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Onsen Destinations in the Japanese Alps

Japan is a country with a unique geography: almost 80% of the archipelago is covered in mountains. Being at the junction of four major tectonic plates, these mountains also host a large amount of volcanic activity. These peculiar features do not only create Japan’s gorgeous natural landscapes, they also provide the country with one of its most distinctive qualities: onsen (natural hot springs). 

Oscillating throughout history between a pastime reserved for the elites and a communal moment of public bathing, onsen culture has now become a cornerstone of Japanese identity. And travelers can experience this unique moment floating in time, surrounded by the steam of rejuvenating waters, in many onsen destinations across Japan! Some of the more accessible onsen towns from Tokyo are found within the green forests and rocky peaks of the Japanese Alps.

The Japanese Alps are a mountain range that cut through central Honshu Island, creating stunning landscapes of high peaks complimented with deep valleys and rolling rivers. As they extend out to the Japan Sea Coast, the region of Hokuriku is blessed with rich seas on one side and high peaks on the other, highlighting the country’s most distinct geographical features, and making the region’s onsen some of the most beloved destinations for hot springs. 


Gero Onsen (Gifu Prefecture)

Gero Onsen is located right in the center of Gifu Prefecture, almost directly south from the popular town of Takayama. Visitors to Gero may notice motifs of frogs around the town, from small statues to decorative manholes and even in storefronts. This is because the onomatopoeia for the sound frogs make in Japanese is “gero,” and the town has embraced the pun on its name, making the hopping amphibian the honorary town mascot. In fact, there is a whole shrine located in Gero dedicated to frogs. 

Gero Onsen

The onsen waters in Gero are renowned for being relatively soft and known for their skin-benefitting properties. At the center of Gero, the Hida River flows through, with branching streams going throughout different parts of the town. Alongside the Hida River, open-air public baths offer great views of the surrounding nature and spots for relaxation.

Gero has a train station that is a stop on the Hida Express Line that goes between Nagoya City and Toyama City. Since it isn’t far from Takayama, it makes for both a great day trip and overnight stay, as well as a great place to stay for travelers who want to visit the famous Shirakawago village and its traditional thatch-roofed structures - a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.


Okuhida Onsengo (Gifu Prefecture)

“Okuhida” translates to “inner Hida,” in reference to it being in a more secluded, deep part of the Hida Takayama area. It goes without saying that the nature in this area is gorgeous, with lush forests and rocky mountain peaks gracing the landscape. This makes it the perfect backdrop for relaxing in the luxurious open-air onsen hot springs that are famous within the area. 

The greater Okuhida area consists of five different hot spring villages: Hirayu, Fukuji, Shinhirayu, Tochio, and Shinhotaka, which is particularly popular for its open-air onsen springs are located right along the banks of a picturesque, flowing river. Okuhida is best visited during autumn and winter, with the typically green foliage turning into an ocean of vibrant gold and crimson with changing leaves and then fluffy, stark-white snow powdering the landscape. 

Hirayu Onsen

Takayama Station is the nearest major station from Okuhida, but since it is so deep within the mountains of Gifu, it takes around 60 minutes via Nohi Bus to reach the area. Despite the distance, the unique, nature-rich environment of each of these onsen towns makes it well worth the commute. 


Nagaragawa Onsen (Gifu Prefecture)

Heading to the southern section of Gifu Prefecture is Gifu City, the most densely populated area in the prefecture that neighbors the major city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. Despite its largely urban environment, however, Gifu City is home to one of the most beloved onsen destinations in all of Japan: Nagaragawa Onsen. 

Nagaragawa Onsen is defined by the Nagaragawa River, which the onsen facilities are parallel to. The waters of Nagaragawa Onsen are of a distinct nature, with a very high iron content. When they initially gush out from the earth, the waters are clear but then change into a deep, patina-like red due to oxidation. The high iron content contributes to better circulation and the soothing of skin. 

The Nagaragawa River, credit Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation

Nagaragawa Onsen is located near Mount Kinka, just on the other side of Gifu City’s main downtown area, making it one of the more conveniently located onsen towns that also has great natural surroundings. Gifu City is famous for its traditional cormorant fishing practices towards the end of summer, and part of the traditional fishing festival can be seen from the hotels and ryokans that line the river during this time. 


Awara Onsen (Fukui Prefecture)

Founded over 130 years ago, Awara Onsen is Fukui Prefecture’s largest hot spring resort town. Catering to both day-trip visitors and overnight guests, Awara Onsen is one of the best onsen destinations if you find yourself on the Japan Sea coast. All day-use resorts and ryokans are within walking distance of Awara-Yunomachi station, but most facilities offer free shuttle buses for visitors. And thanks to the newly opened Hokuriku Shinkansen, you can stop in Fukui or Kanazawa and hop on a local line straight to Awara-Yunomachi, or stop directly at Awaraonsen station on the Shinkansen line, where you can then drive to the actual onsen town. 

Awara Onsen, credit Fukui Prefectural Tourism Federation

Over 70 hot springs provide Awara Onsen with its renowned natural water, the first one being discovered by a farmer digging an irrigation well in 1883. Onsen establishments were already flourishing in the area by the following year. Awara Onsen’s waters are famed for their benefits against rheumatism, nerve pain, and general pain relief. Across the town, you will also find multiple free footbaths! 


Echizen: Onsens with a sea view (Fukui Prefecture)

Along the Echizen Coast, stretching all the way to Tsuruga, multiple onsen resorts offer a peaceful bathing experience with stunning views of the Japan Sea. The open-air bath of Isaribi Echizen Onsen is a great example, the facility overlooking the sea, being directly on the coast. It offers gorgeous sunset sceneries every day, and with this onsen being located in a rest area with a few shops and most importantly, restaurants, you can then have dinner after your relaxing bath to try some of the area’s delicacies, such as the Echizen crab!

Echizen crab, credit Fukui Prefectural Tourism Federation

Further down the coast, Echinzen Open-Air Onsen Nihonkai is another must-stop along the National Route 305 that strolls along the coast. Kono Seaside Onsen Yubae is another convenient and beautiful option, with its salt bath facing the infinite horizon of the Japan Sea. This facility also features a restaurant, making it a perfect place to stop for a relaxing bath and a meal and leave refreshed for the rest of your road trip through the sublime landscapes of the region. 


Along the Wakasa Bay coast (Fukui Prefecture)

If rugged sceneries are more of your taste than infinite glistening sea, then keep heading South towards the Wakasa Bay, where Fukui prefecture extends into rocky coasts, beaches and hidden coves. There, you will find hot spring facilities facing the sea, but with different panoramas on the islands and the many peninsulas extending from the coast.

A beautiful example is Hamanoyu Onsen, located in the seaside town of Obama, overlooking the bay from the 3rd floor of the Wakasa Obama Food Museum - perfect for a cultural visit after your relaxing bath! The building also has a restaurant, for a delicious meal to blow off the steam. 

Obama port, credit Fukui Prefectural Tourism Federation

On the other side of the same cove, still overlooking the Wakasa Bay, Amichan Oi Onsen is another fantastic hot spring destination to enjoy. While it’s not directly on the coast, the facility still offers mind-blowing views of the sea, thanks to its elevated position. Nearby, Nagaihama Beach is a perfect spot to wind down and dry off the mineral waters of Amichan Oi Onsen.


Kaga Onsen (Ishikawa Prefecture) 

In March 2023, the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line was extended past Kanazawa out to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture. With this extension, a new stop on the Shinkansen was set up at Kaga Station in Ishikawa, allowing for easier access to one of the most prominent onsen destinations in Japan. 

Kaga Onsen is a collection of four different onsen towns in the center of Ishikawa Prefecture: Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu, and Awazu. The towns are located  nearby Mount Hakusan, one of Japan’s three holy mountains (the other two being Mount Tateyama in neighboring Toyama and the venerable Mount Fuji). 

Yamanaka Onsen

Being high up in the mountains, staying in Kaga Onsen constitutes beautiful nature hikes that are wrapped up with a relaxing time spent in the mineral-rich spring waters. Yamanaka Onsen is a particularly popular spot, with attractions located in deep ravines with roaring river waters. Kaga is also a historically relevant area too, with the prefecture’s renowned kutani porcelain having its origins in the region.


Bessho Onsen (Nagano Prefecture)

Just outside Ueda City in Nagano Prefecture is Bessho Onsen, an area with a large significance to the region’s history. During the Kamakura Period of the 12th to 14th century, when Nagano was known as “Shinshu”, Bessho Onsen was the headquarters for the local governor. He called for the construction of many temples in the area to emanate Kamakura, and to this day, it is nicknamed “the Kamakura of Shinshu.”

Bessho Onsen Station, credit Shinshu Ueda Tourism Association

The town is easily traversed by foot, with small shops and restaurants standing alongside storied temples. A bit farther from the town center, Anrakui Temple is a particularly standout site, especially in autumn when the surrounding foliage changes to a blanket of warm colors. 

There are a number of prominent bathhouses throughout the town to tour while visiting Bessho, the largest one being Oyu, which directly translates to “large hot spring,” with both indoor and outdoor baths. Aisome no Yu is a much more modern batthouse nearby Bessho Onsen Station, with a complete sauna and other facilities inside. 


Unazuki Onsen (Toyama Prefecture)

From Nagano, the Hokuriku Shinkansen goes out to Hokuriku itself, right on the Japan Sea Coast. Toyama Prefecture sits right at the base of Toyama Bay, home to rich waters that host some of the best seafood in the world and gorgeous views with rolling mountain peaks in the background. One of the most famous destinations in Toyama is Kurobe Gorge, outfitted with specialized train lines for viewing one-of-a-kind scenery. Within the gorge’s vicinity, Unazuki Onsen is a deep-mountain hot spring town that can serve as a great base while taking in the beauty of the area. 

Unazuki Onsen is a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and is actually the first stop on the Kurobe Gorge Railway. The water in Toyama is actually famous around the country for its purity and high nutrients due to the mountain glaciers. There is low alkalinity in the hot spring waters at Unazuki Onsen, and the locally sourced water is said to be an essential component of the local produce and food specialties. 

The Kurobe Gorge

The Kurobe Gorge Railway only operates from mid-April to November, and it's during autumn that the gorge is said to be the most beautiful, with the fall foliage enveloping the landscape. Unazuki Onsen is easily accessible from both Kansai and Kanto, with the Thunderbird train from Osaka or Kyoto to Tsuruga, then a transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, or taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen directly from Tokyo Station.


Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Prefecture)

One of the most beloved onsen destinations for those coming from Tokyo is Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. It’s most easily reached from the nation’s capital via a Shinkansen ride to Karuizawa in Nagano and then taking a bus directly to the onsen town. Just like many other onsen towns throughout central Japan, it is located high up in the mountains, 1,200 meters above sea level. This high elevation makes it a popular ski destination for both foreign and domestic travelers alike!

The waters of Kusatsu Onsen are said to be the most health-benefiting in Japan, with relatively high acidity that kills pathogens and aids with other bodily functions. Kusatsu Onsen is also notable for being the hot spring with the most outwardly flowing volume throughout the archipelago, with many bathhouses scattered throughout the area, such as Netsu no Yu, renowned for its distinct, traditional architecture. 

Kusatsu Onsen

As previously mentioned, Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is a major draw for the area, and wrapping up a day of some powder on the slopes in a warm bath is a luxury no one should overlook. For those wanting a more leisurely time while staying at Kusatsu, the Sai-no-Kawara shopping street is great for souvenirs and food, and the nearby Sai-no-Kawara Park is a great natural landmark, with a natural spring spouting warm water to form a flowing river. 


How to get around the Japanese Alps?

As for the rest of Japan, the Japanese Alps region is best explored by train! From Tokyo, plenty of options are available to get you into this mountainous haven of wild landscapes and steamy onsen. 

From Tokyo Station, you can hop on a Shinkansen train to Nagano or Kanazawa, where you can then get on an express train to Takayama for example or on a local train for anywhere else in the Japanese Alps! From Shinjuku Station, you can also take a local line to Matsumoto. It’s also possible to explore the Japanese Alps in depth and with unlimited train trips thanks to the many regional passes available in the area!

Mt. Hotakadake in the Japanese Alps

The Japanese Alps are also a great place to explore by car, and its roads winding through the mountains and valleys are the perfect backdrop for a scenic drive. Some of the most secretive onsen of this list will also be accessed easier with a car.

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