Spas in Japan

Beppu, Oita

A budget mineral-mud and colloid hot-spring bathhouse in the Myoban district of Beppu, open daily for walk-in day soaks or an overnight stay.

Gero, Gifu

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

Dogo Onsen, Ehime

A roughly 3,000-year-old public hot spring bathhouse in Matsuyama, designated an Important Cultural Property, open daily with walk-in day passes from 700 yen.

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.

Beppu, Oita

A hot-spring bathhouse in Beppu's Kannawa district, running since 1922 on 100% unblended spring water with walk-in day passes.

Kyoto

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

Atami, Shizuoka

Hotel spa inside Fufu Atami using Sisley's plant-based treatments, with sauna, steam and thermal pool access for adults only.

Sapporo, Hokkaido

Natural hot spring inside Sapporo's Jasmac Plaza Hotel in Susukino, open to day visitors and hotel guests alike, with sauna and a rest lounge.

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.

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

A plain neighborhood bathhouse in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, offering 100% source-fed hot spring water in two mineral varieties, about 10 minutes from the station.

Kyoto

Hotel spa on the 2nd floor of Dhawa Yura Kyoto in Higashiyama, offering private-suite treatments by Banyan Tree Academy-trained therapists.

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.

Beppu, Oita

A 1938 public bathhouse in central Beppu known for its sand bath, where attendants bury bathers in heated sand while they wear a yukata.

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.