Japan’s onsen culture is more than just bathing. Many people in Japan regularly take short trips to onsen towns to soak in mineral rich hot springs, enjoy seasonal local food, walking, hiking, and browsing small shops.
Most onsen destinations are located near volcanic regions, where naturally heated groundwater rises to the surface carrying therapeutic minerals. Thanks to Japan’s extensive rail and bus networks, many excellent onsen towns are easily accessible from Tokyo, making them ideal for day trips or relaxed weekend getaways.
Tokyo can be fast-paced and overstimulating, especially for travelers spending several days in the city. If you are feeling the need to step away from the crowds and reset, a short onsen trip is one of the most restorative ways to recharge both physically and mentally.
Atami (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Atami is an onsen city on the Pacific coast, located less than one hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Its hot spring history dates back centuries, but the city gained popularity after the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964, which made it an easy getaway from Tokyo.
Atami is often considered the epitome of a Showa era retro onsen town. Much of the city was developed in the 1960s and 1970s, and traces of that era can still be seen throughout the architecture. After a period of decline in the 1990s and 2000s, recent redevelopment around the waterfront and train station has brought revival. New restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels opened by people relocating from larger cities have helped revitalize the area. Today, Atami offers a mix of classic onsen hotels and trendy dining spots, many with ocean views.
Several onsen facilities are designed for short-term visitors, and the city’s tourist information website lists available day-use baths. The closest option to Atami Station public bath is a sento-style public bath that uses onsen water, offering a traditional local experience. Marin Spa Atami is an indoor spa complex with pools and hot spring baths, while Ocean Spa Fuua features open air baths overlooking the sea.
For overnight stays, there are plenty of options, ranging from ocean view onsen hotels to quiet ryokan tucked away in the woods, making it easy to find accommodations that suit your needs.
Compared to other onsen destinations around Tokyo, Atami has a mild climate, making it an ideal day trip for those who prefer warmer weather. What makes it even more appealing is the easy access: the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station takes only about 45 minutes, while JR Tokaido line conventional rail services take around two hours from many stations in the Tokyo area.
Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Hakone is a mountainous region formed within overlapping volcanic calderas. It is famous for its hot springs, museums, ropeways, Mt. Fuji view over the lake. Historically, Hakone served as a checkpoint controlling access to Edo, modern day Tokyo.
Like Atami, Hakone became accessible and popular after the development of direct rail connections from Shinjuku. Its onsen areas are scattered around the slopes of the Hakone mountains. Notable hot spring areas include Yumoto, Tounosawa, Miyanoshita, and Gora. Yumoto is the largest and most developed onsen town, while Gora is known for luxury hotels and modern accommodations.
Hakone offers numerous day use onsen facilities, making it a great option for travelers who want to soak after sightseeing. The Hakone Tourist Association maintains an up-to-date list of these facilities. If you are staying over night, Hakone has many different hotels to choose from. The majority of hotels and ryokans have onsen facilities.
Hakone is directly accessible from Shinjuku, Shibuya (via Omotesando Station), Otemachi, and Kita-Senju via the Odakyu Railway. Alternatively, you can take the Tokaido Shinkansen or the JR Tokaido Line to Odawara Station and transfer to the Hakone Tozan Line to reach Hakone-Yumoto.
From Hakone-Yumoto, various modes of transportation are available to explore the area, including trains, buses, ropeways, and boats. Hakone’s well-developed public transportation network is easy to use, making it simple to get around without a car. This convenience makes Hakone one of the most popular onsen getaways for both Tokyo residents and visitors.
Kusatsu (Gunma Prefecture)
Kusatsu is often ranked among the top three onsen destinations in Japan. Its hot springs are known for their extremely high sulfur content, which gives the water a strong rotten-egg smell. This sulfur richness is central to Kusatsu’s reputation for therapeutic benefits, traditionally said to cure everything except lovesickness.
The town is known for its “Yubatake” hot spring field, community run bathhouses, and tightly packed streets lined with traditional buildings. Restaurants and cafes are scattered throughout town, creating a lively but still traditional atmosphere.
The easiest way to reach Kusatsu from Tokyo is by direct bus. Buses depart from Haneda Airport Garden(Weekend only), Tokyo Station Yaesu South, Shinjuku Bus Terminal, and Shibuya Mark City. Travel time is about four hours.
By train, one option is the JR limited express Kusatsu-Shima from Ueno, Akabane or Omiya to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, followed by a bus to Kusatsu Onsen. This route takes about three hours. Another option is taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa, then transferring to a bus, also around three hours total.
Ikaho (Gunma Prefecture)
Ikaho Onsen is best known for its iconic stone staircase of 365 steps, lined with shops, hotels and ryokans, and public baths. While it is less internationally famous than Hakone or Kusatsu, Ikaho is not too shabby when it comes to a domestic oensen destination in Japan. It is because Ikaho is strongly associated with nostalgic Taisho-era onsen culture.
Beyond the baths, you can take a bus or drive to Mount Haruna, a dormant volcano looks similar to Mount Fuji, or visit Lake Haruna for hiking and boating. The Ikaho Toy, Doll, and Car Museum is another unique attraction, featuring classic Japanese toys and JDM cars, including models from the anime Initial D.
Ikaho is accessible by bus from Haneda Airport Garden, Tokyo Station Yaesu, Shinjuku Bus Terminal. From Tokyo, buses take about 2.5 hours.
By rail, you can take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki, then transfer to a bus. Another option is the JR limited express Kusatsu-Shima to Shibukawa, followed by a bus to Ikaho.
Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Kawaguchiko is widely known for its views of Mount Fuji and outdoor activities, but it has also developed into an onsen town since the discovery of hot spring sources in the 1990s. While relatively new as an onsen destination, its popularity grew quickly due to the area’s existing tourism appeal.
There many hotels and ryokans use the official onsen source. You can search such locations from Kawaguchiko onsen official website. Note that you willl need to use google translate to view the page in English.
Kawaguchiko is easily accessed from Shinjuku via the Fuji Excursion limited express train. Direct buses also operate from Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, Tokyo Station Yaesu, Shinjuku, and Shibuya.
Shuzenji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Shuzenji is a small onsen town nestled in the mountains of the Izu Peninsula. Its quiet atmosphere attracted many Japanese authors and artists over the years.
Although Shuzenji is not far from Atami and is connected via the same Odoriko limited express, the experience is completely different. Atami is a lively seaside resort, while Shuzenji is centered around a historic temple and offers a calm, traditional setting. If Atami feels like Osaka, Shuzenji feels like Kyoto.
To reach Shuzenji from Tokyo, take the Odoriko limited express and transfer to a bus bound for Shuzenji Onsen. Another option is taking the Shinkansen to Mishima Station, then transferring to the Izu Hakone Railway to Shuzenji Station.
Kofu (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Kofu is unique in that it is both the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture and an onsen town. Unlike many traditional onsen towns (with Atami being a notable exception), Kofu is a modern, non-touristy city. While it may lack a classic onsen-town atmosphere, it offers the comfort and convenience of city amenities such as convenience stores, supermarkets, and a wide range of restaurants.
Kofu has two separate onsen sources. The most convenient area is around Kofu Station. One source is located within Hotel Danrokan, and its onsen water is also supplied to Konaya Hotel. Guests staying at either hotel can enjoy water drawn directly from this source. Other hotels in the station area, such as Dormy Inn and Castle Hotel, receive onsen water delivered by truck.
The second onsen area is Yumura Onsen, located about a 15-minute bus ride from Kofu Station. This area is home to several classic onsen hotels and offers a quieter, more traditional hot spring experience.
Kofu is approximately 1.5 hours from Shinjuku Station via the JR limited express Azusa or Kaiji, and about two hours by bus from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal. It also serves as a convenient base for exploring nearby destinations, including the Kawaguchiko area.
Yuzawa (Niigata Prefecture)
Yuzawa, located in Niigata Prefecture, is synonymous with snow, rice, and hot springs. The region is famous for producing some of Japan’s highest-quality rice. Yuzawa has five public bathhouses and many private onsen operated by hotels and restaurants, making it ideal for onsen hopping.
In addition to bathing, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and sake tasting. Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort, within walking distance of Echigo-Yuzawa Station, offers mountain views year-round and a ropeway operating from mid-December through March.
Yuzawa is easily accessible via the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo, Ueno, or Omiya. Travel time from Tokyo Station is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Other Onsen Towns to Consider
Manza
Located across the mountains from Kusatsu, Manza is known for its dramatic scenery and highly sulfuric waters. There is no traditional onsen town here, only a handful of hotels surrounded by wilderness. It is ideal for quiet relaxation and winter sports. Access is via bus from Karuizawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Shima Onsen
Shima Onsen is quieter than Kusatsu, with milder sulfur levels that are easier on sensitive skin. Many travelers visit Shima after Kusatsu or Manza to experience the different water quality. Access is by bus from Nakanojo Station or via direct bus from Tokyo Station Yaesu or Haneda Airport.
Yugawara
Located next to Atami, Yugawara is a calm valley town just outside Hakone’s caldera wall. It offers a peaceful alternative to Atami and is easily accessible by train from Tokyo.
Ajiro and Izu Taga
These smaller onsen areas near Atami are quiet and ocean-facing. Many hotels offer sea-view baths, making them excellent options for a relaxing coastal escape.
Conclusion
Soaking in minerals rich onsen water can be deeply relaxing. The mineral content and texture of the water vary from onsen to onsen depending on location, making it especially enjoyable to experience different hot springs. Before or after a soak, many people enjoy meals made with locally sourced ingredients, browsing local shops, or taking quiet walks in nature.
Whether you are looking for a quick day trip or a slower overnight escape, the onsen towns around Tokyo offer a wide range of experiences. From coastal hot springs with ocean views to quiet mountain retreats shaped by volcanic landscapes, each destination offers a meaningful way to step away from the city and reconnect with a more relaxed pace of life.