Onsen (Hot spring) resorts in Japan
Because many volcanoes are dotted in Japan, there are about 27,000 sources of hot spring.
And there are about 3,000 hot spring resorts in all prefectures in Japan.
In Japanese, hot spring is called Onsen (温泉).
The water of hot spring contains various mineral ingredients.
Since ancient times, onsen had been a sanatorium to stay for a long time and cure a disease by the minerals.
In the medieval period, onsen had also developed as a resort to warm and relax the body.
So, staying in onsen resort has been the main leisure activity for Japanese people.
Even now, after the tourists visit some sightseeing spots, the nearest onsen resort is often selected as the lodging place of the day.
In major Onsen resorts, many hotels and ryokans (Japanese-style hotel) make an Onsen town.
There are also secluded onsen resorts with only one ryokan.
Gushing water from the source in the mountain or the valley is drawn to each hotel, and the water is used in the large bathroom.
We get into the onsen naked.
It is common sense in Japan.
Of course, the bathrooms are segregated by sex.
And many hotels have open-air bath.
Popular onsen resorts in eastern Japan
Hokkaido Region
Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉)
Jozankei Onsen is located along a valley about 25 km southwest of the center of Sapporo city.
It is surrounded by nature and many day trippers visit here.
This resort uses a symbol of "Kappa", which is a funny imaginary creature living in water.
There is a folk story about Kappa in the river.
You can find some statues, dolls or pictures of Kappa in the resort area.
Toyako Onsen (洞爺湖温泉)
Toyako Onsen town and Mout Usu
Toyako Onsen is the onsen resort on the southern shore of Lake Toya.
Some hotels are in the resort town and the town is used for departure and arrival of sightseeing ships of the lake.
The onsen was opened by a volcanic eruption of Mount Usu in 1910.
Mount Usu is located at just south of the resort town and is active.
Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉)
Jigokudani near Noboribetsu onsen town
Noboribetsu Onsen is one of the most popular onsen resort.
Many hotels and ryokans are in the resort town.
It is in a valley located about 30 km southeast of Lake Toya.
Hot springs with various types of spring quarity are gushing from a wild valley.
The wild valley is called "Jigokudani" meaning "valley of hell", and it is one of the sightseeing spots in Noboribetsu.
Yunokawa Onsen (湯の川温泉)
Monkeys in Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden in Yonokawa Onsen
Yunokawa Onsen is an old onsen resort in Hakodate city in the southernmost part of Hokkaido.
It is near the sea and just east of the town lies Hakodate Airport.
The onsen town was opened in the 17th century.
There is Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden near the resort.
It breeds many monkeys, and we can see the monkeys taking a bath of Yunokawa hot spring in winter.
Sounkyo Onsen (層雲峡温泉)
Sounkyo Onsen is the onsen resort in Sounkyo gorge.
It is located about 60 km east of Asahikawa city.
Sounkyo is at the northeastern foot of Daisetsuzan mountains in the center of Hokkaido.
There are some hotels along the gorge.
It is a starting point to go to sightseeing spots of Daisetsuzan.
A ropeway to a peak of Daisetuzan starts from this town.
Akan-ko Onsen (阿寒湖温泉)
Akan-ko Onsen is the onsen resort by Lake Akan.
Lake Akan is located about 70 km north of Kushiro city in the eastern part of Hokkaido.
There are a few volcanoes around the lake, so much hot spring are gushing.
Lake Akan is famous for Marimo which is a spherical moss growing in freshwater lake.
There is the onsen resort town on the southern shore of the lake.
There are some hotels and ryokans in this area, and pleasure boats leave from here.
Kawayu Onsen (川湯温泉)
Mount Iou, the source of the hot spring of Kawayu
Kawayu Onsen is a small onsen town near Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo.
It is located about 90 km north of Kushiro city.
Very much hot spring is gushing and the steams are drifting in the town.
The source of the hot spring is Mount Iou volcano about 3 km south of the onsen town.
The spring quality is strong acid (pH 1.6), so it has the effect for sterilizing the skin.
Utoro Onsen (ウトロ温泉)
Utoro Onsen is the onsen resort in Utoro district in Shiretoko Peninsula.
The town is on the center of the peninsula and is located about 70 km east of Abashiri city.
The northern half part of the peninsula is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The town is a tourist center in Shiretoko Peninsula.
The pleasure ships to see the peninsula leave from Utoro port.
Tokachigawa Onsen (十勝川温泉)
Tokachigawa Onsen is the onsen resort located about 10 km east of the center of Obihiro city.
Some hotels and ryokans are near Tokachi River.
The hot spring is unique and the water contains much vegetable organic materials delivered from the peat deposited several million years ago.
The skin becomes smooth after bathing, so it is called "a hot spring of beauty".
Tohoku Region
Sukayu Onsen (酸ヶ湯温泉, Aomori Pref.)
Sukayu onsen and Mount Hakkoda in winter
Sukayu Onsen is in Hakkoda mountains and is located about 30 km south of Aomori city.
It is at a height of about 900 meters above sea level, and the snow depth around the onsen sometimes exceeds 4 meters in winter.
There is only one inn, and the big bathroom for mixed bathing is famous.
There is also a bathroom for only women.
Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉, Akita Pref.)
Tamagawa Onsen is in the mountain in the weatern part of Akita Prefecture.
It is located about 40 km north of Lake Tazawa.
It is not a resort but a therapeutic bath.
The water contains mainly strong hydrochloric acid, additionally a tiny amount of radon, a kind of radioactive substances.
Therefore, there is "Shin-Tamagawa Onsen" using mild water near Tamagawa Onsen for ordinary visitors.
Nyuto Onsen village (乳頭温泉郷, Akita Pref.)
Outdoor bath of Tsurunoyu in Nyuto Onsen
Nyuto Onsen village is the small onsen resort in the mountains.
It is located about 15 km northeast of Lake Tazawa.
Seven hot springs are dotted within 3 km, and there is a ryokan in each hot spring.
If the guest buy a pass, the guest can take a bath in the other six ryokans.
Akiu Onsen (秋保温泉, Miyagi Pref.)
Akiu Onsen is the onsen resort in a suburb of Sendai city.
It is located about 20 km west of the center of Sendai city.
There are the scenic spots such as some gorges and high water falls around the onsen resort.
Imperial family used the hot spring in the ancient times, and Date family who were the samirai lord governed around Sendai used here in the 16th century.
Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉, Miyagi Pref.)
Naruko Onsen
Photo by Miyagi Prefecture
Naruko Onsen is the onsen resort along the river valley.
It is located about 70 km north of Sendai city.
Since ancient times, the onsen had been a resort area for therapeutic bath.
Some hotels and ryokans are dotted along the river.
Kokeshi is a simple wooden doll and has been produced in Naruko area since the middle of the 19th century.
There are some workshops in the area.
Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉, Yamagata Pref.)
Ginzan Onsen is the hot spring resort in a narrow valley.
It is located about 50 km north of Yamagata city.
Many ryokans are lined along a river.
The wooden buildings built in the 19th century create a retro atmosphere, so the scenery is popular.
Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉, Yamagata Pref.)
Zao Onsen town
Zao Onsen is located on the side of Mt. Zao.
It is located about 15 km southeast of Yamagata city.
There are a few ski slopes around the onsen resort.
And snow rime on trees in winter is famous.
Some hotels and ryokans are in the area.
Iizaka Onsen (飯坂温泉, Fukushima Pref.)
Iizaka Onsen is an onsen resort near Fukushima city.
It is located about 10 km north of the center of Fukushima city.
The town spreads along a river, and many ryokans are dotted around the river.
This onsen has a long history
Many public bathhouses are also in the town.
Tsuchiyu Onsen (土湯温泉, Fukushima Pref.)
Monument of Kokeshi in Tsuchiyu Onsen town
Tsuchiyu Onsen is also an onsen resort near Fukushima city.
It is located about 15 km southwest of the center of Fukushima city.
The onsen town is along a river in the valley.
Tsuchiyu is famous as Kokeshi doll.
It is the main producing area of Kokeshi along with Naruko.
Higashiyama Onsen (東山温泉, Fukushima Pref.)
Higashiyama Onsen is a hot spring resort in a gorge near Aizu-Wakamatsu city in Fukushima Prefecture.
Many hotels and ryokans are along a river, and we can see some waterfalls around the resort.
This resort has several groups of geisha girl.
In main ryokans, the guests can enjoy the performance of geisha girls for a fee.
Kanto Region
Kinugawa Onsen (鬼怒川温泉, Tochigi Pref.)
Kinugawa Onsen is located about 20 km north of the center of Nikko city.
Kinugawa river forms the vallay, and there are many hotels and ryokans along the river.
The onsen town had been very major, so very many guests had visited here until 1990s.
Because of the collapse of Japan's "bubble" economy, the guests had sharply declined.
But, this onsen resort is still major.
Kawaji Onsen (川治温泉, Tochigi Pref.)
Kawaji Onsen in winter
Kawaji Onsen is located about 8 km up Kinugawa river from Kinugawa Onsen.
It is a quiet town surrounded by nature.
Some hotels and ryokans are in the valley where two rivers meet.
The spring water is alkaline.
So it is said that Kawaji's water heals wounds.
Yunishigawa Onsen (湯西川温泉, Tochigi Pref.)
Yunishigawa Onsen is located about 20 km up Kinugawa river from Kawaji Onsen.
The onsen village is in the deep mountain.
It is said that the warriors who lost the civil war hid here in the 12th century.
They found a hot spring in this area and it is said that they had been living quietly.
Shiobara Onsen (塩原温泉, Tochigi Pref.)
Shiobara Onsen is in the mountain in Nasu-Shiobara city located at the northwest part of Tochigi prefecture.
The length of the town is about 4 km along the river, and eleven hot springs are dotted along the gorge.
The spring qualities of them are all different.
Ikaho Onsen (伊香保温泉, Gunma Pref.)
Ikaho Onsen is in Shibukawa city in the center of Gunma Prefecture.
The onsen town is located about 10 km west of the center of Shibukawa city.
The hot spring resort at the foot of an inactive volcano, Mount Haruna.
The onsen town is on the slope and the main street with long stone steps is famous.
Minakami Onsen (水上温泉, Gunma Pref.)
Minakami Onsen is the onsen resort in the upper reaches of Tone River.
There is Mount Tanigawa near Minakami Onsen, so this place is near a watershed between the Pacific Ocean side and the Sea of Japan side.
After collapse of the 1990s bubble economy, this resort declined.
But they are approaching revival of more appealing resort with outdoor sports such as skiing and rafting now.
Shima Onsen (四万温泉, Gunma Pref.)
Sekizankan in Shima Onsen
Shima Onsen is located about 35 km northwest of Shibukawa city.
It is in the upper reach of Shima River.
The onsen resort was opened in the 16th century.
There are some hotels and ryokans.
Especially, Sekizankan ryokan was built in 1691, and it is the oldest wooden ryokan building in Japan.
Kusatsu Onsen (草津温泉, Gunma Pref.)
Yubata in Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is one of most famous onsen resorts in Japan.
It is in the western part of Gunma Prefecture.
The onsen town is located on the highland at an altitude of about 1,200 meters.
There are many hotels and ryokans in the center of the town.
The yield of hot spring water is very much.
The source of onsen at the center of the town is called "Yubata" meaning "field of hot spring", and it is an attractive sightseeing spot in Kusatsu.
Manza Onsen (万座温泉, Gunma Pref.)
Manza Onsen is on the western slope of the active volcano, Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane.
It is located about 10 km west of Kusatsu Onsen town.
The onsen town is located at the level of about 1,800 meters.
It is one of the onsen towns on the highest places in Japan.
There are some hotels and ryokans, and there is also a ski slope.
By the volcano, the spring water contains much sulfur component.
Hakone (箱根, Kanagawa Pref.)
Hakone Yumoto Onsen
Hakone is a well-known onsen area located about 90 km southwest to Tokyo.
The area is in a whole caldera volcano, and several onsen districts are dotted in the caldera.
In Edo Period, most important route between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto was set up through Hakone, so many travellers visited and stayed here and Hakone developed as a post town.
After that, Hakone became a major sightseeing spot.
There are Lake Ashi and some sightseeing spots, and Mount Fuji is seen.
Popular onsen resorts in central Japan
Onsen resorts in Koshinetsu Region
Isawa Onsen (石和温泉, Yamanashi Pref.)
Isawa Onsen is the onsen resort about 7 km east of Kofu city in Yamanashi Prefecture, and is in a town of Fuefuki city.
The hot spring was discovered in a vineyard in the 1950s, then the onsen facility was built.
It is not so far from Tokyo, so the onsen resort have developed since that.
Many hotels and typkans are in the town.
Bessho Onsen (別所温泉, Nagano Pref.)
Bessho Onsen is a onsen resort in Ueda city located about 40 km south of Nagano city.
It is the oldest onsen in Nagano Prefecture.
There are some old Buddhist temples around the onsen town, so the atmosphere is like a temple town.
Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen towns (湯田中渋温泉郷, Nagano Pref.)
The street in Shibu Onsen
Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen towns are located at the foot of mountains, and is located about 30 km nortjheast of Nagano city.
Two onsen towns of Yudanaka and Shibu are connected and old Japanese ryokans line along a street for 2 km.
Jigokudani Monkey Park (Snow Monkey Mountain) is near from the towns.
Nozawa Onsen (野沢温泉, Nagano Pref.)
Nozawa Onsen is the onsen town in the north part of Nagano Prefecture.
It is about 45 km north of Nagano city.
There is the ski resort near the hot spring resort, and it is one of the popular ski resorts in Japan.
There are some hotels, ryokans, and the lodges with a European style.
Shirahone Onsen (白骨温泉, Nagano Pref.)
Shirahone Onsen is an onsen resort in a deep valley on the mountainside of Mt. Norikura (3,026 m), so it is st about 1,400 meters above sea level.
It is located 35 km west of Matsumoto city in Nagano Prefecture.
"Shirahone" means "white bone", so the spring water is milky white.
There are some ryokans and hotels in the mountain.
Tsukioka Onsen (月岡温泉, Niigata Pref.)
Tsukioka Onsen is the onsen resort located about 30 km east of Niigata city.
It is popular onsen town in Niigata Prefecture, and some hotels and ryokans gather in a narrow area.
Most hotels have the service of entertainment by Geisha. (Of course, the additional fee is charged.)
Hokuriku Region
Unazuki Onsen (宇奈月温泉, Toyama Pref.)
Unazuki Onsen is the onsen resort at the entrance to large and steep Kurobe Gorge in the eastern part of Toyama Prefecture.
Here is the starting point of Kurobe Gorge Railway.
There are some hotels and ryokans in the gorge formed by Kurobe River.
There is the terminal station of the railway in the center of the onsen town.
Guide to Unazuki Onsen in Kurobe Gorge
Kaga Onsen resorts (加賀温泉郷, Ishikawa Pref.)
Yamanaka Onsen in Kaga city
Kaga Onsen resorts is an area with four onsen districts in Kaga city in the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture.
It is located about 40 km southwest of Kanazawa city.
The districts are Katayamazu (片山津), Awazu (粟津), Yamashiro (山代) and Yamanaka (山中).
These are dotted in the city, and each of them is the major onsen village.
Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉, Ishikawa Pref.)
Wakura Onsen is the onsen resort along the eastern coast in Noto Peninsula.
It is located about 70 km north of Kanazawa city.
The hot water was gushing in the sea.
So, the feudal lord in this area constructed this onsen resort in the 17th century.
Unfortunately, it was damaged by the great earthquake on January 1, 2024.
Now, it is on the road to recovery.
Awara Onsen (芦原温泉, Fukui Pref.)
Footbath "Ashiyu" in Awara Onsen
Awara Onsen is the onsen resort near the Sea of Japan.
It is located about 20 km north of Fukui city.
When a well was dug in the rice field, hot water gushed out in the 1880s.
It became a popular onsen resort because it is not so far Kanazawa and Kansai Region (Osaka, Kyoto).
There is a gorgeous bathhouse for footbath "Ashiyu" in front of the railway station.
And, there is the facility that the visitors can try "Geisha Maiko Dress up Experience".
Tokai Region
Atami Onsen (熱海温泉, Shizuoka Pref.)
Atami city is a popular onsen resort in Shizuoka Prefecture, and is located about 100 km southwest of Tokyo.
The city is close to Hakone and Mount Fuji.
There is the station of Shinkansen, so many visitors visit here across the year.
The city is on the slope facing the sea, and whole Atami city is the onsen resort.
Many hotels and ryokans are dotted in the city.
Ito Onsen (伊東温泉, Shizuoka Pref.)
Ito Onsen is a onsen city on the east side of Izu Peninsula.
It is located about 15 km south of Atami.
The yield of hot water is the largest in Honshu island, so the hot springs have been favored since 1,300 years before.
Many hotels and ryokans are dotted in the city.
Izu-Nagaoka Onsen (伊豆長岡温泉, Shizuoka Pref.)
Mt.Fuji is seen in Izu-Nagaoka Onsen
Izu-Nagaoka Onsen is an onsen resort in the northern part of Izu Peninsula, and is located about 10 km south of Mishima city in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Many hotels and ryokans are dotted in the town.
The town had been an entertainment district from ancient times.
The spring water is alkaline, so it is believed to be effective for making skin smooth and beautiful.
Shuzenji Onsen (修善寺温泉, Shizuoka Pref.)
Tokko-no-yu in Shuzenji onsen town
Shuzenji Onsen is an onsen resort in the center of Izu Peninsula.
It is located about 20 km south of Mishima city.
Shuzenji is a Buddhist temple founded by the high priest Kuukai in 807.
It is said that Kuukai found the hot spring in the river with his sacred stick.
The original hot spring is called "Tokko-no-yu", and it is still in the river.
Sumatakyo Onsen (寸又峡温泉, Shizuoka Pref.)
Sumatakyo Onsen is located in the deep Sumata Gorge.
It is in the upper reaches of Oigawa river flowing in the center of Shizuoka Prefecture.
The onsen village is in the deep valley.
It is said that the water of the hot spring contains an ingredient to make the skin beautiful.
Gero Onsen (下呂温泉, Gifu Pref.)
Gero onsen town in winter
Gero Onsen is the onsen resort along Hida River flowing in the eastern part of Gifu Prefecture.
The hot spring was found in the 10th century, and it was known as one of the best springs in Japan.
The onsen town spreads on the wide valley formed by the river.
The footbath on the riverside of Hida River is popular.
Oku-Hida Onsen village (奥飛騨温泉郷, Gifu Pref.)
Hirayu village in Oku-Hida Onsen village
Oku-Hida Onsen village is the onsen area on the western side of beautiful mountains called "Japanese Alps".
It is located about 30 km east of Takayama city.
There are five small villages in the valleys and these are located at the level of 800 to 1,300 meters.
Some hotels and ryokans are in each village.
And many wild open-air bathes are dotted in the area.
Guide to Oku-Hida Onsen village
Yunoyama Onsen (湯の山温泉, Mie Pref.)
Ropeway and Yonoyama onsen town
Yunoyama Onsen is the onsen resort at the foot of Mount Gozaisho which has unique natural features.
It is located to the west of Yokkaichi city in Mie Prefecture, and is about 50 km southwest of Nagoya city.
The hotels and ryokans are dotted on the slope.
The ropeway to the top of Mount Gozaisho starts from this onsen town.
Popular onsen resorts in western Japan
Kansai Region
Nanki-Shirahama Onsen (南紀白浜温泉, Wakayama Pref.)
Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is a seaside resort with onsen facing the Pacific Ocean.
It is located in the southwestern part of Wakayama Prefecture.
It is one of the oldest onsen resorts in Japan, and the spring is from the underground hot water vein.
There and a beautiful beach and a zoo in the town.
Nanki-Katsuura Onsen (南紀勝浦温泉, Wakayama Pref.)
Hotels near Katsuura fishing port
Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is the onsen resort facing the Pacific Ocean.
It is in Nachi-Katsuura town located in the southeastern part of Wakayama Prefecture.
Some hotels and ryokans are dotted in the town and a few hotels are on the small peninshula surrounding the port.
It is located near the sacred "Three Grand Shrines of Kumano" and it is on the ancient pilgrimage routes "Kumano Kodo".
Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine and Nachi Falls are close to the town.
Arima Onsen (有馬温泉, Hyogo Pref.)
Arima Onsen is the onsen resort in the mountain in Kobe city.
It is located about 15 km north of the center of Kobe city.
It is said that the onsen had been in the 7th century, so it has been a popular onsen resort since ancient times.
There are many ryokan and hotels in the narrow valley.
And, there are two public bathhouses in the resort town.
Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉, Hyogo Pref.)
Kinosaki Onsen is the onsen resort in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture.
Old Japanese ryokans line along a small river with the rows of willow trees.
So, the retro atmosphere is popular.
Many famous writers and artists have visited this onsen town since ancient times.
Chugoku Region
Misasa Onsen (三朝温泉, Tottori Pref.)
Misasa Onsen is located about 10 km southeast of Kurayoshi city in the center of Tottori Prefecture.
The onsen resort is in the wide valley, and some hotels and ryokans are dotted along a river.
The spring water contains radium and radon, so it is one of world's leading radioactive spring.
Kaike Onsen (皆生温泉, Tottori Pref.)
Kaike onsen town and Mount Daisen
Photo by Yonago City Tourism Association
Kaike Onsen is the onsen resort along the coast facing the Sea of Japan.
It is located about 5 km north of the center of Yonago city at the western end of Tottori Prefecture.
The spring source is in the sea, but very hot water is gushing in plenty.
There are some large hotels in the resort town, so it is a major onsen resort.
Tamatsukuri Onsen (玉造温泉, Shimane Pref.)
Monument of Magatama in Tamatsukuri Onsen
Tamatsukuri Onsen is the old onsen resort opened in the 7th century.
It is located about 10 km southwest of Matsue city in Shimane Prefecture.
This area had produced agate and the people had made "Magatama" beads for nacklace of agate in the ancient times.
The hot spring was opened at that time.
Many hotels and ryokans are along the river.
There is such ancient atmosphere in this area, and the monument of "Magatama" is seen in the town.
Yuda Onsen (湯田温泉, Yamaguchi Pref.)
Yuda Onsen is the onsen resort in Yamaguchi city.
Yamaguchi city is the center of the prefecture, and the town was constructed after the model of Kyoto.
So, the old city is called "Western Kyoto".
The hot spring was found at that time.
So, this onsen resort in the city is unique.
Guide to Yuda Onsen in Yamaguchi city
Shikoku Region
Dogo Onsen (道後温泉, Ehime Pref.)
Dogo-onsen Honkan in Dogo Onsen town
Dogo Onsen is the popular onsen resort in the center of Matsuyama city in Ehime Prefecture.
It is one of the oldest onsen resorts in Japan, and it is written in Japanese myth.
There are many hotels and ryokans.
The public bathhouse "Dogo-onsen Honkan" is the center of the onsen and it is the symbol of the onsen resort.
Kyushu Region
Takeo Onsen (武雄温泉, Saga Pref.)
Roumon in Takeo onsen town
Takeo Onsen is the onsen resort in Takeo city in the western part of Saga Prefecture.
The onsen town is at the foot of the mountains near the center of the city.
There is "Roumon" gate as the symbol of the onsen town in the center of the town.
There are a few public bathhouses.
One of them was the bathhouse for the samurai lord in this area in Edo Period.
Ureshino Onsen (嬉野温泉, Saga Pref.)
A western-style bathhouse in Ureshino onsen
Ureshino Onsen is the onsen resort in a narrow basin by a river.
It is in the center of Ureshino town located about 15 km south of Takeo Onsen.
This hot spring is known as "water producing beautiful skin".
And, "Yudofu", a Japanese dish that tofu is boiled in hot water, is very tasty because the spring water is used.
Unzen Onsen (雲仙温泉, Nagasaki Pref.)
Unzen-jigoku by Unzen onsen
Unzen Onsen is the onsen near active Unzen volcano.
It is in the center of Shimabara Peninsula in the southeastern part of Nagasaki Prefecture.
There is a field that hot spring and volcanic gas are spouting near the onsen town, and it is called Unzen-Jigoku (Unzen Hell).
The onsen town is in the wild scenary.
Kurokawa Onsen (黒川温泉, Kumamoto Pref.)
Kurokawa Onsen is the onsen resort out of Mount Aso volcano.
It is located about 30 km north of Mount Aso.
There are small onsen ryokans in the village surrounded by hills and mountains.
The village and the onsen had been very rustic.
The people produced various ideas to attract the visitor, so the onsen village became popular in the 1980s.
The onsen town is small, but it is still popular.
Beppu (別府, Oita Pref.)
Beppu is a major onsen city in Oita Prefcture.
It faces Beppu Bay and is surrounded by some volcanoes.
There are eight onsen district in the city area, and the hot spring wells and the yield of hot water is the largest in Japan.
A lot of hotels and ryokans are in whole city.
Some wild hot spring ponds called "Hell" are the interesting sigheseeing spots.
Yufuin Onsen (湯布院温泉, Oita Pref.)
Main street of Yufuin and Mount Yufu
Yufuin Onsen is the onsen resort at the foot of Mount Yufu volcano.
It is located about 15 km west of Beppu city.
Japanese traditional rural scenery spread out around the town, and the view of Mount Yufu is beautiful.
There is a small lake and many small art galleries are in the town.
The town is like a highland resort.
Ibusuki Onsen (指宿温泉, Kagoshima Pref.)
Sunamushi onsen in Ibusuki
Photo by Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization
Ibusuki Onsen is the seaside onsen resort near the southern edge of Kyushu Island.
It is located about 45 km south of Kagoshima city.
Since ancient times, hot spring had gushed out in the swamp along the shore.
The hot spring resort has developed since the late 19th century.
Some hotels and ryokans are dotted along the beach.
It is famous for sand steam bath on the beach.
It is called "Sunamushi", and the guest lies in the sand about 50 degrees C.