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.

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

Beppu, Oita

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

Nikko, Tochigi

Walk-in public onsen in Nikko with mountain views, a sauna, and a cafeteria, closed Thursdays and open 10am–9pm other days.

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.

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.

Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata

A riverside hotel spa in Ginzan Onsen with a thermal bathing pool, overnight stay and day-pass access for non-guests.

Tokyo

Private-room head spa salon in Minami-Aoyama, Omotesando, offering 90- to 210-minute scalp treatments from roughly ¥24,750.

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.

Kinosaki, Hyogo

A walk-in public hot spring bathhouse in Kinosaki, Hyogo, open daily except Thursday, with affordable day-pass bathing for families.

Sapporo, Hokkaido

A neighborhood public bathhouse in Sapporo's Chuo Ward, open daily from 7am to 1am, with shampoo and body soap provided and walk-ins welcome.

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.

Kinosaki, Hyogo

A public onsen bathhouse in Kinosaki, Hyogo, open to walk-in visitors daily except Wednesday from 3pm to 11pm.

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.

Nozawa Onsen, Nagano

A small sauna bathhouse in the Toyosato area of Nozawa Onsen, open for timed day-pass sessions four days a week.

Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata

A no-frills communal bathhouse in Ginzan Onsen's Taisho-era hot spring street, open daily 8:30am-3:30pm except Wednesdays.

Ibusuki, Kagoshima

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