, is impressive.

Also check out the adjacent day spa facility, Ocean Spa Fuua.

No.3 is Atami Onsen Atami Korakuen Hotel, which boasts a hot spring using its own hot spring source that bubbles up from the premises.

The spacious large observation bath is located approximately 25 meters above the ground, and offers an excellent view of the Sagaminada Sea below while bathing.

The highly moisturizing chlorinated spring water will leave your skin smooth and refreshed after bathing.

The women’s bath is equipped with a bright and open powder room.

You can relax after warming up in the hot spring.

The one-day plan allows you to use an ocean view room of approximately 40 square meters with a view of the ocean for up to 7 hours.

In addition to bathing in the large observation bath, a discount offer is also available at the “Ocean Spa Fuua” one-day spa facility, so a combined visit is also recommended.

Yamanoue Hotel, a secluded hotel in Atami

A hot spring hotel on high ground boasting a view of the city.

Enjoy the hot spring and the view at the same time in the luxurious golden open-air bath.

The fourth-ranked hotel, Yamanoue Hotel, is located on a hilltop with a night view of Atami.

Located on a hill, this hot spring hotel offers a panoramic view of the city and coastline from its guest rooms and lobby.

The “Golden Open-air Bath” with a golden Jacuzzi and the “Hot Spring with a View” with an outstanding view are popular.

The spring water is a simple spring that is effective in relieving fatigue and neuralgia.

The spring water is mildly stimulating and gentle on the skin, so you can enjoy a relaxing bath with the city of Atami below.

In addition to a one-day plan that includes the chef’s recommended special course, there is also a plan that includes king crab and abalone grilled on the dance floor.

Enjoy the hot springs and seafood and refresh yourself after a hard day’s work.

Condominium with private hot spring Grandview Atami

Enjoy a day trip to a hot spring at a reasonable price.

You can use the open-air bath with a great view as many times as you like.

Condominium Grandview Atami, a condominium hotel using a resort condominium, comes in at No.5.

This hot spring hotel is perfect for those who want to enjoy a simple stay at a reasonable price.

In addition to an open-air bath with a panoramic view of Sagami Bay, Hatsushima Island, and Oshima Island, there is also a shallow half-open-air bath that children can use with ease, and a “Bukubuku bubble bath” with underwater lighting that soothes the senses.

All baths are free-flowing hot-spring water and can be used as many times as you wish, as long as they are available.

The one-day plan includes use of a room equipped with a kitchen and a hot spring bath, where you can relax from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m.

We also recommend the “Maesawa Beef Marbling Steak” plan, in which the chef prepares the beef in the room kitchen, or the plan with a boatsled set meal.

Atami Onsen Yuyado Ichibanban (former Shihomiya Ryokan)

Two private hot springs x 6 baths make you feel like a hot-spring tour. Don’t miss their specialty, “Atami simmered sea bream!”

No. 6 is Atami Onsen Yuyado Ichibanchi, which is close to sightseeing spots such as Atami Castle and the MOA Museum of Art.

The hot spring water, which is free-flowing from two private sources, is a weakly chlorinated spring with high heat-retaining effects and a mildly alkaline spring known for its skin-beautifying properties.

You can enjoy bathing to your heart’s content in the large retro-style bathhouse and two open-air baths with different atmospheres.

For a private onsen experience, the popular private open-air baths are also recommended.

In addition to a one-day plan that includes a day trip to the hot spring and a 50-minute private open-air bath, we also offer a one-day plan that includes the hot spring, a guest room, and a kaiseki meal that includes our famous “Atami stewed sea bream” dish.

Atami Hot Spring　Relax ResortHotel

Stay up to 10 hours! Feel the warmth from the core of your body with our private hot spring, which is rare in Atami!

Atami Onsen Relax Resort Hotel, a small luxury hotel located on a hill overlooking Hatsushima Island and Izu Oshima Island, is ranked seventh on the list.

All guest rooms have ocean views, creating the atmosphere of a hideaway.

The hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere where you can spend an extraordinary holiday for adults.

The hot spring water that bubbles up from the premises features a high temperature of 91 degrees, which is rare even in Atami.

You can enjoy the hot spring water for beautiful skin in “SPA L&R,” which is equipped with a half-open-air bath, sauna, water bath, and a variety of other baths.

In addition, the VILLA guestrooms, located away from the main building, are equipped with an open-air bath with natural hot spring water, perfect for a stay-at-home experience.

We offer day-trip plans that allow you to stay for up to 10 hours! We also have plans that include a full-course Italian dinner with hot spring baths and rest, as well as casual plans that allow you to use both the hot spring facilities and your room.

A variety of room types are available, so even if you visit again and again, new pleasures await you.

Atami Onsen Hotel Sanmi Club

The open-air garden-style outdoor bath on the top floor is comfortable.

The care of bedding and amenities is a high point.

No. 8 is Atami Onsen Hotel Sanmi Club, where the magnificent Sagami Bay spreads out before your eyes and you can walk to Atami Sun Beach in your swimsuit.

The abundant in-house hot spring water is a sodium-calcium chloride spring that makes your skin smooth and smooth.

The garden-style open-air bath on the top floor offers a great sense of openness!

Enjoy a relaxing soak while gazing at the cityscape of Atami and the ocean.

The view from the observation bath with its large windows is also wonderful, and the high point is that you can fully enjoy both the hot spring and the scenery.

Day trip plans are available for stays of up to 3 or 5 hours.

The rooms are furnished with futons and amenities for a relaxing stay.

Atami Onsen Umibe no Yado Nagahamaen

Enjoy a hot spring bath in one of the five private baths available without reservations.

Enjoy the taste of Atami with the plan with Hamayaki.

No. 9 is Atami Onsen Umibe no Yado Nagahamaen, which boasts three private open-air baths overlooking the Nagahama Sea.

Each bath has a different atmosphere and can be used as many times as you like for free as long as they are available!

Some baths are spacious enough to accommodate the entire family, allowing you to enjoy a private bathing experience.

We also recommend two types of private bathhouses with gardens, one with an indoor bath and the other with an open-air bath. One of the baths has a reclining bath, allowing you to enjoy a hot-spring tour within the hotel.

The one-day plan includes five private baths and a room with a view of the sea or an open-air bath.

The plan with a Japanese meal course that includes “Hamayaki” (five kinds of seafood, including lobsters and abalone, grilled on a ceramic plate) will allow you to fully enjoy the tastes of Atami.

Atami Onsen Gensen no Yado Shofuen

Beautiful garden and one of the best alkaline hot springs in Japan will heal you.

Enjoy kaiseki cuisine featuring delicacies from the mountains and the sea.

No. 10 on the list is the Atami Onsen Gensen no Yado Hotel Shofuen, which has a magnificent garden of about 4,000 tsubo (about 1,000 square meters) that has been used as the setting for a movie.

Visitors can enjoy the flowers in bloom throughout the year, including cherry blossoms, azaleas, and hydrangeas, as well as Nishikigoi carp swimming gracefully in the pond.

The hot spring baths, which use their own hot spring water, include indoor baths, outdoor baths, bubble baths, and a natural spring bath, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide variety of bathing experiences.

The private baths that have been opened in the garden offer the luxury of being able to enjoy both the hot spring water for beautiful skin and the beautiful garden scenery at the same time.

The hot spring baths are sure to satisfy even the most discerning of spa connoisseurs, and are sure to heal both body and soul!

The one-day plan allows you to enjoy a short stay in the hot spring, dinner, and guest room for a maximum of 5.5 hours.

Kaiseki cuisine using carefully selected seafood from the mountains and the sea is served at the restaurant.

The day-trip hot spring spa is available only by advance reservation.

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Here are the hot spring resorts with the highest number of overnight stays (= number of guests x number of nights) in a ranking format.

The list is full of hot spring towns and famous hot springs dotted with popular tourist attractions, gourmet food and spectacular views.

Atami Hot Springs, Shizuoka Prefecture

No.1 on the ranking is Atami Onsen, which can be accessed in as little as 35 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train.

There are many other places to enjoy besides hot springs, such as “ACAO FOREST” with its various photo spots, “Atami Castle” with its spectacular views, “MOA Museum of Art” and “Trick Art Labyrinth Museum” for art appreciation.

As for gourmet foods, there is an abundance of fresh seafood as well as a wide variety of sweets. There are many notable sweets stores such as “Japanese chestnut confectionery kiito”, “Strawberry BonBonBerry Atami House”, and the long-established “Mataichian Atami Bataa-an”.

The Atami Marine Fireworks Festival*, which is held throughout the year, is also a must-see.

*Scheduled dates of the Atami Marine Fireworks Display in 2022: 1/9, 1/15, 4/16, 5/2, 5/14, 5/21, 7/29, 8/5, 8/8, 8/18, 8/21, 8/26, 9/19, 11/5, 12/4, 12/18 (Due to measures to prevent infection by the new coronavirus, the dates and content of the fireworks display may change. The dates and contents of the fireworks may be subject to change due to measures taken to prevent new coronavirus infection. For the latest information, please check the official website of Atami City Tourist Association)

Beppu Hot Spring, Oita Prefecture

The second place, Beppu Onsen, which boasts the nation’s No. 1 hot spring in terms of both the amount of water gushing out and the number of sources.

The “Jigoku Meguri” tour of seven naturally gushing springs, including the nationally designated “Umi-Jigoku” (sea hell), is a popular sightseeing spot that cannot be missed.

There are many attractive sightseeing spots, such as “Yukemuri Observatory,” where you can view the fantastic illumination of the steam, and “Beppu Ropeway,” where you can enjoy the seasonal changes in nature, such as fresh greenery and autumn leaves.

In addition, the Hachiman Kamado Shrine in Beppu City, named after the popular manga “Kimetsu no Yaiba” (Blade of the Demon), has been attracting attention in recent years.

For outdoor recreation, we recommend visiting Lake Shidakako, which offers camping, barbecues, and Forest Adventure Beppu, where you can play in the forest, or enjoying amusement parks and golf at Kijima Kogen, located in Aso-Kujyu National Park.

Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma Prefecture

Kusatsu Onsen is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters and boasts an abundance of hot spring water.

There are many places to visit that are full of hot spring atmosphere, including Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu, and Atsunoyu, famous for its “Yumomi Show” (a hot spring bathing show).

In the Ura-Kusatsu (Jizo area), a 3-minute walk from Yubatake, there are hand and face baths, and a new “Manga-do” and “Tsukinoho (cafe)” have been established.

“Osa-yu,” an Osaru no yumomiji (hot spring bath) where visitors can watch a yumomi show by the Nikko Monkey Army, is scheduled to open in 2022 on Nishi-no-kawara-dori.

In Nishi-no-Kawahara Park, where you can see hot water gushing out from all over the place, there is also the Nishi-no-Kawahara Open-air Bath, one of the largest in Japan, with a combined area of 500 square meters for men and women, and we recommend that you stop by and enjoy the baths.

At “Mt. Tengu,” where outdoor recreation can be enjoyed throughout the year, skiing is available in winter and grass skiing from spring to fall, and a kids’ park and dog run area are also open.

In addition, check out “Kusatsu BanZipTENGU,” which has a large zipline with a total length of approximately 500 meters.

Why not take a thrilling ride through the air at speeds of up to 70 km/h?

Shirahama Onsen, Wakayama Prefecture

Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture, with a history of more than 1,350 years dating back to the Asuka and Nara periods, comes in third place.

It is said that emperors such as Saimei, Tenchi, and Jito visited this hot spring resort, which appears in “Nihon Shoki” (Chronicles of Japan) and “Manyoshu” (Anthology of Myriad Leaves).

Shirarahama, a stretch of white, silky sandy beach, is spectacular! Shirahama is famous for being the earliest beach in Honshu (Honshu Island) to open to the sea, and the beach will open on May 3, 2022.

Shirahama Onsen is dotted with a wide variety of outdoor baths (day-trip baths), including open-air baths right on the edge of the waves and mixed bathing open-air baths where visitors can enter in their swimsuits. Footbaths are also plentiful, and visitors can enjoy a tour of the hot spring baths.

For sightseeing in the surrounding area, “Adventure World” is not to be missed, and “Maple Beach,” which will be opened to the public in 2020, started to open to the public outdoors last fall.

In addition to the zoo, there is also an aquarium and an amusement park that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

In terms of gourmet food, seasonal seafood is an attraction, with lobster and kuei being especially popular in the fall and winter.

Famous sweets such as “Kagero” and “Yuzu Monaka,” which sandwich cream between fluffy dough, and local sweets such as “Shirahama Pudding” are also something to look forward to.

Nasu Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture

Nasu Onsen, a hot spring resort with a long history that is said to have been in operation for more than 1,300 years, comes in at No5.

The hot springs are located on the mountainside of Mt. Chausu, an active volcano that emits white smoke.

The seven “Nasu Shichiyu” hot springs are particularly famous for their different qualities and effects, including “Shika-no-yu,” where the first hot spring source was discovered.

The area is popular as a highland resort and offers a wide variety of leisure activities.

There are many spots where visitors can enjoy interacting with animals, such as “Nasu Animal Kingdom,” “Nasu Safari Park,” and “Nasu Highland Minamigaoka Farm,” leisure spots such as “Nasu Highland Rindoko Family Farm” and “Nasu Highland Park” where visitors can play actively, and museums where visitors can encounter fascinating artwork.

Nasu has an abundance of attractions.

Sightseeing at “Keshoseki,” one of Nasu’s most famous scenic spots, and “Tsutsuji Suspension Bridge,” overlooking the Nasu Mountain Range, are also recommended.

On July 6, 2022, “GOOD NEWS” will open along the road connecting Nasu Highway and Rindo Line.

A wide variety of businesses will come together under the keyword of “symbiosis with the forest,” and cafes, outdoor stores, restaurants, and other facilities will line the street.

Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture

Kinugawa Onsen was discovered in the Edo period (1603-1868), but at that time only Buddhist monks and feudal lords were allowed to bathe in this historic hot spring.

Along the Kinugawa River, hot spring inns and hotels with guest rooms overlooking the valley below line the streets.

The spring water is a gentle alkaline simple hot spring that is said to be effective in relieving fatigue and neuralgia.

Nearby sightseeing spots include the Kinu Tateiwa Suspension Bridge, which offers a spectacular view of the mountain stream, and Tobu World Square, a theme park with miniature reproductions of buildings from around the world.

The area is dotted with a rich variety of tourist attractions that can be enjoyed by both adults and children.

Ito Onsen, Shizuoka Prefecture

Ito Onsen is a scenic hot spring facing Sagami Bay on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula.

It is a hot spring resort where visitors can enjoy simple spring water that is gentle to the skin with little irritation, and weakly saline spring water that promotes blood circulation with its heat-retaining effect.

Ito is also home to the Tokai-kan, a city-designated cultural asset with Japanese architectural beauty found throughout, Orange Beach, and Michi no Eki Ito Marine Town, which also has a cruise ship pier.

In April 2021, “Komuroyama Ridge Walk “MISORA” will be opened.

It is attracting a lot of attention because of its cafe and spectacular view.

If you go a little further, you will find scenic spots such as “Omuroyama” and “Jogasaki Kaigan,” which are known as Ito’s eight scenic spots.

From fall to early summer, you can enjoy “mandarin orange picking” in this area.

Hakone-Yumoto Onsen, Kanagawa Prefecture

Located at the gateway to Hakone, Hakone-Yumoto is easily accessible by an 85-minute ride on the Romance Car from Tokyo.

Opened in the Nara period (710-794), it is the oldest of the 17 hot springs in Hakone.

There is a wide variety of spring qualities, including simple hot spring, alkaline simple hot spring, and sodium and calcium chloride spring.

Visitors can enjoy different types of hot spring water at different bathhouses.

The area around the station is lined with restaurants and souvenir stores, and offers specialty foods such as dishes using seafood from Suruga Bay and Sagami Bay, soba noodles made with delicious Hakone water, and breads and other side dishes.

A stroll along the shopping street is full of charm.

For outdoor leisure activities in nature, we also recommend Forest Adventure Hakone! Just a 3-minute shuttle bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station, visitors can fully experience activities ranging from a course for small children to a course with a zip slide, putting golf, and more.

Hakodate Onsen, Hokkaido

HOTEL&SPA Century Marina Hakodate

No. 7 is a hot spring in Hakodate, a popular tourist city located in the southern part of Hokkaido.

Visitors can enjoy hot springs at a hotel near the station within walking distance from Hakodate Station, making it a perfect base for sightseeing.

Hakodate, which evokes the history of civilization and development during the Meiji period, is home to many retro brick buildings and Western-style architecture, and the bay area offers a wide variety of stores and gourmet foods, including the Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse and the Hakodate Meiji-kan.

Near the station is the “Hakodate Morning Market” with approximately 250 stores!

Hakodate is famous for its night view, which is one of the world’s top three nightscapes.

The observatory facility at the top of the mountain has several view spots, as well as restaurants and cafes.

Dogo Onsen, Ehime Prefecture

Dogo Onsen has a history of about 3,000 years and is said to have been visited by Okuninushi no Mikoto and Prince Shotoku.

The location of Dogo Onsen is also attractive for its easy accessibility, being only about 40 minutes from Matsuyama Airport by limousine bus.

The quality of the spring is smooth and mildly alkaline, which is said to be suitable for hot-spring cures and beauty treatments.

The symbolic public bathhouse “Dogo Onsen Honkan*” is one of the important cultural properties of Japan, and in 2017, “Dogo Onsen Annex Asukan-no-Yusen,” a bathhouse inspired by the Asuka period, opened, allowing visitors to soak in an open-air bath that is not available in the main building.

There are also several hand baths and foot baths in the hot spring resort area, perfect for taking a break during a stroll.

The Dogo Onsen Honkan is closed from January 15, 2019 for conservation and repair work on the second floor and above, but you can still take a bath in the first floor “Kami-no-yu” (divine hot spring).

Ikaho Onsen, Gunma Prefecture

Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring resort known for being the first place in Japan where Dr. Balz, also known as the father of Japanese hot spring medicine, gave medical guidance.

There are two types of hot springs in the area: “Golden Hot Spring”, a sulfate spring that turns brown when exposed to air, and “Silvery Hot Spring”, which is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and contains metasilicic acid.

On both sides of the “365-step stone staircase,” a well-known symbol of the area, there are hot spring inns, restaurants, and amusement facilities such as target practice, giving the area a rich hot spring atmosphere! There is also “Kawaga Bridge,” famous for its beautiful autumn leaves, “Ikaho Onsen Yumisensho,” where you can drink hot spring water, “Ikaho Shrine,” and “Ikaho Ropeway,” among many other attractions.

A short distance away from the hot spring resort, you will find the Hara Museum of Art ARC, which reopened in 2021, the Ikaho Green Farm, where you can interact with animals, and a strawberry picking spot.

Leiraikyo, Akiu Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture

About 30 minutes by car from downtown Sendai, Akiu Onsen is a hot spring resort with a history of more than 1,400 years since its establishment along the valley of the Natori River.

The chloride spring water is characterized by its resistance to scalding.

Around the hot spring village, you can enjoy the strange rock formations

Gero Onsen, Gifu Prefecture

Gero Onsen is one of the three best hot springs in Japan and is located in the Hida River basin.

Surrounded by nature in a peaceful location, visitors can enjoy the colorless, clear, and gentle hot spring water.

In addition to the famous fountainhead fountain along the riverbed that is full of natural beauty, the area is dotted with public bathhouses where visitors can enjoy day-trip bathing, drop-in baths at lodging facilities, free footbaths, and other hot-spring tour spots.

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In the hot spring resort area, be sure to check out the “Gero Pudding” and other sweets from the Skin Beauty Project, whose menu changes for a limited time.

In August and December, the “Gero Onsen Fireworks Musical” is held, in which fireworks are set off to music.

Sightseeing in the area includes the Gero Onsen Gassho-mura (Gero Onsen Gassho Village), a national important cultural property with relocated gassho-style houses, and Yokotani Gorge, which is home to the giant salamander.

Arima Onsen, Hyogo Prefecture

Arima Onsen is located approximately one hour by train from Osaka City.

It is one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan, and its appeal lies in the fact that it contains a mixture of seven of the nine main ingredients designated by the Ministry of the Environment as therapeutic hot springs, which is a rarity in the world.

In the hot spring resort area, there is a waterfront park where visitors can enjoy the murmuring of the Arima River, “Yumonzaka,” a gourmet restaurant where you can enjoy eating and drinking, and “Zuihoji Temple” with its beautiful autumn leaves, making it possible to enjoy sightseeing while strolling around.

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If you are interested in touring around the hot springs, the two public bathhouses, “Kin-no-yu” with its dark brown water and “Gin-no-yu” with its tasteless, odorless, and colorless water, are indispensable.

If you want to fully enjoy the spectacular view, the “Rokko Arima Ropeway” is recommended.

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It takes about 12 minutes from Arima Onsen to the top of Mt. Rokko, where you can enjoy the dynamic nature and a particularly beautiful sight during the autumn foliage season.

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Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen, Niigata Prefecture

Easy access from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train) in about 70 minutes.

The hot spring opened in the early Kamakura period (1185-1333) and became nationally famous as the setting for Kawabata Yasunari’s “Yukiguni” (Snow Country).

There are a variety of lodging facilities, from traditional hot spring hotels to modern hotels, and some of them offer “immortal hot water” that has been naturally gushing for more than 900 years.

In addition to the many ski resorts in the vicinity, there is a wealth of activities and places to stop by, such as the Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Park, which offers a spectacular view with seasonal flowers in spring and summer, and the photogenic Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel.

In 2022, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, which was postponed last year, will be held! Approximately 200 artworks will be seen in the Echigo-Tsumari region.

We recommend using Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen as a base to fully enjoy the art tour.

Toba Hot Spring Resort, Mie Prefecture

Facing the Pacific Ocean, Toba Hot Spring Village is dotted with hot spring resorts in nine areas, including Kohama, Araushima, Uramura, and Kunizaki.

There are open hot spring spots overlooking Ise Bay and Matoya Bay, and fresh seafood such as Ise lobsters and oysters are the attraction of this area.

As for nearby leisure activities, the Toba Aquarium, where baby sunfish were born in May and June 20212022, is recommended.

It is also known as the only aquarium in Japan where you can see dugongs.

The area is also dotted with power spots such as “Ishikagami Shrine,” famous for its “stone of fertility,” and “Shinmei Shrine,” where a “stone god” grants women one wish.

Ise Jingu Shrine is located about 20 minutes away by car or train, so it is recommended to plan your trip in conjunction with a visit to the shrine.

Hida Takayama Onsen, Gifu Prefecture

No. 18 is Hida Takayama Onsen, located at the foot of the Northern Alps.

This scenic hot spring resort is steeped in history and tradition, with its old castle town atmosphere and the gorgeous Takayama Festival, a gorgeous traditional event held in spring and fall.

There are many different types of hot spring accommodations, including ryokan, hotels, and minshuku (private residences), allowing visitors to choose accommodations that meet their various needs.

Around Takayama Station, morning markets are also a fun part of sightseeing, with the “Miyagawa Morning Market” and the “Jinyamae Morning Market” being held.

If you go further towards Okuhida, you will find the highest point in Japan, “Hida Grand Cave” and “Hirayu Great Falls” dotted with many attractions.

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There are also popular tourist spots such as Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site known for its Gassho-zukuri style villages, and the Shin Hotaka Ropeway, located about an hour’s drive from the hot spring resort area, offering a variety of sightseeing spots that cannot be visited in a single day.

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Gora Onsen, Kanagawa Prefecture

Gora Onsen is a hot spring resort located on the eastern slope of Mt. The most distinctive feature of this hot spring is its five spring qualities, which are called “five pastel-colored hot springs,” and include a “pale yellow” sodium chloride spring that is gentle to the skin, a “milky white” acid sulfate spring, and a “clear” simple hot spring, all of which have different effects.

Hakone Gora Park, where visitors can enjoy flower viewing, glass blowing, and pottery making throughout the year, as well as the Hakone Museum of Art, the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and the Hakone Glass Forest Art Museum are located in the vicinity.

In summer, events such as the “Daimonji Yaki” (burning of the Daimonji alphabet) on Mt. The “Owakudani Nature Study Path,” which had long been off-limits to visitors, reopened in April (advance reservations required through the Hakone Tourism Association website).

Yufuin Onsen, Oita Prefecture

Located in Oita, Japan’s number one hot spring prefecture, this hot spring resort spreads out at the foot of the famous Mt

It is said to have the second largest number of hot springs in Japan and is designated as a National Recreational Hot Spring Area by the Ministry of the Environment.

Yufuin Onsen is not only home to numerous drop-in hot springs and hot spring inns, but also to an abundance of artist galleries, unique stores, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.

With an abundance of things to see and do right from the station, this is an area where visitors can enjoy sightseeing at their leisure, not only by strolling on foot, but also by horse-drawn carriage, rickshaw, or rented bicycle.

There are also scenic spots such as “Sagiridai,” an observatory from which you can view the entire cityscape, and “Kinrin-ko,” a lake with particularly beautiful morning mist in winter.

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Kawaguchiko Onsen, Yamanashi

Kawaguchiko Onsen offers a beautiful view of Mt. There are five sources of hot spring water: “Reiho no Yu,” “Tensui no Yu,” “Reisui no Yu,” “Fuyo no Yu,” and “Shurei no Yu. There is also a terminal station for express buses and a station for the Fujikyuko Line, making it an easy resort to visit.

Fuji and the five-story pagoda together, the Kawaguchiko Fuji Panorama Ropeway, which offers a panoramic view of Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, and the “Torii of the Sky,” a far-off shrine of Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine. Fujikyu Highland, which opened the “Fujiyama Sky Deck” last year and will open the “Fujiyama Slider” on July 22 this year, is also noteworthy.

The Kawaguchiko area is also attractive for its seasonal events. Fuji-Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival”, “Kawaguchiko Herb Festival”, “Kawaguchiko Lake Festival”, “Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Foliage Festival”, “Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks Festival”, etc. are held in the lake area.

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There are two types of hot springs in this area: a dark, muddy spring called Kin no yu(Gold hot spring) and a clear, colorless spring called Gin no yu(Silver Hot Spring).

We would like to introduce you to two public baths, Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu, where you can enjoy both the Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu springs easily.

You can also stop by the silver spring where you can drink a cup of natural cider.

Gold Hot Spring and Silver Hot Spring

Arima Onsen, which appears in the Chronicles of Japan, has long been known as Japan’s oldest hot spring.

Its close to the center of Kobe, about 30 minutes away by train, makes it a popular destination for many visitors.

The number of tourists visiting Kobe is increasing, and the plan to stretch out from Kobe and stay one night is common.

The narrow alleyways of the onsen town, where yukata suits you, are also full of atmosphere.

Anyaways, there are two types of hot water in Arima Onsen, a gold spring and a silver spring.

As a side note, the words “kinsen(gold)” and “ginsen(silver)” are officially registered as trademarks by the Arima Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association.

The reason why the hot water of Arima Onsen is called Kinsen and Ginsen is because Arima Onsen has several different spring sources, and the water is divided into two main types: one that becomes muddy with a gold (brown) color when exposed to the air, and another that is colorless and transparent.

If you visit Arima Onsen, try to compare the two types of hot water.

If you want to get into the Gold Spring, Arima Hon Onsen Kin no Yu!

Now, if you want to enjoy the gold and silver springs, you must visit the gold and silver baths in the public baths.

Let’s start with the Kin no Yu(gold hot spring).

It’s located at a three-way intersection near a busy street with souvenir shops and the Arima Toy Museum across the street.

The men’s bath is called Ichino-yu and the women’s bath is called Ni-no-yu, and there are two types of bathrooms: a 44-degree hot water bath tub with plenty of golden spring water and a 42-degree warm water bath tub.

The color of the hot water of the high-sodium chloride containing iron sodium chloride high-salt hot spring is dark orange, and it is cloudy as if it had melted chocolate

And, when you go in, you can’t see the arms and legs you sank into at all.

This public bath is a great public bath, and the locals have been known to say that if you’re in Arima Onsen, you should definitely take a bath in this golden hot spring.

However, be careful not to overdo it bucause the water is very thick.

Arima Onsen’s Gourd is the Symbol of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

The public bathhouse, Kin no Yu, also has a selection of Hideyoshi’s drinking fountains and footbaths.

You can use these two baths without paying fee, so feel free to drop by.

Since the gold spring is not suitable for drinking, the hot water in the drinking fountain is not gold, but silver sodium chloride spring.

What’s interesting is the gourds placed at the entrance of the spring.

In addition to the Kinno-yu Spa, if you walk around the Arima Onsen, you may notice gourds here and there in the bathhouse.

In fact, these gourds are the seals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who loved Arima Onsen and assisted in its recovery.

If you want to get into a Silver Onsen, Arima Onsen Gin no Yu!

Let’s also take a look at another public bathhouse in Arima Onsen, Gin no Yu.

This one is located halfway up the hill, just outside the hot spring town.

You’ll find it when you are going up the hill from Arima Onsenji Temple, Gokurakuji Temple and Nenbutsuji Temple.

The hot water in Gin no Yu(silver hot spring) is a mixture of carbonate and radium springs.

The water is clear and colorless and warms you up well, but you will feel refreshed afterwards.

This bathhouse is also equipped with a mist sauna and a Jacuzzi.

Not only the color of the water you see, but also the feeling you get from the bathing experience is different from that of the Kin no yu, so if you come to Arima Onsen, be sure to compare the two types of baths.

Try to drink natural cider and silver hot water carbonated spring

Arima Onsen’s popular souvenirs are carbonated rice crackers and Arima Cider Water.

So, the last place we would like to introduce to you is a place where you can drink either the carbonated spring or the radium spring in Gin no Yu.

This place is located in a Tansan sengen park(carbonated spring park) about a 5 minute walk up the hill from Gin no Yu.

The natural carbonated spring water of Arima Onsen used to be drunk as cider with sugar added to it.

Before the Meiji era, it was called poisonous water and people didn’t even go near it.

The bubbling carbon dioxide spring gushes out of the roofed spring.

Next to it is a tap for drinking water!

The crisp, refreshing taste of this drink may make you smile.

The taste of this drink will surely soak into your body after a hot spring bath.

Enjoy Both the Gold and Silver baths!

We’ve introduced you to the public bathhouse Kin no Yu, the public bathhouse Gin no Yu, and the carbonated spring source where you can drink a carbonated spring.

The Kin no Yu and the Gin no Yu public baths are closed so that you can take a bath at either of them whenever you visit Arima Onsen.

There are also special tickets available for both Kin no yu and Gin no yu, or for the Taiko no Yudenkan (museum) and all three museums, so please check them out.

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It is easy to get to from Kobe, and has been popular as a hot spring resort in the Kansai region for centuries.

Arima Onsen is known for its hot spring baths and hot spring town strolls.

Here are some must-visit places to visit in Arima Onsen.

Kin no yu(Gold hot spring)

In Arima Onsen, there are two types of onsen water: a deep, muddy gold spring and a clear, colorless silver spring.

The Kin no Yu public bathhouse is the easiest way to enjoy the gold spring.

Submerge yourself in the dark orange, sodium chloride-containing, high-salt hot spring water and you won’t even be able to see your arms and legs.

The locals have been very impressed with the quality of the spring water, but be careful not to overdo it, as it is a very thick hot spring.

Gin no yu(Silver Hot Spring)

In contrast to the Kin no Yu, the Gin no Yu is a clear, colorless hot spring made of a mixture of carbon dioxide and radium springs.

It is a hot spring that warms you up well but gives you a refreshing feeling afterwards.

Gin no Yu public bath is located in the middle of a slope away from the hot spring resort, so it is recommended to visit the temples in the area.

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Yukemuri Plaza (Arima Onsen Station)

As soon as you exit Arima Onsen Station, you will see the Yukemuri Hiroba on your right.

A waterfall made to look like a hot spring is in the center, and a statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi is on the right side.

Arima Onsen was a favorite hot spring for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and there are many things and places associated with him.

Hideyoshi is looking towards the statue of Nene, his wife, who stands across the river, and they are looking at each other.

The kappa statue at the center of the waterfall is a gift from Sapporo Jozankei Hot Springs.

Nene bridge

The bridge with a conspicuous red railing in the center of the town is Nene Bridge.

The statue of Nene, the official chamber of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, stands at the foot of the bridge.

The red color of the bridge is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season.

It is said that Hideyoshi and Nene, who built a villa in Arima, often visited Arima Onsen to enjoy a brief rest.

Taiko(Toyotomi) no Yu

Taiko no yu is the only hot spring theme park in the Arima Onsen town, where visitors can enjoy a gold, silver and carbonated spring in hot springs and rock baths.”

It is called a “historical exploration-type qua-themed park,” and inside the building are baths with historical motifs such as the “Taiko’s Rock Bath” and “Nene’s Play Bath” and other baths.

This is a valuable spot where visitors can not only enjoy the hot spring but also learn about history.

Taiko no Yudenkan

In 1995, the ruins of the Gokurakuji Temple, which was damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that struck the city of Kobe, were discovered during reconstruction work.

The Taiko-no-Yudonkan was built there to introduce visitors to the deep history of Hideyoshi and the culture of Arima Onsen.

Inside, the remains of a rock bath in which Hideyoshi is said to have taken a bath are on display, as well as other valuable items.

Gosho Hot Spring Source

Arima Onsen has many different types of spring water, but you can easily visit their water sources in the town.

All of them can be visited on foot, but the Gosho Hot Spring is a must-see, with its round, well-kept garden, and the water boiling at 83 degrees Celsius is a testament to the mystery of nature.

Zuihoji Temple Park

When Hideyoshi visited Zuihoji Temple, he praised the temple’s garden saying he never got tired of looking at it.

Zuihoji Park was built on the site of the temple, which has now been abandoned.

Inside the park, a stone “Go” board where Hideyoshi is said to have enjoyed playing “Go” is said to have been placed.

The park is located at the highest point of the Arima Onsen town, and during the autumn season, the park is beautifully colored with autumn leaves.

Tosen Shrine

Arima Onsen has a history of 1,400 years.

It is said that the hot spring was discovered by two gods, O-Namuchi-no-Mikoto (Daikoku-sama) and Sukuna-Hikonomikoto (god of medicine), and they are enshrined in Tosen Shrine.

This shrine is famous as a god of childbirth, and many people from all over Japan come to visit.

Tsutsumi ga taki Waterfall Park

Tsutsumi ga taki waterfall was named after the sound of water falling in two stages, making a thumping sound as it falls.

The topography was changed due to a natural disaster and the sound of the drum cannot be heard at this time, but the area around the falls has been developed as Tsuzumigataki Park, a perfect spot for forest bathing.

Arima Onsen’s Recommended Spots are Now Done!

You can enjoy a day trip to Arima Onsen, which is easily accessible from Kobe, or you can stay one night and enjoy the various types of hot springs.

Not only can you enjoy the hot springs and relax, but you can learn about the history and culture of the time as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the leader of the unification of the country, often visited the area.

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This information is current as of August 2020. Please check the official website for the latest information.

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