Onsen & Hot Springs in Japan: The 15 Best Days

From Osaka: Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko Day Tour - Himeji Castle: two hours with Japan’s White Heron

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 339 reviews · 10 hours · from $53Our pick

Spend 10 hours exploring Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden, strolling Arima Onsen, and viewing the Akashi Strait from Mt. Rokko. English and Chinese-speaking guides such as Gary, Harry, Nick, and Gerry lead the day, with self-guided time at each stop. The optional Japanese lunch includes anago rice, udon, steak, tempura, and fruit.

“Liu/Nick was very professional. He was informative and helpful to the guests. We learned a lot from him. He goes above and beyond to answer any questions you have and was the best tour guide we’ve had in Japan. Also, this tour allows sufficient free time and plenty of delicious food. We strongly recommend booking tours with Liu/Nick as your guide.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Nara, Nara Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

2.Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 302 reviews · 10 hours · from $57

Travel from Osaka to Nara and Uji with an English, Japanese, or Traditional Chinese-speaking guide. Feed deer at Nara Park, see Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, sample Uji matcha, visit Byodo-in or the Tale of Genji Museum, then bathe at Genji no Yu. The trip costs $57, but entrance fees and meals are extra.

“Thank you so much for trip. Very good tour guy Liao. He explained very clear and easy to communicated.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Mount Fuji Tours, Onsen & Hot Springs in Mount Fuji, Private, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Tokyo: Private Tour to Fuji/Hakone – Onsen, Art, Nature

3.Private Tour to Fuji/Hakone – Onsen, Art, Nature

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 10 hours · from $322Top rated

Spend 10 hours traveling from Tokyo into Hakone and the Fuji area in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. Your guide can shape the day around views, shrines, art, or a tattoo-friendly onsen. Guides including Elie, Lenny, Luca, Evan, and Daru are praised for thoughtful storytelling and flexible pacing. Hotel pickup is available within Tokyo’s 23 wards.

“Lenny was an awesome guide. The car was beautiful and comfortable. We saw several views of Mt Fuji and had a break at an authentic tea house.. Love how this private tour can be customized to individual timing and interests. The Shinto Shrine was amazing and Lenny was very knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the Onsen and the recommended Shabu Shabu meal. Great day out of Tokyo!”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Mount Fuji Tours, Onsen & Hot Springs in Mount Fuji, Private, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours

Mt. Fuji, Hakone Private Tour from Tokyo – Onsen, Arts and Nature

4.Mt. Fuji, Hakone Private Tour from Tokyo – Onsen, Arts and Nature

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews

Travel from Tokyo to Hakone in a private vehicle with a guide such as Elie, Lucas, Lenny, Evan, or Dominik. The day combines Mt. Fuji viewpoints, Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Amazake Chaya, a Japanese onsen, and either the Hakone Open-Air Museum or Pola Museum. The route can be adjusted for weather, meals, museums, and mobility needs.

“This was an amazing experience! Elie is so professional and knowledgeable. Very engaging! The onsen is definitely and immersive experience that will take you out of your comfort zone and in to a world of relaxation. I highly recommend this tour with Elie. You will not regret it. 5 stars isn't enough.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Mount Fuji, Mount Fuji Tours, Onsen & Hot Springs in Mount Fuji, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Tokyo: Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

5.Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 75 reviews · 1 day · from $50

Travel from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, or Shinkurayama Asama Park outside the climbing season. Visit Oshino Hakkai’s clear ponds, then spend two hours at Konohananoyu Onsen, with Gotemba Premium Outlets as a weekday alternative. English and Chinese service is available, though guide quality can vary.

“Our guide, guixe lin tian Anna was very helpful and informative of the places we have visited during this tour. She gave us tips on how to maximize our visits per stops and the best souvenirs to get.🎉❤️🤣”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Kyushu Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Temples & Shrines, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Fukuoka: Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, and Shrine Tour

6.Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, and Shrine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 72 reviews · 10 hours · from $50

Travel from Fukuoka to Mount Aso, Kusasenri, Aso Shrine, and Kurokawa Onsen in a shared, multilingual group. You’ll have a close view of Nakadake Crater when conditions allow, one hour at Kusasenri, and 90 minutes in Kurokawa for bathing or strolling. Guides such as Seki and Sun have helped explain the day in several languages.

“Very friendly guide who translated Japanese to English as I was the only European in the group. very much appreciated. I had a great day! Many thanks!”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Nagano, Drinking Tours, Drinking Tours in Nagano, Food & Drink, Nagano Tours, Private, Sake Tasting, Snow Monkey Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Temple & Shrine Tours in Nagano, Temples & Shrines, Tour Reviews, Tours, Winter Activities

Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

7.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Spend about eight hours with a private English-speaking guide visiting Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and the Hokusai Museum. Guides such as Hori, Mutsumi, and Emi have helped shape flexible days around food, sake, family needs, and walking pace. Choose an onsen stop when available, with admissions and lunch extra.

“Being a nature lover, the snow monkeys of Nagano were among the last unique experience left in my bucket list. Although September is clearly not the ideal time for it, my brothers and I enjoyed the walk in the forest before reaching the park and there were enough monkeys frolicking in the pond to make it a worthwhile experience. After that we were treated to an excellent tonkatsu, chestnut ice-cream and sake degustation which made for a very nice day. Our guide Hitomi was very accommodating, and gave us good advice on how to optimize our tour content. She was also very friendly and used a translating software a lot…”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Ramen & Noodle Tours, Ramen Tours in Tokyo, Spa & Hot Springs, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring

8.Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 8 hours · from $120

Join English-speaking guide Jordan for an eight-hour small-group trip from Takaosanguchi Station to Mt. Takao. Ride the cable car or chair lift, visit the monkey park, walk through shrine and forest trails, eat Hachioji ramen or soba, then relax at a tattoo-friendly hot spring. The tour ends near Hachiōji Station.

“My guide Jordan was very knowledgable and fun to hang around with. we had great time together. the hot spring after the climb was absolutely perfect.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Mount Fuji Tours, Onsen & Hot Springs in Mount Fuji, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours

[Seasonal Limited] Mt. Fuji 5th Station &Hot Spring Day Tour

9.[Seasonal Limited] Mt. Fuji 5th Station &Hot Spring Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $50

Travel from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, Oshino Hakkai, and Konohananoyu Onsen on a full-day guided bus trip. You get mountain views, clear spring ponds, old-style Japanese buildings, and two hours for a hot spring visit. The 5th Station operates from May 10 to November 30, with Asama Park as the backup.

“The Mount Fuji tour was absolutely amazing! The weather was perfect, and we got such a clear view of the mountain—it was even more beautiful than I imagined. Our guide, Ken, made the trip extra special with his great explanations and friendly attitude. We also stopped at several scenic spots where he helped us take incredible photos. Everything was well-organized and smooth from start to finish. Truly an unforgettable experience!”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Onsen & Hot Springs in Osaka, Osaka Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

10.Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 51 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Spend a full day at Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower, a ryokan-style hot spring complex with nine baths, saunas, scrubbers, and the 3,000-square-meter Tenku Garden. Soak in slightly alkaline water from 1,000 meters underground, then enjoy footbaths, seasonal flowers, waterfalls, and a thousand torii gates in central Osaka.

“Love this family friendly onsen. Couldn’t work out how to get the lunch that we bought with our ticket and ended up having to purchase it again but overall we still would recommend the experience.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Hiking & Trekking, Kyoto Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Kyoto: Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama

11.Hike and Hot Springs in Kurama

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $80

Travel by train from Kyoto to northern Kyoto’s cedar forests, then climb Mount Kurama with an English or French-speaking guide. Visit Kibune Shrine, Kurama Temple, sacred forest sites and a mountaintop power spot before ending in Kurama village. Lunch, the train back and the optional hot spring bath are separate costs.

“This tour was incredible! Nature was on our side with some light snow on a sunny day. We even saw two deer on our way up. Our guide Philippe was great and so knowledgeable. We learned so much, and Philippe took us to some lesser known spots on the mountain, which made for an unforgettable tour. Would highly recommend!”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Kyushu Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours, Volcano Tours

Fukuoka: Mt. Aso Volcano & Kurokawa Onsen Scenic Day Tour

12.Mt. Aso Volcano & Kurokawa Onsen Scenic Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 37 reviews · 10 hours · from $90

Leave Fukuoka for a 10-hour journey into Kyushu’s volcanic heart. You’ll visit Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, see Aso and Kusasenri, then have about 100 minutes in Kurokawa Onsen. English and Chinese guides, including Daisy on some departures, lead the way. The $90 price covers transport and guide service, but meals, admissions, and bath fees cost extra.

“The scenery and activities were great and we had a fabulous day. Unfortunately, the tour could be better organised. Having to bring cash for all the activities was annoying and seemed unnecessary. It would be more practical to just include these in the price and make it easier for everyone. Both tour guide and guests spent an hour messing with cash.. Meeting point is always the bus, which is sometimes parked far from the activity and difficult to find. The tour guide needs to run the tour by choosing an easy meeting point and getting the tour to the bus from there. A map was given in Japanese which isn’t…”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Kyushu Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours, Traditional Crafts, Walking Tours

Become a local! A Walking Tour of Arts, Crafts & Onsen Culture

13.Become a local! A Walking Tour of Arts, Crafts & Onsen Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $59

Walk central Beppu with a local guide such as Masahiro Ide, known as Masa, or Lou. Visit Beppu Station Market, a bamboo workshop founded in 1908, artist studios, and Space Beppu, a century-old house with a gallery and photo room. This is a small-group cultural walk, not an onsen or Hells tour.

“Had an amazing time learning about Beppu and seeing many different things. The guide was really informative, kind and funny. His English was also perfect. We really enjoyed it. Thank you!”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Hakone Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Tours

Traverse Outer Rim of Hakone Caldera and Enjoy Onsen Hiking Tour

14.Traverse Outer Rim of Hakone Caldera and Enjoy Onsen Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $158

You’ll hike 8 to 9 km along Hakone’s outer caldera rim with a nationally certified guide, climbing 500 meters before a scenic ridge walk. Expect bamboo, birds, seasonal color, and possible Mount Fuji views. After descending to Sengokuhara, enjoy a Japanese lunch and a relaxing onsen. The hike requires strong fitness.

“This was a great day's hike. Good views and a very interesting and patient guide. I think it's best for active families or individuals and there is uneven terrain but it was delightful day. We are glad we did the hike even though it was foggy and we couldn't see Fuji.”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →

Hokkaido Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Winter Activities, Winter Tours in Hokkaido

Snowshoeing and Onsen Adventures in a Winter Wonderland -Sapporo.

15.Snowshoeing and Onsen Adventures in a Winter Wonderland -Sapporo.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $224

Leave Sapporo with guide Chris for a small-group snowshoe trek through quiet Hokkaido forest. Meet at Makomanai Station at 7:30am, ride privately to the trailhead, use provided snowshoes and poles, stop for lunch, then soak at Koganeyu Onsen. The route is rated 4/10, but deep snow and hills still require steady walking.

“Great communication pre-tour to make sure we were kitted out correctly. All equipment provided. Trek customised for us based on our level of fitness and the prevailing weather conditions. This is not a 'one size fits all' kind of tour - you can Read more”

Dates, prices, availability →Our full review →