Best places: Onsens in Japan

Minimalist suites with in-room hot spring baths in a modern hotel offering dining & a lobby lounge.

👍👍 I needed a place to stay overnight in Matsumoto when I found myself stranded there. This Hotel, and it's staff, far surpassed my expectations. I've been in the hospitality business nearly my entire adult life, working in resorts, hotels, restaurants... I've traveled extensively; staying at many, ma...

👍👍 Couldnt go because of short time but a Kagoshima dear friend of mine recommended me this onsen as the best around. Got crazy to understand how to go but eventually I found Kotsu Bus timetable (not on the internet but at Ibusuki tourism infopoin) I wanna share. Hope it helps

Serene, upscale hot spring hotel with a refined restaurant, a lounge & lake views, plus bathhouses.

Polished hotel offering simple, airy rooms with Wi-Fi, plus a restaurant, a bathhouse & saunas.

👍👍 Sansui Onsen hot spring is located in Kirishima city. The facility has approx. 20 private rooms, where you can enjoy Japanese style hot springs in a sophisticated place. Highly recommended to foreigners who have never tried Japanese hot springs before, also for those who want to enjoy quality time a...

Spa with dramatic mountain views from its open-air hot springs, plus a sauna & indoor baths.

Indoor & outdoor sodium bicarbonate hot spring baths with panoramic vistas of surrounding peaks.

👍 Nice modern bath house and not a lot of people. Nice sitting and even a tatami area to lay and chill with a decent selection of manga to spend some time before heading back to KIX.

👍👍 Probably the newest/cleanest of the free onsens in town. Onsen temp was more bearable/less scalding hot than others so that was a big plus for me. Going late is even better since you (mostly) get the place to yourself. (stayed there past 'closing time' and there were people coming in)

👍👍 飲食施設の付いた日帰り温泉施設です。山道をだいぶ登ったところに突然現れる非常に綺麗な施設です。すぐ近くに立派な滝があるので見学できます。露天風呂は3つあり、紅葉が綺麗でした。サウナと水風呂もついてます。飲食店では蒸気で蒸す体験型のメニューがあります。シンプルですが素材の味を楽しめるお料理でした。

Mountainside complex with coin-operated thermal baths & outdoor steamers for cooking your own food.

Informal hot spring hotel offering unassuming rooms, plus saunas, communal baths & a restaurant.

👍👍 Amazing location and intriguingly affordable deal: ¥2,000 yen for an entire day of unlimited onsen and pool use. Both the pools and onsen have a beautiful view over Beppu due to their vantage point as well.

Unfussy hot-spring lodging with 2 eateries & a karaoke room, plus an open-air bathhouse.

Relaxed rooms in a quaint hotel, plus a casual restaurant & both indoor & outdoor baths.

Sophisticated hot spring inn featuring dining & a communal bathhouse with a sauna & garden views.

Quaint resort town in a mountain valley with 7 public hot springs, ryokan inns & Onsenji Temple.