Top 10 Onsen in Japan 2022: Voted by Singaporeans

Japan is home to over 2,300 onsen hot springs, each boasting different types of water, healing properties, colours, water temperatures and more. With so many onsens in Japan, it can be tough to know where to start! Why not pick an onsen popular with Singaporeans for the ultimate experience?

We polled 449 Ikeda Spa customers to create the ranking of the 10 best onsens from the 111 most popular onsen destinations in Japan. Please use this list as a reference when finding the best places to enjoy an authentic onsen experience!

Bonus tip: Those with a JR pass should take advantage of this 2-week travel itinerary to explore different onsens in Japan.

10th place – Takaragawa Onsen

Takaragawa Onsen is one of the four major hot springs in Gunma Prefecture, located in the Minakami Onsen area. It is renowned for its large open-air bath, which is said to be the largest in Japan, and its beautiful setting along a pristine stream. Takaragawa has been ranked as one of Japan’s 10 best hot springs by a leading travel guidebook and receives many visitors from English-speaking countries. Day-trip visitors are also welcome to enjoy the bath.

The baths at Takaragawa Onsen are available for men and women, and visitors can rent designated bath attire when taking a soak. There are also women-only baths for women who are uncomfortable with mixed-gender baths.

Location: 1899 Fujiwara, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma

Admission fee:
Adults (Junior high school students and over): 2,000 yen
Elementary school students: 1,500 yen
Pre-school children and under: Free

9th place – Takayu Onsen

Takayu Onsen is a small hot spring resort town located halfway up the slopes of the Azuma Mountains in Fukushima City. First developed around 400 years ago, the town now consists of about a dozen ryokan huddled near the Bandai Azuma Skyline sightseeing road entrance.

The Takayu Onsen hot springs are known for their bluish milky waters, which are thought to have healing properties. Most of the resort facilities in the area preserve the natural allure of the hot spring waters by neither adding water nor adjusting the temperature. After bathing in the waters of this spring, your skin may become almost slippery from the high acidic and hydrogen sulfide content.

Many ryokans offer their baths to non-staying guests during the day for a small fee. The most famous bath among them is the historical Tamagoyu, a small wooden bath house with one pool each per gender. The town centre also has a public bathhouse, the Attakayu, and a free outdoor foot bath.

Location: 25 Takayu, Machiniwasaka, Fukushima City, Fukuhsima Pref. 960-2261

Admission fee: 250 yen

8th place – Tokigawa Onsen

Tokigawa Onsen Hot spring “Bihada no Yu” is a hot spring excavated in 1990 and is well known as “The most alkaline hot spring in Japan”. It has a high PH level of 11.3 and Strong alkalinity known for its highly beneficial to the skin and less likely to get cold after bathing. It’s known throughout Japan as a “hot spring of beautiful skin”.

It is said to be effective for beautiful skin, neuralgia, joint pain, muscle pain, low back pain, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive diseases, haemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness, and promotion of health.

Two plans and rooms are available for hire, each with a private bath, for four hours in the afternoon or evening only. The room price includes a private bath, set meal, and ceremonial green tea with yuzu dessert.

Location: 537 Ohno, Tokigawa-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture

Admission fee:
11: 00-15: 00 (lunch): 11, 440 yen (including tax) per person
16:00-20:00 (evening): 11,440 yen (including tax) per person

Weekday (evening): 9,900 yen (including tax) per person

7th place – Yunokawa Onsen

Yunokawa Onsen is quite literally the onsen “hot spot”. It’s located in an area with various onsen retreats that offer in-house bathing facilities with stunning ocean views. The Yunokawa Hot Springs Resort area spoils visitors with an endless choice of elegant hotels and inns providing excellent service, rejuvenating bathing experiences and tempting culinary delights.

Location: 3 Chome-10-3 Yunokawacho, 函館市湯川町 Hokkaido 042-0932, Japan

Admission fee: Adult: 500 Yen, Child: 300 Yen

6th place – Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts and is often ranked highly for its quality among onsens in Western Japan. The town has two types of hot spring water, which spring up from various sources around the city: the Kinsen (“gold water”) is coloured brown with iron deposits. It is said to be good for skin ailments and muscle pain, while the clear Ginsen (“silver water”)

Visitors to Arima Onsen can take advantage of the hot spring bathing at two public bathhouses or the town’s many ryokans. Many ryokans open their baths to non-staying visitors during the day.

Location: Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401, Japan

Admission fee: A day trip ranges between 500 and 2500 yen.

5th place – Aso Onsen (Aso Uchinomaki Onsen)

The Aso Hotel onsen is supplied by a natural spring, which provides water at a temperature of 43–45 degrees Celsius. Fresh spring water is pumped directly into the bathtubs with no heating or additional water so that guests can enjoy a pure and natural spa experience.

Our hotel’s outdoor and indoor baths offer stunning panoramic views of Mount Aso. Our guests often remark on the experience’s relaxing and rejuvenating, thanks to the area’s natural beauty.

Ichibankan Onsen (Large bathrooms with panoramic outdoor baths: One each for men and women)
Bathing times:
AM: 05:30–09:00
PM: 15:00–23:00
Spring water temperature: 43.0 degrees Celsius

Nibankan Onsen (Large bathrooms with outdoor baths: One each for men and women, drinkable spring water)

Bathing times:
AM: 05:30–09:00
PM: 15:00–23:00
Spring water temperature: 45.0 degrees Celsius

Location: Aso Hotel Ichibankan and Nibankan, Aso Uchinomaki Onsen, 99 Uchinomaki, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture 869-2301

Admission fee: Starts from 7,000 yen with breakfast and dinner included.

4th place – Lake Toya Onsen Hot Spring

Toyako Onsen is one of the most popular onsen towns in Hokkaido. It is near Lake Toya and offers stunning views of the surrounding nature. The hot spring source was created when Mount Yosomiyama erupted in 1910. The onsen town of Lake Toya was built in 1917, making it over 100 years old. This town is a great place to relax and enjoy the benefits of the hot springs.

One of the most attractive points of Lake Toya Onsen is its location in an elevated area with beautiful views of the lake. You can enjoy how the scenery changes depending on the time you bathe. And if you visit between late April and October, you will be able to see fireworks.

Location: Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721, Japan

Admission fee: 500 yen

3rd place – Hirayu Onsen

Hirayu is Okuhida’s oldest and largest onsen town. According to historical records, it was discovered in the 1560s by Takeda Shingen’s troops as they crossed through the region. Today, the city has various ryokans, from small family-run establishments to large complexes. Its hot spring waters are said to have medicinal properties that can cure neuralgia, sensitivity to cold and skin disease.

Location: Hirayu 768-1, Okuhida Onsengo, Takayama-shi, Gifu-ken, 506-1433, Japan

Admission fee:

Adults
1 Day:
Weekend and Holidays: 3,500 yen
Weekdays: 3,000 yen
AM / PM: Japanese Yen 2000

Children
1 Day:
Weekend and Holidays: Japanese Yen 2000
Weekdays: Japanese Yen 2000

2nd place – Beppu Onsen

Beppu is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts and produces more hot spring water than any other resort in the country. Beppu offers a variety of baths, including ordinary hot water baths, mud baths, sand baths and steam baths. In addition, the Hells of Beppu has several spectacular hot springs for viewing rather than bathing.

Location: 16-23 Motomachi, Beppu, Oita 874-0944, Japan

Admission fee: 100 yen (sand baths: 1,030 yen)

1st place – Tsurunoyu Onsen

Tsurunoyu is the oldest operating ryokan of Nyuto Onsen. Minshuku, this wooden lodging is located near Yamanoyado Bekkan and has 30 Japanese-style guest rooms. None of the guest rooms has a private bath, while only a few boast a private toilet. The hot spring baths here date back over 350 years, and both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths are available for both genders. (same gender only). A “family bath” can be privately reserved for families and mixed outdoor hot spring baths for both genders.

Location: 50 Tazawako Tazawa Sendatsu Kokuyurin, Semboku 014-1204 Akita Prefecture

Admission fee:

600 yen (Day trip)
10,000 to 20,000 yen (Overnight Stay)(per pax including 2 meals)

Can’t travel to Japan?

A visit to Japan is not complete without taking a dip in an Onsen. We hope this article is helpful and saves you time researching Onsens to try in Japan. If you cannot travel to Japan but still want to experience a Japanese Onsen, Enjoy Authentic Japanese Onsen right here at Ikeda Spa Singapore. Indulge in a Hinoki Onsen bath made from cypress wood and infused with various bath salts, providing a truly relaxing experience. Plus, it’s a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Click on the banner below to find out how to get your FREE onsen bath!