Japan is the nation for Onsen, hot spring. Japanese culture of bathing is going back to the Edo period and now there are about 3000 onsens in the country and that shows how onsen exists closely into Japanese people over times. In Japan, people go to onsen for their weekend trip or even vacation with friends and family. Soaking in a tub of hot water considers to release from the stress and refresh the body and mind. The following is the onsen districts you should check out.

Hakone

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Hakone is considered as one of the best onsen district in Japan. Easy access from Shinjuku via Odakyu line and even during your stay in Tokyo, you can even go there as a day trip by train. If you want to enjoy local foods, you should go to Hakone Yumoto, which is so-called “the entrance” of Hakone. There is famous onsen-gai, (literally means onsen town) where you can find many onsen hotels and local street foods. Additionally, you can view Mt. Fuji from the onsen area which will take your breath away.

Kusatsu

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Kusatsu is located in Gunma prefecture. They are known for the amount of hot spring water gushed out from the source. There, more than 32,000 liters of spring water are provided per minute. The town is build around Yubatake (hot water field) as a center. There are about 200 stores and hotels in the area so you should get there earlier and walk around the town by yukata.

Dogo Onsen

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Dogo Onsen is located in Ehime Prefecture of Shikoku. This place is one of the oldest onsen districts in Japan and the history is going back to the Nara period, the late seventh century. Dogo Onsen Honkan is the most famous and historical onsen and said to have inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. The current building was opened in 1984 and selected as one of the important cultural properties in Japan. This place, unfortunately doesn’t have hosteling function though you should stop by for bathing there when you are in the town.

Shibu Onsen

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Shibu onsen is located in Nagano. What they are famous is not only the quality of hot spring water but the bathing monkeys. You can observe wild monkeys bathing in the onsen only here in the world. Especially during the cold winter in Nagano, monkeys bath in the onsen located in Snow Monkey Mountain to get warmed up their body.

Shirosaki Onsen

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Shiorosaki Onsen, Hyogo is another oldest onsen district in Japan. They are also famous for “soto-yu meguri” onsen hopping. You can get onsen tickets and one day pass that you can enjoy onsen there. Some ryokan, hotel provides yukata with many patterns and colors. You should enjoy onsen hopping with your favorite yukata.