Top 7 onsen in Japan with a view

In Shirahama, in the prefecture of Wakayama Prefecture saki no Yu offers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Its springs are renowned for their therapeutic virtues: hypertonic water, ideal for muscle relaxation, and alkaline water, beneficial for the skin. A must for those who enjoy the sound of the waves and sunsets.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Address:〒１６６８ Wakayama, Nishimuro District, Shirahama, JP 649-2211

Opening hours: Daily, 8am to 5pm

Tattoos: Prohibited

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At the foot of Mount Yufu, in the prefecture of Oita Prefecture the spa town of Yufuin offers breathtaking views of the volcano, often shrouded in mist. Lake Kinrin, below, adds a poetic touch to the setting, ideal for enjoying the village's rotenburo. Note that some establishments also offer private baths for those uncomfortable with public nudity.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Address: Yufuin Station, 8-2 Yufuincho Kawakita, Yufu, Oita 879-5114

Opening hours: According to establishment

Tattoos: Prohibited depending on the establishment

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This is the editors' confidential address. More intimate, but just as charming as the other rotenburo in this top list, Honke Bankyu is a ryokan in the remote Nishikawa Onsen valley, in Tochigi Prefecture. Founded in 1666, it's one of Japan's oldest spa establishments! We love its vintage architecture and baths overlooking the river. A magical place in winter, when snow covers the landscape.

Address: 749 Yunishigawa, Nikko, Tochigi 321-2601

Opening hours: Check-in from 3 p.m

Tattoos: Prohibited in public baths, accepted in private baths

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This onsen is a well-kept secret. Perched 700 m above sea level in Yamanashi Prefecture, Hottarakashi Onsen offers two baths with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and the Kofu Valley. Originally intended as a retirement home, the site has retained its untouched, freely accessible thermal spring. No service here, just the essentials: an onsen at your own pace, for an hour or a day.

Address: 1669-18 Yatsubo, Yamanashi, 405-0036

Opening hours: Daily, 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m

Tattoos: Allowed

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At the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Prefecture, Tamatebako Onsen benefits from geothermal heat. It has two rotenburo: one with a panoramic view of the sea and Mount Kaimon, the other with a view of Takeyama Rock. On a clear day, you can even see the island of Yakushima in the distance.

Address: 3340-2 Yamagawafukumoto, Ibusuki, Kagoshima 891-0511

Opening hours: Daily, 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., closed Thursdays

Tattoos: Prohibited in public baths, allowed in private baths

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In Gunma prefecture, the Takaragawa Onsen Ryokan is famous throughout the country for its four giganticrotenburo, located on the banks of a mountain river. Three of these are open to both men and women (with the option of keeping a towel on hand), while one is for women only. We recommend visiting in autumn, when the red maples are visible from the baths.

Address: 1899 Fujiwara, Minakami, Tone District, Gunma 379-1721

Times: Check-in from 2 p.m

Tattoos: Prohibited

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Every winter, the local Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan collective transforms the frozen Lake Shikaribetsu in Daisetsuzan National Park into a veritable ice village. Among its most emblematic attractions is its ephemeral onsen, built entirely of snow and ice. This unique bath is installed directly on the frozen surface of the lake, in walls sculpted from snow. Please note that the bath is closed if it's too cold.

Address: Shikaribetsu Nature Center, Shikaribetsu, Shikaoi, Kato District, Hokkaidō 081-0344

Dates: Every year, January to March, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m

Tattoos: Allowed

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