7 Recommended Onsens with Autumn Foliage Views

1. Hotel Kaneyamaen | Fujisan Onsen, Yamanashi

Facility Overview

Kaneyamaen is an Onsen ryokan located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, offering breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. The vast grounds feature gardens where guests can enjoy the beauty of nature throughout the seasons, providing a quintessential Japanese atmosphere.

It is also easily accessible, being approximately a two-hour bus ride from Shinjuku, Tokyo, and about 10 minutes from Fujisan Station. There is also a direct bus from Haneda Airport to Fujisan Station, making it conveniently accessible from major travel hubs.

Guests can choose from a variety of rooms, including Japanese-style rooms with views of Mount Fuji and guest rooms with open-air baths facing the garden, catering to different needs. The rooms with private open-air baths, in particular, offer a completely private space where guests can fully enjoy the stunning scenery and the Onsen, making it highly recommended.

For dining, Kaneyamaen offers Japanese cuisine prepared with carefully selected ingredients, allowing guests to enjoy a truly blissful dining experience. The dishes are crafted using ingredients that showcase the flavors of the Mount Fuji area and are served in a refined and serene atmosphere.

In addition, guests can enjoy Yamanashi wines while gazing at Mount Fuji from the lounge, allowing for a leisurely and indulgent experience.

Onsen

At Kaneyamaen, the Onsen facilities include the "Open-air bath with Mount Fuji view" and the "Indoor bath: Red Fuji," offering a relaxing experience for both the body and mind. The open-air bath offers a stunning, uninterrupted view of Mount Fuji from its three-tiered bath, allowing guests to relax in the Onsen while enjoying the scenery.

The indoor bath, Red Fuji, is equipped with an open-air bath, reclining baths, bubble baths, and saunas, offering a variety of bathing experiences. The open-air bath allows guests to enjoy a spacious setting while admiring a traditional garden.Soaking in the Onsen while gazing at Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan, is an unforgettable experience.

Additionally, the 20,000-tsubo (66,000-square-meter) garden features a "Garden Foot Bath," where guests can warm their feet after a leisurely stroll. In autumn, guests can enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage while warming their feet, offering a unique and special experience.

The hot spring water at Kaneyamaen is a calcium-sodium sulfate spring with a high alkalinity of pH 10.3.

Alkaline springs are known for their ability to restore the body's health balance and are gentle on the body. The main benefits include alleviating high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, wounds, burns, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, neuralgia, and muscle pain.

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2. Yoshiike Ryokan | Hakone Onsen, Kanagawa

Facility Overview

Yoshiike Ryokan is a traditional, long-established ryokan nestled in Hakone Yumoto Onsen.

The premises boast a vast Japanese garden of approximately 10,000 tsubo (about 33,000 square meters), allowing guests to leisurely stroll and admire the beauty of nature in every season. In autumn, the garden's trees turn red, offering a luxurious moment to enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves.

Additionally, Yoshiike Ryokan is conveniently located as a base for sightseeing in Hakone. It is a 7-minute walk from Hakone Yumoto Station and about one hour from Tokyo, making it easily accessible.

The guest rooms at Yoshiike Ryokan come in various styles, ranging from traditional Japanese rooms to Western-style rooms and rooms with private open-air baths, catering to various accommodation needs. Most of the guest rooms face the garden, allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful garden from the comfort of their rooms.Furthermore, Yoshiike Ryokan is one of the few ryokan where guests can enjoy Onsen baths in every guest room due to the abundant hot spring water. You can enjoy a private, peaceful bathing experience.

For dining, the ryokan offers Japanese cuisine using seasonal ingredients. The carefully prepared dishes are not only delicious but also visually appealing. Guests can savor seasonal dishes prepared with heartfelt care by the head chef.

During your stay at Yoshiike Ryokan, you can spend a luxurious time in the tranquility of the surroundings.

Onsen

Yoshiike Ryokan's Onsen uses six private hot spring sources from its vast premises. The natural hot spring water is free-flowing, with a maximum output of 720 liters per minute, making it one of the largest hot spring sources in Hakone.

The hot spring water at Yoshiike Ryokan is a sodium-calcium chloride spring, which is effective for conditions such as neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, and motor paralysis. This type of hot spring water warms the body from the core, making it ideal for the chilly autumn weather.

Guests can enjoy various bathing experiences at Yoshiike Ryokan, including open-air baths, indoor large baths, and private baths. The scenery from the open-air bath is particularly stunning, with lush greenery in summer and beautiful autumn leaves in fall, providing a luxurious experience.

For men, there is an open-air bath overlooking the garden's trees, a spacious 20-meter-long large bath, and an adjacent cave bath.

For women, there is a garden open-air bath featuring natural stones, a cypress bath made from ancient cypress, and a warm Mikage stone bath.

Private baths can also be reserved in advance, allowing families and couples to enjoy a private moment together. The baths are spacious, providing a luxurious and highly recommended experience.

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3. Kinugawa Grand Hotel YUME no TOKI | Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi

Facility Overview

Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yumenoki is a modern accommodation located in Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.

The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden, where guests can spend a serene and elegant time. It is an 8-minute walk from Kinugawa Onsen Station, and just a 2-hour train ride from central Tokyo, making it very accessible.

Inside the facility, guests can enjoy views of the beautiful Japanese garden, which showcases various seasonal landscapes. In autumn, the leaves turn red, providing a peaceful and relaxing time to appreciate the changing seasons.

The rooms are primarily Japanese-style, creating a refined atmosphere where guests can relax while enjoying views of the garden or the Kinugawa River. The hotel offers a variety of rooms suited to families and couples, making it a very attractive option for different accommodation needs.

For dining, the hotel offers kaiseki cuisine using seasonal ingredients sourced from Tochigi Prefecture and across Japan. The beautifully presented dishes are not only delicious but also visually stunning. Depending on the occasion, guests can enjoy their meals while overlooking the beautifully changing seasonal garden.

Additionally, the hotel has a lounge, café, spa, and athletic corner, providing a wide range of facilities. Guests can forget the noise of daily life and enjoy a peaceful, relaxing time at Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yumenoki.

Onsen

The Onsen at Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yumenoki draws from the historic Kinugawa Onsen, which dates back to the Edo period. The hot spring water is weakly alkaline and classified as a simple hot spring. The clear, smooth water is gentle on the skin and leaves it feeling soft and moisturized after bathing.

The primary health benefits include relief for stiff joints, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive issues, hemorrhoids, cold sensitivity, chronic skin diseases, chronic gynecological issues, arteriosclerosis, cuts, burns, and more.

The facility features two spacious large public baths, offering a total of nine different baths for guests to enjoy.

The open-air bath, facing the garden, provides a liberating view, allowing both the body and mind to relax. During the day, the bath is surrounded by vibrant seasonal colors, while at night, guests can enjoy the glittering stars—truly a luxurious experience.

There are also other options, such as a standing bath that promotes circulation, a Jacuzzi bath that is gentle on the heart and promotes relaxation, and a mist sauna. The variety of facilities ensures a satisfying experience for all guests.

In addition, private baths can be reserved in advance. There are five different outdoor baths, each with its own unique interior design inspired by fairy tales. Guests can choose their preferred bath and enjoy the natural hot springs in a private setting.

No matter the season, guests can experience the natural beauty of Kinugawa while enjoying a moment of tranquility.

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4. Minakami Sanso | Minakami Onsen, Gunma

Minakami Sansou is a healing spa resort nestled in the nature of Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, overlooking Mount Tanigawa. Located in the deepest part of the Tanigawa Onsen area, it is surrounded by beautiful mountains and a clear stream.

From the lounge and guest room windows, guests can enjoy the majestic scenery of Mount Tanigawa, with its seasonal changes. In autumn, the mountains turn a vivid red with autumn leaves, offering breathtaking views.

Although Minakami Sansou is located deep in the mountains, it is easily accessible, being about two hours from Tokyo. It is also just 10 minutes from Minakami Station, and the hotel offers a shuttle service upon reservation.

The guest rooms at Minakami Sansou range from traditional Japanese-style rooms to rooms with semi-open-air baths. Among them, the premium room "Kiraboshi" , which offers a view of Mount Tanigawa and private access to a natural hot spring, allows guests to enjoy a luxurious experience.

For dinner, guests can enjoy exquisite kaiseki cuisine, carefully crafted with seasonal ingredients from across Japan. The menu changes with the seasons, ensuring that diners can savor the finest seasonal ingredients, hand-selected by the chef.

In addition, the hotel features an esthetic salon using skincare products from the French brand "Esthederm." It's the perfect indulgence to pair with a relaxing Onsen experience, offering a special reward for guests seeking a luxurious treat.

A stay at Minakami Sansou offers an experience of true relaxation, surrounded by the majestic beauty of Mount Tanigawa and nature.

Onsen

The hot spring at Minakami Sansou comes from the famous Tanigawa Onsen, known for its healing properties.

The spring water is an alkaline simple hot spring, known for its soft and smooth texture. The main benefits include relief from neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruises, sprains, gastrointestinal diseases, rheumatism, gynecological disorders, skin diseases, cuts, hemorrhoids, cold sensitivity, and more.

Minakami Sansou is supplied by three private hot spring sources, and the water is carefully adjusted to provide 100% pure hot spring water. This Onsen has earned a five-star rating from the Japan Hot Spring Association and is enjoyed alongside the breathtaking view of Mount Tanigawa.

The water temperature is also manually adjusted according to the day's weather and climate, ensuring that guests can always enjoy a comfortable bath.

Among the many highlights is the highly recommended open-air bath, offering spectacular views of Mount Tanigawa and the starry night sky.

In the outdoor bath, there are special seats designed to offer the best view of the surrounding scenery. These seats were meticulously adjusted by comparing the views and starry skies, down to a centimeter, to provide an optimal experience of luxury.

Other baths include the ancient cypress bath and the rock bath, offering a variety of options for guests to enjoy at Minakami Sansou's impressive Onsen facilities.

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5. Marukoma Onsen Ryokan | Lake Shikotsu Onsen, Hokkaido

Facility Overview

Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is a historic hot spring ryokan located on the shores of Lake Shikotsu in Chitose City, Hokkaido, founded in 1915. Surrounded by the pristine nature and the lake, which is known for having the clearest water in Japan, it offers the perfect environment to escape from the noise of everyday life.

From its ideal lakeside location, guests can enjoy beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons, such as autumn foliage and snow-covered mountains in winter.

In terms of accessibility, it is about a 1-hour drive from New Chitose Airport and has excellent access to Sapporo, making it a great base for exploring Hokkaido. Niseko and Otaru are also around 2-3 hours away, allowing for visits to various tourist destinations.

The guest rooms at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan are available in both Japanese-style and Western-style rooms, with options facing the tranquil lake or rooms overlooking the lush natural surroundings of the mountains. The rooms are spacious and offer a calm atmosphere, providing a perfect space to unwind from the fatigue of travel.

Dining at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan centers around the finest ingredients from Hokkaido, known as a treasure trove of food. Guests can enjoy carefully crafted Japanese dishes, and for breakfast, a buffet with a wide variety of options can be enjoyed while gazing at the expansive view of Lake Shikotsu.

Onsen

The hot spring at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan uses the source discovered by the founder. To this day, the hot spring maintains abundant water flow, and the quality of the water continues to be loved by many.

The hot spring is a chloride spring, which is clear and has excellent heat retention properties, with a source temperature of 54°C (129°F). Its main health benefits include relief from neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruises, sprains, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive disorders, chronic skin conditions, arteriosclerosis, recovery after illness, fatigue recovery, health promotion, chronic gynecological disorders, and cold sensitivity.

Marukoma Onsen Ryokan offers a variety of bath options, including spacious indoor baths with beautiful views, open-air baths overlooking the lake, and private baths. These facilities provide a relaxing experience for families and couples, with private bath facilities being particularly appealing.

One of the most unique features is the open-air bath in the large public bath, which is one of only 20 in Japan that have a "bottom-spring" source. This means the hot spring water bubbles up from the ground at the bottom of the bath, offering a rare and valuable hot spring experience. Additionally, the water level in this bath changes with the lake’s water level, providing an intriguing and dynamic experience.

Bathing while enjoying the stunning scenery of Lake Shikotsu is an experience that makes you feel as if you are one with nature.

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6. Miyama Sansou | Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto

Facility Overview

Miyama Sansou is a hot spring inn located in Kurokawa Onsen Village, in Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Surrounded by abundant nature, this inn offers an environment where guests can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and fully relax in a peaceful natural setting. Especially from autumn to winter, when the temperature drops and the air becomes crisp, the night sky is stunningly clear, offering an awe-inspiring view of the stars.

During autumn, the nearby mountains are painted red with autumn leaves, making it a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful landscape at a leisurely pace.

Although Miyama Sansou is located deep in the Kurokawa Onsen Village, it is relatively easy to access. It is about a one-hour drive from Kumamoto Airport and about two hours from Fukuoka Airport.

At Miyama Sansou, guests can choose from three Japanese-style rooms and three Western-style rooms, some of which feature private open-air baths. Both room types are designed with a calming atmosphere, providing a comfortable rest for the tired traveler. The Japanese-style rooms, in particular, are recommended for those who wish to experience a traditional Japanese ambiance.

For dining, Miyama Sansou offers dishes prepared with local ingredients from Kumamoto, as well as other carefully selected ingredients. During dinner, guests can also order a la carte items featuring specialties from Kumamoto, providing an opportunity to discover new flavors.

Onsen

The hot spring water at Miyama Sansou is classified as a simple sulfur spring, known for being gentle on the skin with minimal irritation.

The main health benefits include relief from neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, cold sensitivity, fatigue recovery, and general health promotion.

The indoor baths in the large public bath area are housed in a calming wooden structure, with wooden bathtubs enhancing the soothing atmosphere. From the open windows, guests can admire the surrounding nature, allowing for a relaxing soak while taking in the natural beauty.

On the other hand, the open-air bath allows guests to immerse themselves in the lush natural surroundings. Relaxing in the outdoor bath while appreciating the seasonal scenery offers a luxurious and tranquil experience, far from the noise of everyday life.

During nighttime baths, guests can also enjoy views of the starry sky, making the experience even more magical. The hot springs are available for use until 9:30 PM, making it highly recommended to indulge in the night baths under the starlit sky.

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7. Aura Tachibana | Hakone Onsen, Kanagawa

Facility Overview

Aura Tachibana is a hot spring inn located in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The interior has a modern design with a calm atmosphere, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxed and peaceful time.

The inn is situated in a spacious area with great views, where guests can feel the pleasant breeze and enjoy the beauty of nature in all seasons. Especially in autumn, the mountains turn red with the autumn leaves, offering a luxurious experience with a stunning panoramic view.

Aura Tachibana is also very accessible, located about a 10-minute walk from Hakone Yumoto Station. It is within 2 hours from Haneda Airport, making transportation smooth. There is also a free shuttle bus service from Hakone Yumoto Station.

At Aura Tachibana, guests can choose from five types of rooms, including traditional Japanese-style rooms and rooms with open-air baths, depending on their needs.

The most recommended room type is the one with an open-air bath. The natural hot spring water in the private bath offers a luxurious and relaxing stay in a refined, adult space.

For dining, Aura Tachibana provides creative cuisine made with seasonal ingredients. The Japanese-inspired dishes are served in carefully chosen tableware to provide a visually appealing and heartwarming dining experience.

Onsen

The hot spring water at Aura Tachibana is a simple hot spring, known to be gentle on the skin. With a pH of 8.7, this mildly alkaline spring is also known for its beautifying effects, leaving the skin smooth and silky after bathing.

The main health benefits of the hot spring include relief from neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, bruises, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, cold sensitivity, fatigue recovery, and general health promotion.

The facility is equipped with indoor baths, open-air baths, and saunas. Guests can also book a private open-air bath located on the top floor of the inn.

The view from the private open-air bath is breathtaking, offering a panoramic view of Hakone’s rich natural surroundings from an elevation of 200 meters. At night, guests can enjoy the beauty of the starry sky, making for a truly luxurious and private experience.

The large public baths are also designed to be spacious and open. The women’s indoor bath is bright, with large windows allowing sunlight to pour in, creating a cheerful atmosphere. The men’s indoor bath, on the other hand, features a more tranquil ambiance, with a black-themed design that provides a calming bathing experience.

The washing areas are equipped with dividers for privacy, ensuring a comfortable and secure experience for all guests.

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