Hot Springs Near Tokyo

Activity > Tokyo > Relaxing

Some of Japan's best hot springs resort towns/areas are within 2 to 3 hours of Tokyo. If your looking to get out of the city or if your looking for more of an authentic type of Japanese experience, staying at a Japanese ryokan in the Japanese countryside is an experience you will never forget. If you do plan on visiting an Japanese hot springs, you may want to check out our Japan hot springs - how to guide.

The Japanese Onsen

Image is a "Block Print" by artist Toyohara Chikanobu

Since Japan has over 100 active volcanoes, there is a LOT of heat deep in the ground below it. This heat boils up mineral enriched water which bubbles or shoots to the the surface creating hot springs. Japan has over 2,000 official hot springs defined by it's own "Hot Spring Law" declared in 1948.

Map of Onsen near Tokyo

List of famous Japanese Hot Spring areas near Tokyo

Atami

Atami is a short 48 min. ride from Tokyo on the Shinkansen. Until Japan's bubble burst in the late 1980s, it was hugely popular with corporate retreats and business retreats. During the "boom" (1960s - 1980s), tons of hotels and ryokans were built in order to handle the popularity of the town. These days Atami is a lot more subdued but still a semi-popular destination for Japanese looking for a quick get-a-way. Highlights of Atami include the beach area (July and August), Kinomiya Shrine, the MOA Museum of Art and the Atami Plum Garden. Read more details here.

Ikaho Onsen

The town of Ikaho was established in the 1500s and is well known for it's reddish brown, iron-laden thermal waters that are said to have healing properties and even have mystical powers to help with fertility. The town has a couple very old public baths that have been used for centuries and an atmospheric town that is easy to walk around on foot. Highlights of Ikaho include it's public open air bath, Kajika bridge, it's famed "Stone Steps", a couple art museums and more... read more details here.

Kinugawa Onsen

Kinugawa Onsen, like Atami, boomed from the 70s through the 80s. It is a quick, 2 hour strait shot from Tokyo (Ueno Staion) and near Nikko Japan. The area originally started becoming popular during the Meiji Era (1868 - 1912) as people could make a side-trip to stay in Kinugawa on their way to or from Nikko. Most of the lodging in Kinugawa is "Hotel" style onsens although there are a couple ryokan style accommodations in the area. Highlights of Kinugawa include two nearby theme parks, Tobu World Square and Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura. Read more details here.

Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu onsen is probably the most popular "close onsen" for Tokyo'ites. It's a smaller compact town that's easy to walk around and has lots of attractions to see and do. Kusatsu has the most "Public Baths" and it's a traditional thing to walk around in your Yukata and visit each of these baths throughout the day along your walk. The area around Kusatsu has the largest natural flow of hot spring water so along with the Public onsen baths there are many onsen hotels and ryokan. Highlights of Kusatsu are the Yubatake (a large hot springs pool in the middle of town), Yumomi shows (traditional method of "stiring the hot springs") and the many Public Baths around town. Read more details here.

Minakami Onsen

The Minakami area is a "hidden gem" along with Shima Onsen below. It's not very well known outside of Japan but Takaragawa Onsen, one of the most popular ryokans in the area, is well known amongst the Japanese especially in the Kantou area (Tokyo and surrounding areas). The Minakami area is spread out and you will need a car or ride the bus if you want to go to other attractions other than your hotel/ryokan but if your staying at Takaragawa Onsen or Chojukan Ryokan in Hoshi, you won't want to go anywhere... you'll just want to relax in the beautiful setting. Highlights of the Minakami area include Takaragawa Onsen, Chojukan Ryokan, and Takumi No Sato. "Read more details here.

Shima Onsen

Shima Onsen was made internationally famous in 2001 when the movie Spirited Away was released because the onsen in that movie was based off the Sekizenkan Ryokan, which is in Shima. Like Takaragawa Onsen above, the Sekizenkan Ryokan is absolutely gorgeous along with a red bridge crossing a rushing river below. Shima onsen was the first onsen to become "Nationally Certified" by a the Japanese government do to it's potential health benefits. Like the Minakami area, the Shima area is quite spread out and you will either need a car to get around or just stay local at your hotel or ryokan. Highlights of the Shima Onsen area include Sekizenkan Ryokan, Seiryu No Yu (a public bath), the Kamagafuchi Gorge and Ochiai Dori (an old nostalgic part of town). Read more details here.