The 7 Hot Springs in Japan Worth the Detour

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

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

Travel from Osaka to Nara and Uji by air-conditioned coach with an English, Japanese, or Traditional Chinese guide. Feed deer, visit Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, explore Uji’s matcha shops, then bathe at Genji no Yu. Guides such as Etta, Lucia, and Nick Lee have earned especially warm praise for clear, lively help.

“Kris wang was our guide. Good locations, and he was very kind. If you want to visit Nara and these areas, I recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring

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

Join Jordan of Irie Tokyo Tours for an eight-hour small-group escape from Tokyo to Mt. Takao. Ride the cable car or chair lift, visit monkeys and Yakuou-in, see Mt. Fuji on clear days, eat Hachioji ramen or soba, then relax at a tattoo-friendly hot spring.

“This tour was brilliant! If you want to experience authentic Japanese life and learn about the culture, nature and history while taking in beautiful views away from the hoards of tourists then this tour is for you. The tour guide, Jordan, is super knowledgable and attentive to the groups needs. We had our 4yo with us and I've had several surgeries in the past couple years so we needed to take the walk slow at times. Jordan was brilliant at noticing what we needed and being flexible while keeping the tour super engaging. He's also great with kids! We got to see a wonderful view of Mt Fuji. The ramen…”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.[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 or Asama Park, photograph Oshino Hakkai’s clear ponds, then soak at Konohananoyu Onsen. Guides such as Anna, Ken, Coco, and Jacob have been praised for friendly help, though weekend traffic and changing meeting points require care.

“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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Full Day Hiking Tour at Mt.Takao including Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $118

Meet your private guide at Takaosanguchi Station for a flexible Mt. Takao hike through forest trails and Yakuo-in Temple. Choose an easier or harder route, learn about mountain worship and wildlife, ride down by lift or cable car, and finish with an onsen soak. Guides may include Hiroko, Rie, Keita, or Takeshi.

“Taking the cable car Hearing stories about the special relationship between the Japanese and the mountain from my wonderful guide Takeshi hiking all the way down Mount Takao sharing a local lunch with my guide”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

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

Spend a full day at Solaniwa Onsen in Osaka Bay Tower, where slightly alkaline spring water rises from 1,000 meters underground. You can use nine baths, saunas, scrubbers, a footbath, and the 3,000-square-meter Tenku Garden. This is a self-guided visit, not a guided tour.

“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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Kowakien Yunessun Hot Springs Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $8Best value

Spend a full day at Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, where swimsuit-friendly pools meet themed baths scented with wine, coffee, green tea, and sake. Choose the water-park zone, the traditional Mori no Yu hot spring area, or a pass covering both. Bring swimwear, a towel, and your QR code.

“++Liked Hot spring outdoor, variety, hours, facilities- locker rooms, showers, etc. - -I thought it’s a variety of hot springs, but it was just 1 (one) hot spring outdoor in a waterpark, hence lots of children, whereas I expected peace & relaxation thruout.. The indoor multi-theme hot pools all smelled alike (chlorine); did not really smell like wine, beer, sake, coffee, etc. only slight aroma. But good value for the price.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Mt Fuji Lake Kawaguchi & Yamanaka Hot Spring Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 10 hours · from $68

Spend 10 hours touring Mt. Fuji’s best photo stops, from Oishi Park and Kawaguchiko Station to Oshino Hakkai and Lake Yamanaka. Your bilingual driver-guide handles the roads while you explore mostly on your own. Hotel pickup is available, and the Benifuji no Yu hot spring gives the day a calm finish.

“Lake Yamanaka’s clarity and altitude made for insane compositions. Highly recommend for photographers.”

Check availability →Read our full review