The 15 Best Onsen & Hot Spring Days in Japan

1.Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 339 reviews · 10 hours · from $53Our pick

Visit Himeji Castle, Koko-en Garden, Arima Onsen, and Mt. Rokko from Osaka on a value-packed 10-hour day tour.

“Gerry was great — friendly, knowledgeable, and full of interesting facts. The castle was beautiful, the garden became our highlight, and we only wished for more time there. We loved having plenty of free time to explore on our own, and the meal was tasty with wonderful views from Mount Rokko. Gerry also took fantastic photos of us from all the perfect spots. If you have a moment, visit the tea room in the garden and enjoy a quiet cup of tea. A smooth, memorable day from start to finish.”

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2.Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 302 reviews · 10 hours · from $57

Visit Nara’s deer, Todai-ji, Uji’s matcha streets and a traditional hot spring on a practical 10-hour day trip from Osaka.

“Jessica was amazing and very knowledgeable about the places we were going to. highly recommend 😁”

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3.Private Tour to Fuji/Hakone – Onsen, Art, Nature

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 10 hours · from $322Top rated

Review of a private Tokyo to Fuji and Hakone day trip with Lake Ashi, shrine visits, a forest onsen, art museums, and flexible guiding.

“The day trip to Fuji and Hakone with Elie was the best choice I made this holiday. I was anxious about the drive because of my motion sickness and Elie was so accomodating that I was able to sit up front the entire trip. He even made sure to keep to the straightest roads available and I didn’t have a single bout of nausea. His vehicle is super comfortable, spacious, and clean. Tenzan Onsen was incredible, I’ve never done anything like it and now I’m ruined for all other forms of relaxation! The view of Mount Fuji was just beautiful. The itinerary was perfect and Elie is so friendly and…”

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4.Mt. Fuji, Hakone Private Tour from Tokyo – Onsen, Arts and Nature

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $852

Review of a private Mt. Fuji and Hakone tour from Tokyo, with scenic drives, shrine, tea house, onsen, museums, and flexible guiding.

“An absolutely outstanding tour! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organised and full of memorable moments. Our guide was exceptional — engaging, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history and culture Read more”

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5.Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, and Shrine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 72 reviews · 10 hours · from $50

Explore Mount Aso, Kusasenri, Aso Shrine, and Kurokawa Onsen on a value-packed day trip from Fukuoka with multilingual guides.

“Given sufficient time at each spot, tour guides were professional, provided informative tips & info.”

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6.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Review of Nagano’s private snow monkey, Zenko-ji, Obuse, sake, and onsen tour, with practical advice on timing, value, transport, and guides.

“Tour guide was informational and his recommendation for lunch was awesome. Took us to a cherry farm during our tour. This was a private tour. We felt safe with him. Even chased an overly aggressive snow monkey away.”

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7.Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 8 hours · from $120

Escape central Tokyo for Mt. Takao’s monkeys, shrines, Fuji views, local ramen, and a tattoo-friendly hot spring.

“Jordan was an excellent tour guide, he dhowed me around the most important but less touristy sites at tge Mt Takao area. It was refreshing to get out the busy Tokyo downtown buzz, and connect with the nature. Jordan was super well informed of the history and mythology of Japan, and speaks good Japanese. The mix of nature, historical sites, a hearty ramen is just a perfect combination if you want to have less streched day in Tokyo. + I had very good conversations with Jordan about the everyday life in the contemporary Japan, it felt slmost we were friends. Highly recommend to fellow travelers!”

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8.[Seasonal Limited] Mt. Fuji 5th Station &Hot Spring Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $50

Visit Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, Oshino Hakkai, and a Fuji-view onsen on this practical day trip from Tokyo for $50.

“The Mount Fuji tour was absolutely amazing! The weather was perfect, and we got such a clear view of the mountain—it was even more beautiful than I imagined. Our guide, Ken, made the trip extra special with his great explanations and friendly attitude. We also stopped at several scenic spots where he helped us take incredible photos. Everything was well-organized and smooth from start to finish. Truly an unforgettable experience!”

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9.Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 51 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Review of Osaka’s Solaniwa Onsen, with natural hot springs, rooftop garden, nine baths, practical tips, price details, and who should visit.

“Love this family friendly onsen. Couldn’t work out how to get the lunch that we bought with our ticket and ended up having to purchase it again but overall we still would recommend the experience.”

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10.Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $80

Hike sacred Kurama Mountain from Kyoto, visit Kibune Shrine, ride the Eizan train, and finish with an optional mountain hot spring.

“Philippe was very knowledgeable about the history and stories behind the shrines, temples and towns we visited. Being a localized Kyoto citizen, he was able to supply us a plethora of local insights behind Japanese culture and traditions. With his extensive background of hiking the forests and mountains of Kyoto, the route was impeccably planned such that it was a seamless experience despite the daunting climb up to the mountain temple. An amalgamation of nature and history, overall it was a rejuvenating experience providing a much welcome contrast from the conventional and routinely frequented tourist spots in Kyoto City Center.”

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11.Mt. Aso Volcano & Kurokawa Onsen Scenic Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 37 reviews · 10 hours · from $90

Review of Fukuoka’s Mt. Aso and Kurokawa Onsen day tour, with shrine visits, volcanic views, costs, hot spring tips, and practical advice.

“Amazing trip. Excellent guide and well Organized. Places we have visited were indeed the highlights of our trip. Strongly recommend”

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12.Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko: 1-Day Bus Tour from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · from $67

Review of the Osaka bus tour to Himeji Castle, Kokoen, Arima Onsen, and Mt. Rokko, with timing, lunch, costs, and practical tips.

“This trip was very good. We had good amount of time to see everything. The only negative is the fluency of English of the guide.”

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13.Osaka Temple Head Spa &Matcha Facial – Refresh & Glow〈90min〉

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours · from $141

Review the Osaka Temple Head Spa and Matcha Facial, with a foot bath, tea ceremony, yukata photo, practical tips, and value advice.

“Amazing experience, I will definitely go again if I come back to Osaka. Very relaxing”

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14.Wakayama Cat Train, Seafood market, Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 24 reviews · 10 hours · from $83

Review of Osaka’s Wakayama cat train, tuna market, Shirahama hot springs, and coastal cliffs, with practical advice on value and timing.

“The day trip with TIGER our guide was FANTASTIC! Easy to meet location, Tiger was constantly updating us via What’sApp in English & Chinese, a comfortable and spacious coach for us to travel in, a cat station master delight, delicious & fresh seafood lunch at the open air seafood market, perfect views from the cliffs the perfect way to walk off your lunch! TIGER made us feel welcome and shared with us fascinating information & stories of each place we visited. A fantastic tour with scenes of the port and small city living - only 2 hours from Osaka City. Highly recommended to anyone of all ages and mobility. Thank…”

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15.Kowakien Yunessun Hot Springs Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $8

Review of Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, with themed baths, family pools, mountain views, ticket choices, practical tips, and honest drawbacks.

“We did not attend due to the clothing /swimsuit issue”

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