Keep Warm This Winter at These All-Inclusive Hot Spring Resorts
Winter in Japan can be quite freezing for those used to tropical climates. Temperatures can dip to 5°C in December and a biting 2°C-3°C in January. Luckily, there are many onsen (hot spring) inns in Japan that have excellent facilities, which allow you to enjoy a whole day without having to go outside.
Ahead, we have carefully selected Japan’s top hotels with onsen where you can enjoy the snowy scenery and savor kaiseki (Japanese traditional multi-course menu) to relax your body and mind. Who knows? Visiting Japan’s hot spring resorts might make you look forward to winter time!
1) Takumi no Yado Miyama Ouan (Gifu Prefecture)
Exploring Gifu Prefecture? Stay awhile at Takumi no Yado Miyama Ouan at the hot spring village of Okuhida Onsengo. The inn is a must-visit as it earned the top spot in the national hot spring resort ranking for two consecutive years on Jalan, a Japanese travel website.
In the onsen hotel’s open-air baths, you can take a dip while gazing at the magnificent Northern Japan Alps. If you visit several times throughout the year, you can also enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons—from a world blanketed in snow during winter to one covered in autumn leaves during autumn.
Takumi no Yado Miyama Ouan also gives you a glimpse of Japan's rich past. The main building, where the bookkeeping room and bathhouse are located, is a splendid wooden structure from the Nara period (710–794).
Look forward to:
- Take a relaxing bath alone in the private open-air bath free of charge!
- For dinner, try Japanese kaiseki with charcoal-grilled Hida beef as the highlight of your meal.
- Rent an authentic yukata (light cotton kimono) available for men and women for free.
- Enjoy refreshing drinks and snacks after your onsen baths. Milk and stir-fried yonaki soba noodles are available at night, while Yakult is offered in the morning.
Facility Information
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Name: Takumi no Yado Miyama Ou-an Check-in from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Check-out before 11 a.m. |
2) Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan (Yamanashi Prefecture)
In 2011, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest hotel in the world. Having been in business since 705 AD, the inn has been managed by the original family of owners for generations.
A definite addition to your Japan travel bucket list, the onsen inn features six different types of baths and additional baths in the guest rooms. Each room also has access to a hot water supply and showers that are all heated naturally.
The food served in this hot spring resort in Japan is prepared by Chef Shinji Sato, winner of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Award in the local cuisine category of the National Japanese Cooking Competition.
Everything served in Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is handmade from scratch— down to the pastes and mayonnaise. To heighten the flavors of each ingredient, no less than eight different types of salt are used.
Look forward to:
- With several different bath facilities, you can enjoy a leisurely tour of different winter-time sceneries within the inn.
- Stargaze as you relax in the Boukei no Yu outdoor bath, a symbolic facility of the inn.
- Bask in the glory of Hayakawa Valley, your view from the Mountain Stream Outdoor Bath.
- Spend alone time in the Kawane and Seoto baths, which are large stone-made outdoor baths that offer privacy.
Facility Information
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Name: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan |
3) Tanigawa Onsen Hinoki no Yado Minakami Sanso (Gunma Prefecture)
If you ever find yourself venturing across Gunma Prefecture in winter, make sure to stop by Tanigawa Onsen Hinoki no Yado Minakami Sanso, located by a mountain stream at the far end of Tanigawa Onsen Village.
As its waters are known to make the skin feel nurtured, the hot spring resort is a must-visit, especially during the colder seasons when your skin feels drier.
The magnificent view of Mt. Tanigawa from the lounge and guest rooms is also one of the highlights of this inn. Likewise worth noting are the meals. Dinners at Tanigawa Onsen Hinoki no Yado Minakami Sanso are creative kaiseki prepared with carefully selected seasonal ingredients from all over Japan.
Look forward to:
- Enjoy peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
- See the world of lush greenery turn into silvery white during winter.
- Unwind in hot spring baths drawn directly from wells without any additives.
Facility Information
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Name: Tanigawa Onsen Hinoki no Yado Minakami Sanso |
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