ONSEN TOWN RANKING

Best Onsen Towns in Japan, by the Data

Onsen towns compared with the hot spring analysis report every facility in Japan must post, plus facility info checked against a source. Counts cover only the stays and reports registered on this site, not every stay in each town.

On this site: 52 onsen towns · 229 analysis reports · 880 stays

Facility info last checked 2026-11-04

Choose a measure
Private bathsFree-flowingBeauty springMost alkalineMost acidic

Onsen towns with the most stays offering a private bath

Of the stays registered on this site, those with a reservable private bath or an in-room open-air onsen bath confirmed on the official or booking site. A good fit if you prefer not to bathe with strangers.

  1. Yoshiike Ryokan, a stay in Hakone1
    Hakone69 with private bathKanagawa20 reports on this site70 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakone
  2. ETAVIA Yufuin Kinrinko, a stay in Yufuin2
    Yufuin59 with private bathOita16 reports on this site64 stays on this siteSee stays in Yufuin
  3. Okamoto-ya Ryokan, a stay in Beppu3
    Beppu38 with private bathOita15 reports on this site43 stays on this siteSee stays in Beppu
  4. Naraya, a stay in Kusatsu4
    Kusatsu21 with private bathGunma24 reports on this site26 stays on this siteSee stays in Kusatsu
  5. Negiya Ryoufuukaku, a stay in Arima5
    Arima21 with private bathHyogo11 reports on this site21 stays on this siteSee stays in Arima
  6. Kinosaki Onsen Fugetsu Gyosho, a stay in Kinosaki6
    Kinosaki19 with private bathHyogo22 reports on this site22 stays on this siteSee stays in Kinosaki
  7. Kokoro Wo Naderu Seijaku Miyako, a stay in Gero7
    Gero19 with private bathGifu8 reports on this site19 stays on this siteSee stays in Gero
  8. Nishi Izu Toi Onsen Wa no Takumi Hananoren, a stay in West Izu (Toi & Dogashima)8
    West Izu (Toi & Dogashima)19 with private bathShizuoka1 report on this site20 stays on this siteSee stays in West Izu (Toi & Dogashima)
  9. Atami Onsen Yu no Yado Heiratsu, a stay in Atami9
    Atami18 with private bathShizuoka1 report on this site20 stays on this siteSee stays in Atami
  10. Omaru Onsen Ryokan, a stay in Nasu & Shiobara10
    Nasu & Shiobara16 with private bathTochigi2 reports on this site16 stays on this siteSee stays in Nasu & Shiobara
Browse all stays with a private onsen bath

Onsen towns with the most free-flowing (kake-nagashi) stays

Of the stays on this site with an analysis report, those whose posted water-usage notice says no recirculation, disinfection, filtering, added water or heating: the water comes straight from the source.

  1. Naraya, a stay in Kusatsu1
    Kusatsu10 free-flowingGunma24 reports on this site26 stays on this siteSee stays in Kusatsu
  2. Yoshiike Ryokan, a stay in Hakone2
    Hakone9 free-flowingKanagawa20 reports on this site70 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakone
  3. ETAVIA Yufuin Kinrinko, a stay in Yufuin3
    Yufuin7 free-flowingOita16 reports on this site64 stays on this siteSee stays in Yufuin
  4. TOGEN Kurobe Unazuki Onsen, a stay in Unazuki4
    Unazuki5 free-flowingToyama8 reports on this site9 stays on this siteSee stays in Unazuki
  5. Okamoto-ya Ryokan, a stay in Beppu5
    Beppu4 free-flowingOita15 reports on this site43 stays on this siteSee stays in Beppu
  6. Nukumori no Yado Furukawa, a stay in Jozankei6
    Jozankei3 free-flowingHokkaido8 reports on this site9 stays on this siteSee stays in Jozankei
  7. Yumoto Choza, a stay in Okuhida7
    Okuhida3 free-flowingGifu5 reports on this site14 stays on this siteSee stays in Okuhida
  8. Negiya Ryoufuukaku, a stay in Arima8
    Arima2 free-flowingHyogo11 reports on this site21 stays on this siteSee stays in Arima
  9. Namari Onsen Fuji San Ryokan, a stay in Hanamaki9
    Hanamaki2 free-flowingIwate5 reports on this site14 stays on this siteSee stays in Hanamaki
  10. Daimaru Ryokan, a stay in Nagayu & Kuju10
    Nagayu & Kuju2 free-flowingOita3 reports on this site10 stays on this siteSee stays in Nagayu & Kuju

Onsen towns with the most "beauty spring" (bijin-no-yu) stays

Of the analysis reports registered on this site, stays with 50 mg/kg or more of metasilicic acid, the usual threshold for calling a spring a "beauty spring".

  1. Naraya, a stay in Kusatsu1
    Kusatsu24 beauty springGunma24 reports on this site26 stays on this siteSee stays in Kusatsu
  2. Yoshiike Ryokan, a stay in Hakone2
    Hakone19 beauty springKanagawa20 reports on this site70 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakone
  3. ETAVIA Yufuin Kinrinko, a stay in Yufuin3
    Yufuin16 beauty springOita16 reports on this site64 stays on this siteSee stays in Yufuin
  4. Okamoto-ya Ryokan, a stay in Beppu4
    Beppu15 beauty springOita15 reports on this site43 stays on this siteSee stays in Beppu
  5. Negiya Ryoufuukaku, a stay in Arima5
    Arima10 beauty springHyogo11 reports on this site21 stays on this siteSee stays in Arima
  6. Oyado Tamaki, a stay in Ikaho6
    Ikaho9 beauty springGunma9 reports on this site14 stays on this siteSee stays in Ikaho
  7. Nukumori no Yado Furukawa, a stay in Jozankei7
    Jozankei8 beauty springHokkaido8 reports on this site9 stays on this siteSee stays in Jozankei
  8. Kokoro Wo Naderu Seijaku Miyako, a stay in Gero8
    Gero7 beauty springGifu8 reports on this site19 stays on this siteSee stays in Gero
  9. Noboribetsu Onsen Manseikaku, a stay in Noboribetsu9
    Noboribetsu5 beauty springHokkaido5 reports on this site6 stays on this siteSee stays in Noboribetsu
  10. Yumoto Choza, a stay in Okuhida10
    Okuhida5 beauty springGifu5 reports on this site14 stays on this siteSee stays in Okuhida

Most alkaline onsen towns (highest pH)

The highest pH among the town’s analysis reports registered on this site. Water at pH 8.5 or above is alkaline and feels smooth and slippery on the skin.

  1. Hinagaan Keigetsu, a stay in Hirugami1
    HirugamipH 9.8Nagano1 report on this site4 stays on this siteSee stays in Nagano
  2. Yoshiike Ryokan, a stay in Hakone2
    HakonepH 9.5Kanagawa20 reports on this site70 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakone
  3. Kokoro Wo Naderu Seijaku Miyako, a stay in Gero3
    GeropH 9.4Gifu8 reports on this site19 stays on this siteSee stays in Gero
  4. Hotel Yamada Ya, a stay in Shimoda4
    ShimodapH 9.4Shizuoka1 report on this site6 stays on this siteSee stays in Shimoda
  5. Namari Onsen Fuji San Ryokan, a stay in Hanamaki5
    HanamakipH 9.3Iwate5 reports on this site14 stays on this siteSee stays in Hanamaki
  6. Matsumoto Jujo, a stay in Matsumoto & Kamikochi6
    Matsumoto & KamikochipH 9.2Nagano3 reports on this site11 stays on this siteSee stays in Matsumoto & Kamikochi
  7. Hotel Kowakuen Haruka, a stay in Dogo7
    DogopH 9.1Ehime1 report on this site7 stays on this siteSee stays in Dogo
  8. Okamoto-ya Ryokan, a stay in Beppu8
    BeppupH 9Oita15 reports on this site43 stays on this siteSee stays in Beppu
  9. Kawaichi-ya Ryokan, a stay in Nozawa Onsen9
    Nozawa OnsenpH 8.96Nagano3 reports on this site7 stays on this siteSee stays in Nozawa Onsen
  10. ETAVIA Yufuin Kinrinko, a stay in Yufuin10
    YufuinpH 8.9Oita16 reports on this site64 stays on this siteSee stays in Yufuin

Most acidic onsen towns (lowest pH)

The lowest pH among the town’s analysis reports registered on this site. Water below pH 3 is acidic and can sting; keep baths short if your skin is sensitive.

  1. Natse Onsen Towasure, a stay in Lake Tazawa & Tamagawa1
    Lake Tazawa & TamagawapH 1.13Akita3 reports on this site7 stays on this siteSee stays in Lake Tazawa & Tamagawa
  2. Naraya, a stay in Kusatsu2
    KusatsupH 1.7Gunma24 reports on this site26 stays on this siteSee stays in Kusatsu
  3. Yoshiike Ryokan, a stay in Hakone3
    HakonepH 2.1Kanagawa20 reports on this site70 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakone
  4. HAKODATE Kaikyo no Kaze, a stay in Hakodate (Yunokawa)4
    Hakodate (Yunokawa)pH 2.1Hokkaido3 reports on this site8 stays on this siteSee stays in Hakodate (Yunokawa)
  5. Noboribetsu Onsen Manseikaku, a stay in Noboribetsu5
    NoboribetsupH 2.2Hokkaido5 reports on this site6 stays on this siteSee stays in Noboribetsu
  6. Okamoto-ya Ryokan, a stay in Beppu6
    BeppupH 2.6Oita15 reports on this site43 stays on this siteSee stays in Beppu
  7. Otome Yuri, a stay in Fukushima (Iizaka, Tsuchiyu & Takayu)7
    Fukushima (Iizaka, Tsuchiyu & Takayu)pH 2.6Fukushima5 reports on this site9 stays on this siteSee stays in Fukushima (Iizaka, Tsuchiyu & Takayu)
  8. Yama no Yado, a stay in Nyuto Onsen8
    Nyuto OnsenpH 2.9Akita5 reports on this site7 stays on this siteSee stays in Nyuto Onsen

Choose a ryokan by how you bathe

Ryokan with private onsenTattoo-friendly onsen ryokan
How we compared
  • Counts and order are based only on the stays and analysis reports registered on this site, and change as more are added.
  • Onsen towns follow the same boundaries as our stay lists (municipality and address).
  • pH and metasilicic acid come from the hot spring analysis report each facility must post under Japan’s Hot Springs Act. We use the main source of each stay.
  • Free-flowing comes from the facility’s posted water-usage notice, counted only for stays whose analysis report we have.
  • Private baths and in-room open-air baths are counted only when the official or booking site states them.
  • These lists do not describe health effects or rank towns as better or worse. Bathe according to how you feel.