7 best Onsens for One-day use

1. < One-day Private Onsen available> Shinmeikan | Kumamoto

Facility Overview

Shinmeikan is a long-established Onsen hotel founded in 1902, located in Kurokawa Onsen. Kurokawa Onsen is located in the mountains of Kumamoto Prefecture in northern Kyushu. It is a rural Onsen resort with beautiful satoyama scenery and abundant hot water.

Kurokawa Onsen is famous for the concept of “Kurokawa onsen ichiryokan” (one ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen) and for the open-air baths that can be visited with a bathing pass. In the “Kurokawa Onsen Ichiryokan” concept, all of the inns in the Onsen resort area and the landscape of the satoyama are considered to be “one ryokan” and the entire region is dedicated to providing hospitality to its guests.

In the Onsen resort area, visitors can purchase a bathing bill, which allows them to bathe in any of the three open-air baths of their choice. The bath bill can be used as local currency at one of the three locations for food, drink, and souvenirs, based on the idea of “one ryokan” (inn) in Kurokawa Onsen. The bathing handbill also allows you to enjoy strolling around the Onsen resort.

The inn is located on Kawabata Street, convenient for strolling around Kurokawa Onsen Town. Access is about 50 minutes by bus from JR Aso Station. The inn is a country-style building with black and brown as its basic colors.

Onsen

Shinmeikan's signature bath is the Dokutsu buro, which was completed by the third-generation owner himself with a chisel. Shinmeikan has five Onsens, including the Dokutsu buro. Iwato buro, Dokutsu buros, Ana buro (hole bath), and private baths are available for day-trip visitors.

Iwato buro is an open-air bath located along the river. It is made of rock cut to blend in with the mountain surface where azaleas are planted. The Dokutsu buro is for women. The third-generation owner of the inn dug this bath himself. There are two entrances, and it is fun to walk through to the other side. Ana buro is a Dokutsu buro for men. It is named “Ana buro” (hole bath) because the path splits as you enter the cave and you see two bathtubs in two holes.

The private baths are Kazenoyu and  Kajikanoyu. The baths at  Kajikanoyu are tastefully decorated with the appearance of an old private home. The unique rock surface of the bathtub is also very emotional and makes the time spent soaking in the Onsen a special experience.

The Onsen water is a sodium chloride sulfate spring. The water has been valued since ancient times as a healthful Onsen, and is effective in keeping the skin moist. It is effective for cuts, peripheral circulatory disorders, sensitivity to cold, depression, and dry skin.

The hours of use of the Iwato buro, Dokutsu buro, and Ana buro are from 8:30 to 21:00 (last admission at 20:30).  Kajikanoyu is available from 13:00 to 17:30. Please note that the use of the Kazenoyu is limited to guests only.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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2. < One-day Private Onsen available> Okuhida Onsen-go Hirayu Onsen｜HIRAYU NO MORI | Gifu

Facility Overview

This inn is located in Okuhida Onsen-go in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, and offers Onsen baths and forest bathing.
Access is approximately 1 hour by bus from JR Takayama Station. The inn is conveniently located for sightseeing in Kamikochi and Hida Takayama. The Hirayu Onsen ski resort, Okuhida Bear Farm, and nature trails are located nearby. You can refresh yourself by taking a walk in the forest along the nature trail.

Okuhida Onsen-go is located in the northeastern part of Gifu Prefecture, at the foot of the 3,000-meter-high Hida Mountains. HIRAYU NO MORI in Okuhida Onsen-go is Hirayu Onsen. Hirayu Onsen is a secluded Onsen associated with Shingen Takeda, a feudal warlord.

Onsen

A total of 16 open-air baths, seven for men and nine for women, are scattered throughout the vast 15,000 tsubo site. There are also other large indoor baths and private open-air baths.

In the open-air baths, you can enjoy forest bathing while soaking in the baths. The temperature of the water and the view are different in each of the outdoor baths. While visiting the baths, you can enjoy the different views and find your favorite bathtub. The indoor baths in the large bathroom have a retro atmosphere with a vaulted ceiling, and the bathtub is large enough to comfortably accommodate 30 people. The private open-air bath is a large iron pot used as a bathtub. Half of the bathtub is an open-air bath and half is an indoor bath, creating a unique structure.

The onsen is supplied free-flowing from two sources: Hirayu no Mori no Yu (Hirayu Onsen), which is a rare white, cloudy spring among Hirayu Onsens, and Suiseki no Mizu (clear, colorless Onsen water). The Onsen water is a calcium-sodium-magnesium-hydrogencarbonate/chloride spring. It is especially effective for cuts, chronic skin diseases, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes.

The outdoor and indoor baths are available from 10:00 to 21:00 (last admission by 20:30). Towels and razor blades are available for a fee. The private open-air baths are available from 12:00 to 15:00 (last admission at 14:15). After enjoying the Onsen baths, you can take a rest in the bathhouse, which is an old private house that has been reconstructed. The building has a tasteful atmosphere with a vaulted ceiling. You can lie down, chat, and relax.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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3. < One-day Private Onsen available> Yamamizuki | Kumamoto

Facility Overview

The inn is located in Kurokawa Onsen, a mountainous area in Kumamoto Prefecture. The inn is located in the mountains, far from the Kurokawa Onsen resort area. At the inn in the mountains, you can feel close to nature as it is, with lush trees and a mountain stream with clear water. In this place where you can feel close to all of nature, you can spend your own time without being bothered by anything.

Onsen

Men have one open-air bath and one indoor bath. For women, there is one open-air bath, two indoor baths, and one private bath. One of the two indoor baths for women is provided in the open-air bath for women. In addition, there is one other private bath for stand-up bathing.

On one-day trips, visitors can use the “Yukoku-no-yu” open-air bath for men, the “Mori-no-yu” open-air bath for women, and a private bath for stand-by bathing. Bathing is also possible in the indoor baths in Morinoyu.

Both the men's and women's open-air baths are located along a mountain stream, and the sound of the water flowing down the river and the swaying of the trees allow you to enjoy a sense of oneness with nature to your heart's content. This is truly a luxurious experience that only an inn located in the mountains can offer.

The quality of the Onsen is simple hot spring. Simple hot spring water is low-irritant and gentle to the skin. The water is highly moisturizing and does not easily cool down. It is effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, sensitivity to cold, sprains, stiff joints, chronic digestive diseases, and exercise paralysis.

The day spa hours are 10:00-15:00 for the open-air baths and 10:00-21:00 for the private baths (last admission at 20:00).

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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4.  Hakone Yumoto Onsen | Yoshiike ryokan | Kanagawa

Facility Overview

Located in Hakone-Yumoto Onsen, this quiet onsen ryokan features a carefully selected private Onsen and an authentic pure Japanese garden, Sangetsuen. Hakone-Yumoto Onsen is located in Hakone Onsen-kyo, an Onsen resort with a 1200 year history.
The ryokan is located in a very convenient location for access from central Tokyo. It takes approximately one and a half hours from Shinjuku and one hour from Tokyo. The nearest station, Hakone-Yumoto Station, is about a 7-minute walk away.

Sangetsu-en Garden is a garden with a pond and a circular garden.The pond garden is a style of Japanese garden developed during the Edo period (1603-1868). In this style, visitors can appreciate the garden by circling around a large pond placed in the center of the garden.

The garden covers an area of about 10,000 tsubo (about 1,000 square meters), and the former Iwasaki family's villa and tea house on the grounds are registered as a tangible cultural property of Japan. In the garden, flowers bloom in all four seasons, and in autumn, the trees are colored with autumn leaves.

The natural clear stream from the Sukumo River that runs right next to the garden and the seven ponds are home to approximately 1,000 carp swimming about in peace.

Onsens

The ryokan offers day-trip plans and private baths where guests can enjoy a Japanese garden and Onsen baths. The ryokan has two garden open-air baths for men and women, two indoor baths for men and women, and two private baths. The garden open-air baths are recommended for a day trip to enjoy the Japanese garden.

The garden open-air baths offer a view of the Japanese garden stretching out before you, allowing you to bathe while enjoying the changing seasons.

The Onsen is our own private Onsen source. The ryokan has six private Onsen sources, and boasts one of the largest Onsen gushes in Hakone, with a maximum of 720 liters of Onsen water per minute. All of the baths are 100% spring-fed, with no circulation, heating, or water added. The spring water is sodium calcium chloride spring water. It is effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, and stiff joints.

One-day bathing hours are from 13:00 to 22:00 (last admission at 20:00). Towels are available at the front desk for a fee. In principle, use of the public baths and outdoor Onsen baths is prohibited for those with tattoos, but if they can be concealed with two cover stickers (10 cm x 14 cm), they may use the baths. Cover stickers can be purchased at the front desk.

The private baths are available for 45 minutes from 12:00 to 21:45 and from 7:30 to 9:15. Private baths are available at the front desk for a fee. Reservations are accepted at the front desk from 10:30 a.m. on the day of use. Please note that reservations cannot be made by phone or e-mail.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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5. Takayama Green Hotel | Gifu

Facility Overview

This ryokan is located in Hida Takayama Onsen in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. Takayama City is called Hida Takayama and is a popular tourist destination with its historic old townscape. The ryokan is located in the center of Takayama city, a convenient 6-minute walk from JR Takayama Station. Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage site, is about 50 minutes away by car. At the ryokan, you can relax after a day of sightseeing in the Onsen.

The Hida Bussankan sells a variety of Hida Takayama products. There are more than 7,000 items on sale. Hida beef, local sake, pickles, Takayama ramen, folk crafts, and more. There are also products that can only be purchased here, and some are not available even in the local area. Hida Bussan Kan is recommended for purchasing souvenirs and shopping.

Onsen

On a one-day trip, visitors can bathe in the large “Honjindaiyokuden” and “Tenryo no Yu” bathhouses.
The Honjindaiyokuden has a glass wall on one side, and the baths offer a view of the elegant Japanese garden. The view of cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and white snow in winter will soothe you in each of the four seasons. Tenryo no Yu is located on the first basement floor of the main building. There are indoor and outdoor baths, and in the outdoor bath you can enjoy highly concentrated carbonated spring water.

The spring water is sodium chloride and bicarbonate hot spring. Tenryo's hot water is slightly alkaline. It softens and conditions the skin, making it smooth and smooth. Soaking in Tenryo no Yu water will leave your skin moist and smooth, and relieve daily fatigue. It is also effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, and motor paralysis.

The day spa hours are 11:00-14:00 (last admission 13:00) and 15:00-22:00 (last admission 21:00). Honjindaiyokuden is open Friday through Sunday at noon and all day in the evening. Tenryo no Yu is open Monday through Thursday during the daytime. Please note that the hours and days of operation vary depending on the bath.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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6. Hotel New Akao | Shizuoka

Facility Overview

This resort hotel towers over Nishikigaura, one of Atami's most scenic spots, and is about 10 minutes from JR Atami Station by free shuttle service.

Hotel New Akao consists of three major facilities: the Ocean Wing, the Horizon Wing, and the Sparium Nishiki. The Ocean Wing, with its dazzling pure white exterior walls, is a high-rise hotel with a lively Showa-era atmosphere.

The “Horizon Wing,” perched atop the cliffs of Nishikigaura, is a resort hotel with pale pink exterior walls decorated with opulent Roman architecture. The “Sparium Nishiki,” which looms over the sheer cliff, is a bathing facility with a variety of Onsens.

The building also has a game corner and shopping area. A variety of activities are also available in the surrounding area, allowing visitors to spend quality time in addition to the Onsens.

Onsen

On the day-trip, visitors can use the “Sparium Nishiki”, the large bath “Saikai”, and the open-air bath “Namine”.

Sparium Nishiki is located in the most scenic part of the property. Two open-air baths with different atmospheres are each accompanied by an indoor bath. Sparium NISHIKI has two open-air baths: an infinity-design open-air bath that seems to be one with the sea, and a terraced bath on a cliff with bathtubs arranged in tiers.

In the infinity-designed open-air baths, the surface of the water in the baths seems to become one with the ocean stretching out before you. The surface of the water in the infinity-design open-air bath seems to become one with the ocean stretching out before you, giving you the illusion of being in the ocean.

The cliff terrace baths have three bathtubs arranged on different levels so that the head of the person bathing in front of you does not block the view of the sea. Both of these baths have the ocean spread out before them, offering a spectacular view of the sea and a sense of oneness and freedom with the ocean.

Saikai is a large Japanese-style bathhouse. It has an indoor bath and an outdoor bath. The indoor bath is a hinoki bathtub made of hinoki cypress, which gives off a pleasant aroma. In the open-air bath, you can relax in a spacious bathtub.

Namine is located closest to the sea in the hotel. The distance from the edge of the waves is 5 meters. You can bathe in the open-air bath while listening to the sound of crashing waves.

The Onsen water is sodium calcium chloride hot spring. It is effective for cuts, peripheral circulatory disturbance, cold sores, depression, and dry skin.

The day spa is open from 13:00 to 18:00 (last admission at 17:00). Face towel and bath towel rental is free. Free soft drinks are included. Fees vary between weekdays and weekends/holidays.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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7. Noboribetsu Manseikaku | Hokkaido

Facility Overview

This is a large Onsen hotel located in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido. The hotel is located approximately 20 minutes by bus from JR Noboribetsu Station. Hokkaido is a land blessed with Onsens, and there are many Onsen resorts. Among them, Noboribetsu Onsen is one of the three major Onsen resorts in Hokkaido.

The three major Onsen resorts in Hokkaido are Noboribetsu Onsen, Jozankei Onsen, and Yunokawa Onsen. Noboribetsu Onsen is known as a rare Onsen resort in Japan, with nine different types of spring water gushing out of a single Onsen resort.

Within walking distance from the hotel are Noboribetsu Jigokudani, Noboribetsu Bear Farm, and Enma-do.
Jigokudani is the site of an explosion crater located northeast of Noboribetsu Onsen, where Onsen water gushes out at a rate of 3,000 liters per minute. Jigokudani is the source of Noboribetsu Onsen, and hot water is supplied to inns and hotels in the Onsen resort.Onsen

Manseikaku offers a wide variety of one-day spa plans. Not only Onsens but also a café is available, and plans are available for morning and lunch time. The “Tsuki no Yu” and “Hoshi no Yu” large public baths are available as one-day spa facilities. Tsuki no Yu” is for men and ‘Hoshi no Yu’ is for women.

The hot water is a natural Onsen that is free-flowing from a 90-degree source drawn from the Jigokudani and watered down to 45 degrees by adding spring water. The water is a milky white color, and natural hot water spores float in the bathtub.

The quality of the Onsen water is acidic-sulfur containing-iron-simple hot spring (hydrogen sulfide type). It is effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, chronic women's diseases, sensitivity to cold, and cuts.

One-day bathing hours are 7:00-9:30 (last admission at 9:00) and 13:30-20:00 (last admission at 18:00). Towel set rental is available for a fee. Please note that some plans require full reservations.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the official website for details.

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