Hot Springs for Autonomic Disorder & Stress | Guide Based on Official Indications

Aone Onsen is said to have opened in 1528 and served as the palace bath of the Date clan of the Sendai domain. This 49.8°C blend of six sources flows into the tubs without added water or heating: a clear, light simple spring. With moderate sulfate and bicarbonate, it leaves the skin feeling fresh and light. Gentle and slowly warming, it suits those who wish to sink quietly into historic stone and wooden tubs in the snowy mountains of Zao.

Tapped deep beneath the Yufuin basin, this 55°C spring is mild in total minerals yet alkaline and rich in metasilicic acid, wrapping the skin in a soft, silky touch. Clear, odorless and understated, it suits the quiet woods and mountain views of Yufuin.

The Sakura no Yu source rises unaided in the Nasu range, high in the Okunasu district of Omaru Onsen, delivering 189 litres a minute without a pump. The waters of this pocket of the mountains have been tended for more than two centuries, and in the Meiji era General Nogi Maresuke is said to have come each year to take the cure. Emerging at 77.9°C, the water is all but colourless and clear, neither scented nor tasting of much. Rich in metasilicic acid, it feels rounded on the skin and leaves a soft, unhurried lightness once the bathing is done. It suits anyone who wants to steep quietly, without sting or drama, in the hush of the mountains.

Struck in 1963, this spring takes its name from a seated Kannon statue said to have been unearthed during drilling. In the hills facing the Amagi range, its alkaline water feels remarkably slippery on the skin and is mild enough that it has long been enjoyed for drinking as well. It suits travelers who want to sink slowly into silky water amid mountain quiet.

The MISORA YUFUIN source emerges in Yufuin, a hot spring village at the foot of Mt. Yufu. As a gentle alkaline simple spring with low irritation, it is suitable for everyone, from babies to the elderly. Steeping in these waters feels like being enveloped in a rich lotion, its thick texture deeply moisturizing dry skin. In this land surrounded by abundant nature, you can forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy a tranquil time to release your mind and body.

The Oyado Yuraku Gensen is a private source bubbling up in the central area of Yufuin Onsen, a town known for its idyllic rural landscapes at the foot of Mt. Yufu. Many of Yufuin's springs, a long-cherished health resort area, are classified as simple hot springs gentle on the skin. This source is one of them, characterized by its mild and soft touch. Immersing yourself in its waters feels like being embraced by the serene nature of Yufuin, offering a peaceful respite for resetting mind and body away from daily life.

Dogo Onsen appears in the ancient Iyo Fudoki and ranks among Japan's oldest hot springs. Its original natural spring has long dried up, so drilled wells are now blended at distribution stations. The Dai-ni Bun'yujo station on Kanmuriyama mixes waters of varying temperature and sends them to the heart of the spa town. The smooth alkaline water soothes the skin and leaves a gentle, lingering warmth, suiting travelers who want history and quiet rest.

This private source is located in the renowned Yufuin Onsen, nestled at the foot of Mt. Yufu. Pumped from 200 meters underground, the Yubunosato Ryoso Makibanoie source is a weakly alkaline simple spring with a pH of 8.1. Yufuin has long been cherished as a therapeutic spa town, establishing itself as a tranquil retreat by intentionally avoiding a bustling entertainment district. Embodying this philosophy, the water is exceptionally gentle and kind to the skin. Steeping in these waters allows you to forget the daily hustle and embrace a serene moment, as if held by Yufuin's abundant nature.

Gushing in the renowned Yufuin Onsen region, the Nurukawa Onsen source is beloved for its tranquil setting despite being conveniently located near Lake Kinrin. This spring is characterized by its soft, clear, and gentle water, a classic simple onsen cherished by many facilities in Yufuin. Its weakly alkaline nature is mild on the skin, leaving you feeling refreshed yet deeply warmed after bathing. It's the perfect spring for days when you want to gently unwind both mind and body amidst the idyllic scenery of Mount Yufu.

The Bato Onsen area of Nakagawa sits among the clear Naka River and the wooded Yamizo hills. Nanpeidai Onsen has been used on its hilltop site since 1973, and in 1987 a 1,030 m well tapped a plentiful new alkaline flow. Its silky pH 9.6 water is known locally as a "beauty bath" and is also used for drinking cures.

Dogo Onsen is an ancient spa celebrated since the Man'yo era, linked to the legend of a white heron healing its leg and to a visit by Prince Shotoku. Today water from several sources is blended at distribution stations and piped to the town's public baths and inns under a central management system. The No. 1 station delivers a 47.7°C alkaline simple spring in which sodium makes up over 90% of the cations, with bicarbonate and fluoride. Soft and gentle, it suits anyone who wants to soak slowly in the history of an old spa.

Once a desolate area called "Lesser Hell," this land was renamed Kowakidani following a visit by Emperor Meiji, sparking its development as a hot spring resort. This combined source is one of several springs utilized in this historic onsen town. Developed by entrepreneurs in the Meiji era, the area saw the construction of numerous inns and villas. This very source has supplied water to accommodations throughout the Kowakidani area, laying the foundation for Hakone's modern onsen culture.

The Hotel Marue Onsen source dates to 1980, when drilling in central Nakashibetsu struck hot water at a depth of 1,530 meters. Once classed as a sulfur sodium-chloride spring, it was reclassified as an alkaline simple spring in the 2019 analysis. Nearly clear with a faint hint of hydrogen sulfide, the water feels slick and leaves the skin notably smooth, soothing travelers who want to unwind after a day exploring the Konsen plain.

This private source gushes forth in Yufuin Onsen, one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts. Nurtured in the tranquil environment of the Yufuin Basin, this source boasts a generous flow. The mildly alkaline water, with a pH of 8.5, is soft to the touch, clear, and gentle, making it appealing to everyone. Containing an exceptionally high 302.0 mg/kg of metasilicic acid, it is expected to leave the skin feeling moist and silky smooth after bathing. It is an ideal spring for those seeking a peaceful bath to release mind and body while feeling the grand nature of Mt. Yufu.

Gora Onsen is a unique "steam-created spring," established in the early Showa period, born from the reaction between volcanic steam from Owakudani and water from Sengokuhara. This blessing embodies the fusion of Hakone's natural power and human ingenuity. A gentle salt veil envelops the skin, delivering heat deep into the body's core, ensuring restorative warmth that lingers long after your bath. It's the perfect spring to soothe the fatigue of an active day and quietly replenish your vitality for tomorrow.

Obuki is the roaring source at the heart of the steaming geothermal field of Tamagawa Onsen, on the southern slopes of Hachimantai. Its output from a single vent is often said to be the largest in Japan, and the fumarole field around it has long produced mineral deposits and the rare hokutolite stone. Every bath in the spa draws on this one source, served either straight or cut with fresh water. At pH 1.13 the water tingles sharply on the skin while warming the body to the core, and it has welcomed long-stay therapeutic bathers for generations, a spring for those who want to meet nature at full strength.

This ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa Tsuboyu Gensen source was developed using modern drilling techniques on a highland overlooking the historic, steam-filled streets of Kannawa, Beppu, a renowned therapeutic bathing area since the Kamakura period. A key feature is the dissolved salt, which gently envelops the skin to provide long-lasting warmth after bathing. It offers a moment of deep release for those seeking to connect with Beppu's magnificent nature.

Obuki is the roaring source at the heart of the steaming geothermal field of Tamagawa Onsen, on the southern slopes of Hachimantai. Its output from a single vent is often said to be the largest in Japan, and the fumarole field around it has long produced mineral deposits and the rare hokutolite stone. Every bath in the spa draws on this one source, served either straight or cut with fresh water. At pH 1.13 the water tingles sharply on the skin while warming the body to the core, and it has welcomed long-stay therapeutic bathers for generations, a spring for those who want to meet nature at full strength.

Kinosaki Onsen's centrally managed mixed spring gathers water from several wells into a large storage tank, where its temperature is steadied before it flows through a looped pipe beneath the streets to the town's public bathhouses and inns. Managed as a shared resource by the Yushima property ward of Kinosaki, this faintly salty water wraps the body in warmth that lingers long after bathing, suiting travellers who stroll from bath to bath in yukata.

Nukabira Gensenkyo spreads near Lake Nukabira on the east side of Daisetsuzan National Park, where each inn has its own source and all offer free-flowing water. Nukabira Onsen Hotel opened in 1929 as the Ryokan Fukushimakan, and the founding family still tends its bath. The source, which flows naturally on the grounds, is clear and nearly tasteless and odorless. With a balance of chloride and bicarbonate, it warms the body while feeling smooth on the skin. Two tubs, hot and medium, let you choose your temperature and linger in the mountain water.

National Source No. 2 of Bankei Onsen wells up along the Osaru River gorge in the Okutoya spa area, alongside neighboring Kitayuzawa Onsen. Reaching 82.7°C, this source reaches the tubs with only water added to adjust the temperature, and its minerals crystallize white around the spouts. The clear, light water warms the body to the core and leaves the skin smooth, suiting those who wish to steep quietly in a simple mountain bath to the sound of the river and birdsong.

In 1954, mineral flowers were found blooming on the banks of the Agano River, and a well was dug to open this comparatively young spa; the area's name was even changed to "Sakihana," meaning blooming flowers. Colorless when drawn, the water turns a clear yellow-green in the bath, leaving white mineral flakes on spouts and rails. A toasted, almost smoky sulfur aroma and a slick, weakly alkaline feel make it a favorite for sulfur-spring lovers.

Yugawara Onsen, sung of in the Man'yoshu as the water that "springs forth in the valley of Dohi in Ashigari," is one of Japan's oldest recorded hot springs. The Yugawara Onsen Mixed Source (Gongenyama Service Center) blends several of the town's wells into a single supply at 61.7°C and pipes it to inns across the resort. Its chloride and sulfate content gives a soft, enveloping feel, and warmth lingers on the skin long after bathing, suiting travelers who seek quiet recovery in the hills.

Asahidake Onsen was discovered in 1914, in a valley the Ainu called Yukomanbetsu, "the river that flows toward the hot water." Hotel Bear Monte, three minutes on foot from the Asahidake Ropeway base station, opened in 2003 and was renewed in 2022. Its clear sulfate water, once classed as a gypsum spring, is known locally as the "healing waters" for its gentle feel, and the large baths offer tubs at different temperatures for resting after hiking or skiing.

Yugawara Onsen, sung of in the Man'yoshu as the water that "springs forth in the valley of Dohi in Ashigari," is one of Japan's oldest recorded hot springs. The Yugawara Onsen Mixed Source (Gongenyama Service Center) blends several of the town's wells into a single supply at 61.7°C and pipes it to inns across the resort. Its chloride and sulfate content gives a soft, enveloping feel, and warmth lingers on the skin long after bathing, suiting travelers who seek quiet recovery in the hills.

Nukabira Gensenkyo began in the Taisho era when water hot enough to boil eggs was found deep in a primeval forest; the name is said to come from the Ainu word "Nukabira," a cliff shaped like a person. Kosenchi No. 1 flows naturally in the south district of the spa village, sustaining the free-flowing baths that the village's inns pledged together in their 2007 "Gensen Kakenagashi Declaration." Clear and nearly tasteless and odorless, the water is gentle on the skin and leaves a light, fresh feeling, suiting those who want to soak amid forest stillness, wild deer and starry skies.

This is a newly drilled source in the Yufuin Onsen area, which boasts one of the largest outputs in Japan. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Yufu, this hot spring resort has long been cherished for therapeutic bathing. The AMBER Yufuin source features a high alkalinity of pH 8.9, combining the qualities of a bicarbonate spring that smooths the skin by removing old keratin, and a chloride spring that helps retain body heat. It is particularly characterized by its abundance of metasilicic acid, a natural moisturizing component.

Drilled beside the Otaru Canal, lined with Meiji-era stone warehouses, this source is pumped up at 330 liters per minute. Though it emerges as a 20.5°C cold mineral spring, its chloride-rich water, once warmed, wraps the skin softly and lets warmth linger long after the bath. It suits travelers who want to steep away the chill after strolling the canal-side streets.

This rare, naturally gushing source emerges from beneath 'Gensenkaku,' nestled beside Kusatsu Onsen's iconic Yubatake (Kusatsu's central hot-water field). Despite its strong acidity, its waters offer a remarkably soft bathing sensation, akin to being enveloped in silk floss. The milky-white waters, renowned for having Kusatsu's finest 'yunohana' (hot spring minerals), gently embrace the skin, contributing to silky skin and providing a restorative warmth that lingers deep within the body. Known as a 'phantom spring' for its history of disappearing once during the Taisho era, it now offers a profound escape from daily life, inviting deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

A blessed spring gushing forth in Okuhida Onsen-go, nestled in the heart of the Northern Alps. With a long history of healing the minds and bodies of travelers and bathers, this source is renowned as a 'silky skin spring' due to its abundant bicarbonate ions that smooth the skin. As you immerse yourself, the faint scent of hydrogen sulfide will help release you from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is recommended for those who wish to refresh both mind and body and seek deep tranquility in nature.

This renowned hot spring of Jozankei Onsen traces its origins to a legend from 1897, where a wild deer was said to have healed its wounds on the banks of the Toyohira River. Rich in salt, the waters gently envelop the skin like a protective veil, delivering a soothing warmth that penetrates deep into the body's core. The pleasant, lingering warmth after bathing feels akin to being embraced by nature's blessings. This source offers a serene retreat for those seeking to unwind from daily fatigue while listening to the tranquil murmuring of the valley.

Tokachigawa Onsen is famed for its "moor" water, which rises through layers of ancient plant deposits and was named a Hokkaido Heritage in 2004. This source blends three wells at the town's distribution station and is piped widely to inns along the river. Its faint amber water feels soft thanks to humic matter and bicarbonate, leaving skin moist, while the chloride content holds the warmth, a spring for those who want to warm up deeply under the clear skies of the Tokachi Plain.

Drawn from 700 meters beneath the center of Oita City, this private source is a true urban oasis. The Ariston Hotel Oita source boasts a pH of 8.6 and abundant bicarbonate ions, which gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it remarkably smooth. Its amber-hued waters invite deep relaxation, melting away the day's fatigue. It is perfect for those seeking to refresh and rejuvenate after a day of business or sightseeing.

Nagayu Onsen gushes along the Seri River at the eastern foot of the Kuju mountains in Naoiri, Taketa, and is celebrated as one of Japan's leading carbonated-spring towns, long praised as water that works both when drunk and when soaked in at length. The Daimaru Ryokan source rises at 46.8°C and carries a rich 4,480 mg/kg of minerals, led by 2,160 mg of bicarbonate and 263 mg of magnesium, plus 735 mg of free carbon dioxide. Its greenish, cloudy water leaves rust-brown scale-like deposits on tub edges and spouts.

This private source, Kusunoyu, gushes forth in the Beppu Onsen area, one of the eight springs of Beppu. While its name is associated with the historic "Kusunoki Onsen" public bath dating back to the Kamakura period, that bathhouse is now closed. This source features a balanced blend of skin-smoothing bicarbonate ions and core-warming chloride ions at a gentle pH of 8.2. As you steep in its waters, the slightly viscous texture envelops your skin, leaving it feeling moisturized and restoratively warm long after you emerge. It is perfect for those seeking to unwind both body and soul in a historic spa town.

The Nuruyu source has been known since the Kyoho era (1716-1735), welling up at about 920 m on the eastern foot of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji. This acidic sulfate water carries iron and aluminum, emerging colorless and turning yellowish-white after a day. Though only 31.8°C, it lets warmth linger slowly in the body, leaving skin cool and smooth. It suits summer bathers and anyone who loves long, unhurried soaks in a water traditionally prized for the eyes.

Tange Onsen is a young spring that rose in the early Heisei era in the mountains between Shima and Sawatari, along the rushing Tange River. Piped a few hundred meters from its well, the water is a gentle alkaline spring rich in calcium and sulfate. Naturally lukewarm, it carries fine white mineral flakes, and suits long, quiet soaks to the roar of the nearby stream.

At the foot of Mt. Ontake, Yuya Onsen in Hida-Osaka is said to have served bathers for some three centuries, and locals still repeat the saying that carbonated spring water beats stomach medicine. Pumped from underground at around 12°C, the cold mineral water is rich in carbon dioxide and tastes like soda. Its iron content sends fine brown flakes drifting through the bath and gives the water a smooth, slightly slick feel. Carbon dioxide springs are rare in Japan, making this one a true local character.

Kurume Onsen rises in Yunosaka, on the eastern edge of Kurume overlooking the Chikugo Plain, where drilling in the late Showa era struck a spring that flows by its own pressure. It still gushes 94 liters a minute at over 50°C without pumps. The alkaline water carries a faint scent of sulfur and leaves a squeaky-clean, smooth feel, an unpretentious beauty bath right on the city's doorstep.

Rising in a district long known by the place name "Yuden", this spring was developed in 1952. It emerges at 20.7°C as a cold mineral spring whose defining trait is a trace of dissolved radon. With only 0.185 g/kg of dissolved solids, the water is light and unassuming, like a quiet companion for unhurried, restorative bathing.