Onsen / Hot spring
Japan is a “温泉 onsen hot spring powerhouse” with more than 27,000 sources of hot spring water. 3,085 hot spring resorts with lodging facilities are located in Japan, many of them along volcanic belts, so there is no shortage of hot spring heat sources. The rainy season, typhoons, and snowfall bring abundant water resources to the Japanese archipelago, so there are also plenty of sources of hot spring water.
Blessed with such abundant hot spring resources, the Japanese people have long nurtured a unique hot spring cure culture, bathing culture, and hot spring culture.
湯河原 / Yugawara
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The town’s central area is located in the lowlands between the southern foot of the outer rim of Hakone Volcano and the Sagami Sea. Strictly speaking, the town covers much of the terrain formed by the severe erosion of Yugawara Volcano, a volcano of the Quaternary period. The coastline has a sandy beach about 700 meters long, which is crowded with bathers in summer.
熱海 / Atami
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Tokyo Station – Atami Station is about 36 – 50 minutes by Shinkansen. It takes less than 2 hours by regular train. This is the perfect hot spring resort for a quick refreshment.
伊東 / Itou
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Ito is located on the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay. Centered around Ito Station, there are various hot spring resorts such as Usami, Kawana, Tomido, and Izu Kogen. There are also many hotels with spectacular ocean views, and they are recommended for spending a relaxing time while gazing at the sea.
It takes about 90 minutes from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo by “Odoriko-go” train.
箱根 / Hakone
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Fuji and Lake Ashi, the Hakone area is home to a wide variety of hot springs, known as the “Hakone 20 Hot Springs. In addition to the variety of hot springs, the area is also rich in tourist resources.
The area is accessible by a single “Romance Car” train from Shinjuku Station, which takes approximately 73 minutes at the fastest.
伊香保 / Ikaho
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Located in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, Ikaho Onsen is one of the most famous hot springs in Gunma Prefecture, along with Kusatsu. It is a popular destination because it is easily accessible from Tokyo.
Souvenir shops and long-established ryokan (Japanese-style inns) line the 400-year-old stone steps that have become the symbol of Ikaho Onsen, creating the atmosphere of a hot spring resort. In addition to the hot springs, the area is also home to museums, shrines, temples, and other tourist attractions.
草津 / Kusatsu
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The town of Kusatsu is located in Gunma Prefecture in the Kanto region and is known for its hot springs. The Yubatake source is located in the center of the town, and steam rises from the gushing hot spring water. Nearby is the traditional Gozanoyu bathhouse. To the west, an active volcano, Kusatsu-Shiranesan (Mt. Kusatsu-Shiranesan), rises to the top, and a volcanic lake (yugama) with green acidic spring water bubbles up from its peak. In the Kanzawa-Yunomaru Plateau, located in the southwest, azalea fields spread out and bloom simultaneously when the season arrives.
日光 / Nikkou
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A hot spring resort spreading out in the gate town of shrines and temples registered as a World Cultural Heritage site. From the old city center, visitors can follow the Nikko Cedar Namiki, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest tree-lined avenue, along the Ootani River to the entrance to the Nikko Mountain Range and Lake Chuzenji. Shrines and temples in this area have a long history dating back to the Nara period (710-794) when Shodo Shonin founded the temple. Futaarasan Shrine and Rinnoji Temple are the referents of mountain worship that regarded the mountains of Nikko as gods and Buddha, and Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the protector of Kanpakuchu, as a deity. There are also inns and souvenir shops that retain the appearance of inns.
Thank you for reading! ありがとう。 Namu Shinnyo ■
