Hot Springs in Japan

Japan is popular for its natural hot springs also known as Onsen. Japan is dotted with numerous hot springs and resort towns. The hot springs in Japan are known to contain several rich and useful minerals. The minerals serve as a tonic to different health related problems. Bathing in the hot springs brings the entire body to rest and results in holistic healing.

There are several varieties of hot springs in Japan. The various types of hot springs are located indoors and outdoors, gender separated and mixed, developed and undeveloped. Ryokon manages several hot springs in Japan, while others are public bathhouses. Tourists can enjoy a memorable experience with an overnight stay at a hot spring Ryokan.

How to bathe in Hot Springs:

- Undress yourself in the changing room and keep your clothes in a basket with your bathing towel. Safety lockers are available for keeping your belongings.
- Bare bodies can experience a relaxed bathing in hot springs. In most places people are not allowed to wear swimming suits. You can use a small towel to cover yourself while outside the water.
- Before entering the hot spring, wash your body under a tap or a bath using a washbowl kept in the bathing area.
- Enter the bath and wet yourself gradually. Check if the bath water is too hot. If you find it hot, try and move in slowly.
- After bathing for a while, step out of the bath and dab your body with soap under a tap. Soap and shampoo are offered in some baths. You should remember to clean up the place after washing your body with soap.
- Move into the bath again and wet your body again. Do not wet your body under a tap after coming out of the hot spring bath, as this would reduce the effect of the useful minerals on your body.

Enjoying in Hot Springs:

- You can enjoy a bathing experience in conventional hot springs. Conventional hot springs are in the form of a hot water bath.
- Different springs are distinguished by different minerals with different health benefits, colors and smell.
- Several hot springs contain sulfur.
- Outdoor hot spring water baths are called rotemburo. Some outdoor baths are located amidst majestic mountains, verdant valleys, gurgling rivers, tranquil lakes or seashores.
- Apart from conventional hot springs larger baths exist in the form of waterfalls and sand baths.
- Ashiyu are shallow hot springs found in many hot spring resorts. They can be used for rinsing your feet.
- You can enjoy relaxing massages services, saunas at modern hot spring complexes. Swimming pools and water slides are also found at modern hot spring complexes.
- You can enjoy an ultimate hot spring experience at onsen ryokan, a Japanese style lodge with hot spring baths. Many hot spring resorts in Japan enclose Onsen Ryokan in different forms and sizes.
- Onsen Ryokan visit starts with a bath before dinner. You can enjoy a fine dining experience with local Japanese dishes.
- Overnight stays are not necessary to experience hot spring baths. Ryokan offers baths to people during daytime against a payment of few hundred yens. Apart from ryokon, other hot spring resorts enclose public bathhouses running hot spring water.
- Bare bodies can enjoy baths in hot springs. Majority of the baths offer separate areas for men and women. A few mixed baths are found in far-flung areas.
- If you find it uncomfortable to take a bath in mixed hot springs, you can ask for - kashikiri - (private) baths offered at a few ryokan. Private baths are often called - kazokuburo - .

Major Hot Springs in Japan:

Near Tokyo:

- Kusatsu Onsen
- Hakone
- Nikko

Northern Japan:

- Kamuiwakka Falls
- Noboribetsu Onsen
- Toyako Onsen
- Hanamaki Onsen
- Nyuto Onsen

Western Japan:

- Dogo Onsen
- Beppu