The 15 Best Onsen & Hot Spring Days in Japan

From Osaka: Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko Day Tour

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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Day Trips, Nara Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

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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From Tokyo: Private Tour to Fuji/Hakone – Onsen, Art, Nature

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

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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Day Trips, Mount Fuji Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews

Tokyo: Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

5.Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 75 reviews · 1 day · from $50

See Mount Fuji by bus, visit Oshino Hakkai, and relax at a mountain-view onsen on this practical Tokyo day trip.

“It was a fantastic day to see Mt Fuji - so clear, great photos. The sites and planned trip was exactly as described. The disappointment was the tour guide and the tour bus themselves. Very crowded, small bus. The guide did not describe anything clear - we would arrive at a place and she would tell us to be back at a time but didnt describe things. Other tour guides with their groups were explaining the significance of sites. This was disappointing. The onsen was a highlight, separate male and female, small tattoos acceptable. Our guide brought us to the onsen but didnt explain to us how to go about…”

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Onsen and Wellness, Temples and Shrines, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Fukuoka: Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, and Shrine Tour

6.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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Day Trips, Day Trips in Nagano, Nagano Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Snow Monkey Tours, Snow Monkey Tours in Nagano, Tour Reviews, Tours, Winter Activities

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

7.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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Onsen and Wellness, Onsen and Wellness in Tokyo, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring

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

9.[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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Onsen and Wellness, Onsen and Wellness in Osaka, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

10.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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Hiking and Trekking, Kyoto Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews

Kyoto: Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama

11.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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Tokyo: Japanese Massage – Kangfu Beauty & Body Care Salon

12.Japanese Massage – Kangfu Beauty & Body Care Salon

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 43 reviews · 30 minutes - 2 hours · from $69

Review of Tokyo’s Kangfu Beauty & Body Care Salon, with facial sculpting, scalp care, pelvic adjustment, pricing, access, and booking tips.

“They were not able to be flexible with running into issues of finding the location. With no refunds available (not willing) , I hope my money goes towards the Christmas party. SMH! Would not recommend.”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews, Tours

Fukuoka: Mt. Aso Volcano & Kurokawa Onsen Scenic Day Tour

13.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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Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Become a local! A Walking Tour of Arts, Crafts & Onsen Culture

14.Become a local! A Walking Tour of Arts, Crafts & Onsen Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $59

Explore Beppu’s markets, bamboo workshops, artist studios, and a century-old house on this small-group cultural walking tour.

“Het was erg interessant om meer over Beppu en Japanse gebruiken te horen van een echte local, en ontzettend leuk om de kunstenaars te spreken en te zien waar zij werken!”

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Hakone Tours, Hiking and Trekking, Onsen and Wellness, Tour Reviews, Tours

Traverse Outer Rim of Hakone Caldera and Enjoy Onsen Hiking Tour

15.Traverse Outer Rim of Hakone Caldera and Enjoy Onsen Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $158

Hike Hakone’s caldera rim, enjoy Mt Fuji views, local lunch, and a restorative onsen with a certified guide.

“This was a great day's hike. Good views and a very interesting and patient guide. I think it's best for active families or individuals and there is uneven terrain but it was delightful day. We are glad we did the hike even though it was foggy and we couldn't see Fuji.”

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