Ranking of Japan's most popular hot springs

As a country with many volcanoes, hot springs are the best gift from the volcanoes to the Japanese people, earning Japan the reputation of being the "Hot Spring Country". Only after soaking in these Japanese hot springs can one feel complete in life - a detailed guide to Japanese hot springs.

Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Prefecture)

Kusatsu Onsen boasts the highest natural hot spring water output in Japan. The spring quality is one of the few highly acidic ones in the country, making it difficult for most bacteria and germs to survive, thus possessing excellent sterilizing properties.
The hot spring water here is colorless and transparent, with a smooth touch on the skin. Due to the large area of hot spring outflow, even ordinary households use the hot spring. From the open-air hot springs and guest rooms of the inns, you can overlook Mount Yufu. The beautiful scenery of Kinrin Lake shrouded in morning mist from autumn to early winter is worth seeing. Additionally, on the avenue known as 'Yunotsubo Kaido,' this hot spring is one of the most popular, especially among women.

Gero Onsen (Gifu Prefecture)

Among the hot springs nationwide, Kusatsu, Arima, and Gero are considered the three great hot springs of Japan, thus they are known as the 'Three Great Hot Springs of Japan.' In the Edo period, Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan referred to Gero, Arima, and Kusatsu hot springs as the 'Three Great Hot Springs of the World.'

Beppu Hattou (Oita Prefecture)

Beppu is well-known as a representative hot spring area, boasting the highest number of hot springs and the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan. There are eight representative hot spring areas in Beppu and its surrounding regions, collectively known as 'Beppu Hattou'.

Arima Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture)

Arima is Japan's oldest hot spring. Since ancient times, even before people had mastered the technology of digging into the ground, natural hot springs have been continuously gushing forth, bearing the blessings of the earth. In today's technologically advanced era, the method of shallow extraction (within 300 meters) is used to fully accumulate and enhance the natural blessings (i.e., the effective components of the hot spring), providing people with high-quality hot springs.

Noboribetsu Onsen (Hokkaido)

Noboribetsu Onsen is a particularly popular hot spring area in Hokkaido, a paradise of hot springs. Known as the 'department store of hot springs' due to its rich variety of spring qualities. This northern hot spring area offers top-quality hot springs, abundant natural resources, joyful Noboribetsu, and luxurious inns, all awaiting your visit.
Dogo Onsen has gentle spring water quality, which is not only effective for neuralgia and muscle pain, but also widely recognized for its high skin-beautifying effects. In the city center, there is the symbol of Dogo Onsen, the Dogo Onsen Honkan, built in the Meiji era. It has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the building itself is of great value.

Ibusuki Onsen (Kagoshima)

The active volcano Sakurajima in Kagoshima brings a continuous supply of geothermal resources, giving rise to the rare sand baths in Japan. Wearing a yukata, you bury your body in sand heated to over 50 degrees Celsius, feeling the heat gradually spread throughout your body. After 20 minutes, the heat and weight of the sand can make you feel exhausted, but upon standing up, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated, as if you have enjoyed a natural sauna.