Spas in Japan

Gero, Gifu

An outdoor-only onsen in Gero with rock-built baths, a cascade bath and three-temperature pools, open daily except Thursdays.

Nozawa Onsen, Nagano

A public day-bathing hall in Nozawa Onsen village with indoor hot and warm baths plus an outdoor hot spring bath, open to walk-ins year-round.

Gero, Gifu

Gero's riverside hot-spring source pool in the town center, where visitors can touch the water and take photos, though full bathing has been banned since

Hakone, Kanagawa

Day-use hot spring in Tōnosawa, Hakone, styled like an old farmhouse village, with communal baths and 19 private open-air rental baths.

Shibu Onsen, Nagano

Reservation-only private hot spring and sauna suites at a Nagano brewery complex, built around a craft beer bathing plan for two to four guests.

Kusatsu, Gunma

A large open-air hot spring bath in Nishinokawara Park, Kusatsu, set among forest with mountain and seasonal views, open daily for walk-ins.

Kyoto

Hotel spa in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward with a day pass for pool, bathhouse, sauna and gym, plus treatment suites and couples options.

Arima Onsen, Hyogo

A moderately priced onsen bathhouse in Arima Onsen, Kobe, with a forest sauna, a large outdoor bath, yoga and an award-recognized restaurant.

Ibusuki, Kagoshima

Oceanfront outdoor onsen in Ibusuki where the two gender-assigned baths swap daily, with views of Mount Kaimon, the East China Sea, and Take-yama.

Hakone, Kanagawa

Small day-use hot spring bathhouse in Yumoto, Hakone, drawing from seven natural sources including one of the area's oldest, with an outdoor bath.

Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto

Okunoyu is a ryokan onsen in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto, with outdoor thermal baths open to day visitors and overnight guests, daily 8:30am–8:30pm.

Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto

A nine-room ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen where every detached suite has its own source-fed open-air bath, open to overnight guests only.

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

A free natural footbath fed by hot spring overflow along the Oyunumagawa trail near Taisho Jigoku in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido.

Shibu Onsen, Nagano

A ryokan in Shibu Onsen with indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths fed by two blended mineral springs, open only to overnight guests.

Ibusuki, Kagoshima

A ryokan-style hotel in Ibusuki with source hot-spring baths, both shared and private, open only to overnight guests.

Arima Onsen, Hyogo

Hotel spa in Arima Onsen with Arima's rare iron-rich "ginsen" waters, outdoor baths, sauna and jacuzzi, run as an all-inclusive overnight stay.

Kamijima, Ehime

An all-inclusive resort on Yugejima island in Setouchi's inland sea, with ocean-view outdoor baths, ocean-front rooms, and a day-pass option.

Yufuin, Oita

A small hillside ryokan near Yufuin's town center where every room has its own half-open-air bath filled with 100% source hot-spring water and a view of Mt.