Sip shochu made from local sweet potatoes, eat sashimi from Kinkowan Bay, hike forest trails, and relax in mineral-rich baths in Kyushu.

Bathing in an “Onsen,” or hot spring, should be on any bucket list for Japan, even if you aren’t a big wellness girlie — although the physical and mental benefits are definitely part of the draw. Each ...

Six hot spring resorts in the Tohoku region were among the top 10 of a major travel website’s list of “most recommended onsen off the beaten track.” The Nyuto Onsenkyo resort in Senboku, Akita ...

Above: An onsen in the newly renovated Nishimuraya Honkan, a ryokan in the town of Kinosaki. The Gora Kadan ryokan in Hakone. Located inside the national park that is home to Mount Fuji, it is less ...

Tucked into the forested hills of Kumamoto Prefecture is Kurokawa Onsen, a small hot spring village that feels like it’s been preserved in time. Compared to more well-known Kyushu onsen towns like ...

Two things can be true at once — and in Japan they usually are. It’s a land of contradictions and, thanks to this and its reputation for complex, manners-driven culture, visitors can sometimes feel ...

Discover Asia’s top 5 onsen destinations to explore in 2026, from Osaka and Kyoto to Ha Long, Beppu and Nagasaki, as wellness travel gains popularity.