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18 awesome overnight hot spring trips from Tokyo, and a quiz to help pick the best one for you

Casey Baseel Jul 30, 2019
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If you had 18 days, you’d do them all, but if you’ve got pick just one, this onsen expert’s flow chart is here to help.

Tokyo is one of the most interesting, exciting cities in the world, and a lot of that is thanks to how dense it is. But no matter how much you enjoy exploring its restaurants, shops, museums, and other points of urban interest, too much time in Tokyo’s urban jungle can have you longing for a relaxing night outside the city limits.

At those times, the best course of action is a dip in a hot spring, or onsen, as they’re called in Japanese, and you’re in luck because there are over a dozen onsen towns that make for easy overnight trips from Tokyo. But which one is the right destination for you? Japanese Twitter user @onsen_nagachi, who’s visited over 400 hot springs in Japan, has a flow chart that’ll help you pick.

東京から1泊2日で行けるおすすめ温泉チャートを作ってみました pic.twitter.com/WONibXQdH0

— 永井千晴女ひとり温泉本重版🥳 (@onsen_nagachi) July 28, 2019

The quiz has a maximum of five questions for you to answer, so let’s get started.

1. Do you want to go to the hot spring using only trains and/or buses?
Because of their rural locations, some onsen require cars/taxis to reach, although there are also ones that are easy to get to using public transportation,
Yes → Go to Question 2
No → Go to Question 3

2. Do you want to go someplace quiet?
Yes → Go to Question 4
No → Go to Question 5

3. Is it OK if the hot spring is a little far from Tokyo?
Yes → Go to Question 6
No → Go to Question 7

4. Do you want to go to a hot spring with cloudy water?
“Cloudy water” might sound suspicious, but the mineral content of some natural onsen give them a milky color, which is actually a bit of a plus if you feel self-conscious about the prospect of Japanese-style shared soaking in completely transparent water
Yes → Go to Takayu Onsen

【Takayu Onsen (高湯温泉)】
"Mingle with local people in the milky sulfur waters fed directly from the source,surrounded by the beautiful nature of Mt.Azuma."
［Fukushima Day 2: Travel Japan］#TakayuOnsen #TakayuHotSpring #高湯温泉

《Web》https://t.co/HY7y9D8fvW pic.twitter.com/QPREmkT7pa

— Travel Japan (@Travel21JPN) July 13, 2019

Located in the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, Takayu offers lush forests in summer, and also yukimiburo, outdoor hot springs where you can warm your body while looking out at the snow, in winter.

No → Go to Question 8

5. Do you want to stroll around the streets of the onsen town?
Some onsen communities have what’s called an onsen-gai, streets of restaurants, souvenir shops, and other traveler-oriented businesses, which visitors often explore while wearing lightweight kimono provided by their hotels.

Yes → Go to Question 9
No → Go to Question 10

6. Do you want to enjoy other outdoor attractions besides the hot springs?
Yes → Go to Question 11
No → Go to Question 12

7. Do you want a luxurious atmosphere?
Yes → Go to Hakone

箱根温泉来てます♨️☺️♨️

富士山最高🗻💕❤❤

朝も夜も
風情があります🌈🌈#温泉 #箱根温泉 #富士山 pic.twitter.com/IgLTw4sIBb

— 🌺ミルクジェラート🌴 (@millkjerate1234) April 11, 2018

Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone is the premiere hot spring destination for Tokyoites, and the lakeside town’s incredible views of Mt. Fuji on sunny days make it an enticing place to splurge on a fancy hotel or ryokan inn.

No → Go to Question 13

8. Do you love sake?
Yes → Go to Echigo Yuzawa

新潟県南魚沼郡湯沢町

「越後湯沢温泉」

多くの温泉施設、スキー場が点在し、冬にはスキー、スノボを楽しむ若者が多く訪れる越後湯沢。

いくつかの泉質の異なる源泉があることが特徴で、ウィンタースポーツを楽しんだ後の温泉は格別！ pic.twitter.com/UYy9Umwmq9

— 日本のいいとこ。 (@Goooood_Japan) March 17, 2019

“Echigo” is the old name for Niigata, which produces some of Japan’s most delicious rice. Combine that with the prefecture’s abundant supply of high-purity water, and local brewers have everything they need to make excellent sake, the perfect way to cap off a day of hot spring baths.

No → Go to Shima Onsen

https://twitter.com/KWpfUiziD6DXa0p/status/1155480103545032704

It’s not the only hot spring town in Gunma Prefecture, but Shima Onsen, by virtue of being less famous than some of the other Gunma spots we’ll see on the list, is also quieter and less crowded.

9. Do you prefer the ocean or the mountains?
The ocean → Go to Atami

〜熱海城〜

Raw現像をするようになってから色をコントロールしやすくなった気がするのですが、どうかな🤔#写真で奏でる私の世界 #ファインダー越しのわたしの世界 #キリトリセカイ #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #東京カメラ部 #熱海城 #熱海 #夜景 #night pic.twitter.com/qgDpTy2ytw

— 廣澤祐輔 (@hiroyu28cam) April 2, 2019

Situated at the eastern entrance to the Izu peninsula, Atami boasts beautiful views of the gently curving bay the town rises up from, as well as a picturesque castle.

The mountains → Go to Question 14

10. Do you want to go to a place with lots of natural beauty?
Yes → Go to Kinugawa

The name might translate to “angry demon river,” but the hot spring inns built along the top of the gorge Kinugawa’s river runs through are likely to leave you feeling divinely peaceful.

No → Go to Question 15

11. Do you prefer the ocean or the mountains?
The ocean → Go to Higashi Izu

絶景オーシャンビュー露天風呂旅館の東伊豆「吉祥CAREN」最高では！
・海の見晴らし展望温泉がお部屋にも
・到着後のアフタヌーンティー、湯上りビール、フレンチ懐石、夜のスイーツ&アルコール全部込。豪華すぎ
・選べる色浴衣可愛い
・スパ最高
お祝いの宿なので、是非めでたい日に超お勧め！ pic.twitter.com/ObfQpRAMnG

— Chelsea Kunimoto｜Generative AIX Partner (@chelsea_ainee) July 28, 2019

Keep heading south from Atami, and you’ll reach the part of Shizuoka Prefecture called Higashi Izu (“East Izu”), which gives you great ocean views and smaller crowds than what you’ll find further north.

The mountains → Go to Question 16

12. Do you want to go to a hot spring with cloudy water?
Yes → Go to Manza Onsen

〜群馬県〜
草津の他にも綺麗な所色々あるって知ってた？？
ちなみに全国の温泉で一番だと思ったのは群馬県の万座温泉っていう所！♨️
本当にやばいからぜひ✨ pic.twitter.com/1nfcFwUCEc

— HIKARU (@pikaso52752667) July 24, 2019

Another of Gunma’s often-overlooked hot springs, Manza Onsen also offers access to nearby ski slopes in winter.

No → Go to Question 17

13. Do you love seafood?

Yes → Go to Boso

絶景をくつろぎながら楽しめる！千葉のおすすめ「房総温泉」5選 @retrip_news https://t.co/V5TEzdy719 pic.twitter.com/3l6Q76d8sY

— RETRIP＜公式＞ (@retrip_news) June 12, 2016

Out of Tokyo’s neighbors, Chiba Prefecture has by far the least onsen cachet, and is usually thought of more as a place for surfing, hiking, and eating fresh seafood. But with a little searching, you can find beautiful seaside baths like the ones shown above.

No → Go to Kawaguchiko

＼湖が見える温泉宿に泊まろう！／
山梨県・河口湖温泉「風のテラス KUKUNA」は、富士山と湖が一望できる眺望絶景の宿。開放感のあるテラス・天空に浮かぶ露天風呂が自慢です。他、お得なプラン多数あり！
→ https://t.co/HrGlxkkDQN #絶景 #温泉 #露天風呂 #河口湖 #富士山 #国内旅行 #旅行 pic.twitter.com/xkTbGPpGCe

— びゅうトラベル公式（旧JR東日本国内ツアー） (@jreast_tour) March 16, 2019

Kawaguchiko is actually the name of a lake in Yamanashi Prefecture, but while the lake is pretty enough in its own right, the real reason to visit is what’s visible just beyond the lake: Mt. Fuji.

14. Do you like the smell of sulfur?
Like the question about cloudy water, this one might seem kind of strange to Japanese hot spring newbies. But while sulfur is usually an unpleasant odor, to many veterans the aroma is intrinsically tied to onsen baths, and thus takes on a relaxing aspect in hot spring-related contexts.

Yes → Go to Kusatsu

https://twitter.com/Shimon_Soenzi/status/1154343166151016450

Gunma’s Kusatsu is most famous for the dynamic open-air pool of hot spring water that flows right into the center of the town. While there’s no full-body bathing at this landmark, you’ll find free-to-use foot baths around it, as well as several inns with standard hot spring baths.

No → Go to Ikaho

https://twitter.com/adoreno2028/status/1140227199842172928

Also in Gunma, and a bit closer to Tokyo than Kusatsu, Ikaho’s distinguishing feature is the steep set of stone stairs that runs through the center of town, with hot springs located along the way.

15. Do you want to spend your time in a ryokan (traditional inn), or someplace with a sento (public-bath) atmosphere?

Ryokan → Go to Kofu

今日行った山梨県「ほったらかし温泉」、日本一の絶景露天風呂と言われるだけある！

・昼は一面の甲府盆地と絶景の富士山
・早朝に行くと日の出が見られる
・夜に行くと新日本三大夜景と星空
・あっちの湯、こっちの湯の2つ有

口コミだけで年間45万人以上が訪れる最高の温泉！
※写真はイメージです pic.twitter.com/B9vQ2KVXUB

— Chelsea Kunimoto｜Generative AIX Partner (@chelsea_ainee) June 29, 2019

Kofu, the prefectural capital of Yamanashi, isn’t exactly famous for its hot springs, but there are still some real gems, like Hottaragashi Onsen, seen above.

Sento → Go to Yugawara

湯河原温泉に家族旅行行ってたよ。
毎年恒例のお母さん孝行行事だったけど、今年はなんか2回目。
9種類の足湯に入ったりしました。 pic.twitter.com/0zwR7NA3us

— あつき⊿ヒモになりたい広告運用者 (@_pondelife) July 25, 2019

It’s not entirely clear what makes Kanagawa’s Yugawara “sento-like” to @onsen_nagachi, as it’s a genuine onsen town with natural hot springs. It is comparatively less fancy than the prefecture’s more prestigious onsen destination, Hakone, but that also means smaller crowds, and the open-air foot bath (seen at top left above) is a wonderful place to relax in near-solitude on off-peak days.

16. Do you want to go into hot springs at many different locations in the same town?
Some hot spring towns offer the opportunity to do what’s called yu meguri, going from onsen to another at different inns or day-use baths.

Yes → Go to Nasu Shiobara

那須千本松牧場
栃木県那須塩原市千本松
四季折々の自然を満喫できる牧場では、遊びや体験が盛りだくさん♪自然を感じながら乗馬体験やサイクリング。
牧場内にある源泉かけ流しの天然温泉でまったりと、一日中たのしむことができますよ。pic.twitter.com/L3ogmZrLxG

— 関東名所＆観光スポット紹介Bot (@kanto_meisyoBOT) July 24, 2019

In addition to hot springs, rustic Nasu Shiobara, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is also famous for its dairies, and so the locally made ice cream is a can’t miss. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the pyramid onsen while you’re there.

No → Go to Shuzenji

さすらい修善寺温泉♨️
今日は16km歩きました。
大分歩いたのでいいと思います。 pic.twitter.com/Y5djO6ivtd

— てらぽん♮ (@terapon_go) July 20, 2019

Back in Izu once again, Shuzenji is further inland than the other Izu onsen on the list, so guests trae ocean views for ush bamboo forests.

17. Do you like eating wild game like venison and bear meat hot pot?
Yes → Go to Yunishigawa

Originally a hideout for a defeated samurai clan, Yunishigawa offers distinct cuisine and a beautiful igloo festival in winter.

https://twitter.com/gnavi_gurutabi/status/1083619587910967297

No → Go to Minakami みなかみ

https://twitter.com/ominemiyako9/status/989474542211944448

And finally, we make one last stop in Gunma. Minakami offers strenuous outdoor activities like skiing and rafting, but if you’ve come to relax, there’s arguably no better place to do so than in the Hoshi Onsen ryokan, which has been receiving guests for over 140 years.

It’s worth noting that @onsen_nagachi’s flow chart/quiz isn’t an absolute, iron-clad manifesto of where to go. For example, the path to get to the Hakone recommendation suggests you’d need a car to enjoy the town, but it’s actually fairly easy to get around by train and local busses if you check the timetables (and there are even some great train/bus pass combos for travelers). Still, given her extensive hot spring experience, her suggestions are a great jumping-off point from which to plot an onsen getaway from Tokyo, and really, if you’ve got the time, it sounds like each and every one is worth checking out.

Source: Twitter/@onsen_nagachi via Jin
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Wikipedia/掬茶
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