Where to Bathe in Japan: the 15 Best Onsen and Spa Days

1.Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko Day Tour

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

Travel from Osaka to Himeji Castle, Koko-en Garden, Arima Onsen, and Mt. Rokko in about 10 hours. You get air-conditioned transport, free time at each stop, and an English or Chinese-speaking guide such as Gary, Harry, or Nick. Choose the Japanese lunch set, and bring extra money if you want to enter an Arima bath.

“The tour guide was very nice , fluent in English , Japanese and Chinese . Very helpful during my trip . I had great fun capturing good moments in Japan. Recommend!”

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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 by air-conditioned coach with a multilingual guide. Feed deer at Nara Park, see Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, browse Uji’s matcha shops, visit Byodo-in or the Tale of Genji Museum, then relax at Genji no Yu hot spring. Guides such as Etta, Lucia, and Ethan are praised for clear, lively help.

“Nara park was an amazing experience, Uji was great. Unfortunately the rain did not allow us to enjoy it fully. Karin our guide was great, she kept us on time and provided us with good recommendations to eat. Overall it was an excellent experience and I would recommend to everyone, and Karin was great.”

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

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

Escape Tokyo for a private 10-hour trip through Hakone and the Fuji area. Your guide may include Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Tenzan Onsen, tea stops, mountain viewpoints, and the Open-Air Museum or Pola Museum. Hotel pickup is available within Tokyo’s 23 wards. Guides speak English, French, or Japanese, and the route can be adjusted to your interests.

“It was really great day with Lenny, comfortable car, interesting locations and friendly atmosphere. We were enjoying every moment. Thank you Lenny!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews

Spend 9 to 10 hours with a private English, French, or Japanese-speaking guide such as Elie, Lucas, Lenny, Evan, or Dominik. From Tokyo, you’ll follow scenic Hakone roads to Fuji viewpoints, Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, a 400-year-old tea house, an onsen, and either the Open-Air Museum or Pola Museum. Lunch and admissions cost extra.

“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.”

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5.Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

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

Travel from Tokyo to Mount Fuji’s 5th Station, or Shinkurayama Asama Park outside the seasonal opening period. Walk among Oshino Hakkai’s clear ponds, then choose a two-hour onsen visit on eligible weekdays or shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets. English and Chinese tour support is available, with guides such as Lin Tian Anna on some departures.

“Standing at Fuji's 5th Station and seeing the mountain up close was so worth the cold winter wind — the views of Mt. Fuji from there were breathtaking. The hot spring afterwards warmed me right up, and the matcha served with the onsen was the perfect finish.”

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

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

Travel from Fukuoka to Mount Aso’s volcanic crater, Kusasenri grassland, historic Aso Shrine, and Kurokawa Onsen. A multilingual guide leads this shared tour, with English support from guides such as Seki and Sun when needed. Horse riding, the Volcano Museum, lunch, and onsen entry cost extra.

“Given sufficient time at each spot, tour guides were professional, provided informative tips & info.”

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

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

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with a private English-speaking guide such as Hori, Mutsumi, or Emi. Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and possibly the Hokusai Museum, with hotel pickup available for selected central Nagano hotels. Transport, stops, and pace depend on your chosen vehicle option.

“Tour guide was informational and thorough. He took us to a cherry farm and tasted some cherries fresh from the orchard. The Snow Monkey Park was something to experience. Tour guide was able to chase an overly aggressive monkey away. He took us to a Soba restaurant and it was delicious. We felt safe with his driving.”

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

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

Spend eight hours exploring Mt. Takao with guide Jordan from Irie Tokyo Tours. Ride a cable car or chair lift, visit the monkey park, walk to the summit for possible Mt. Fuji views, eat Hachioji ramen or soba, explore Yakuo-in, and relax at a tattoo-friendly natural hot spring. The group is limited to seven people.

“Jordan was an amazing guide! So much fun and I would easily do it again🙌🏻”

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9.Snow Monkey & Shibu Onsen Afternoon Tour (Depart: Iiyama & Nozwa)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $78

Join guides such as Tommy, Tome, or Rossella for a 4.5-hour afternoon outing to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Shibu Onsen. Pre-secured park tickets save time, while the cedar-forest walk, sake brewery, old bathhouse town, and seasonal countryside stop add local flavor. Expect about 4 km of walking, with snow, mud, stairs, and changing weather possible.

“Tommy provided a wonderfully informative tour along a forest path lined with Japanese cedars to the snow Monkey park. He took us on a stroll through the Ossen village where he delighted us with stories and facts. Along the drive he described the abundant regional fruit, vegetation and wildlife. Wonderful tour.”

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10.[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, the postcard pagoda at Shinkurayama Asama Park, and Oshino Hakkai’s clear spring ponds. Finish with two hours at Konohananoyu Onsen, or choose Gotemba Premium Outlets on some weekdays. Guides such as Anna, Ken, and Coco have helped make the day easy and friendly, but traffic and weather shape the experience.

“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!”

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11.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 guided Mt. Takao hike through temple grounds, forest trails, and mountain viewpoints. Choose an easier or harder route, learn about local Buddhist and Shinto traditions, then use the included return cable car or lift ticket before soaking at Takaosan Onsen. Fuji may appear on clear days.

“Good service Assistance was efficient one cancellation of tour not expected , but replaced by very efficient guide his name is Bek, he was wonderful”

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12.Solaniwa Onsen Hot Spring Visit

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

Spend a full day at Solaniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER, where slightly alkaline water rises from 1,000 meters underground. You can use nine baths, saunas, scrubbers, a footbath, and the 3,000-square-meter Tenku Garden. It is a family-friendly Osaka retreat with tattoo restrictions and a 150-yen bathing tax paid on-site.

“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.”

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13.Mt. Fuji 5th, Oshino Hakkai, Onsen Full-Day Trip From Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · from $56

Ride from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, Oshino Hakkai, and either Konohananoyu hot spring or Gotemba Premium Outlets. Guides such as Anna, Andrew, Kristy, and David lead multilingual groups of up to 45 people. Winter departures replace the 5th Station with Arakurayama Sengen Park.

“The guide helped me decide between the onsen and the outlet mall. I enjoyed walking for about 2 hours through the mall. I basically only went into watch shops. I hope to return and ride the horses.”

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14.1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $150

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with a local English-speaking guide to see wild macaques bathing at Jigokudani, enjoy lunch at Japanese Dining GOEN, visit Zenko-ji Temple, and taste Nagano sake. Guides such as Jens and Yama have led especially well-paced outings. Expect snow, ice, and a 1.6-kilometer forest walk.

“Best day! Exceeded our expectations! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly. We really loved how smoothly the tour went, pick up & drop off was great & on time, the Snow monkeys were amazing a real site to see, the lRead more”

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15.Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko: 1-Day Bus Tour from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · from $67

Spend 9 to 10 hours traveling from Osaka to Himeji Castle, Koko-en Garden, Arima Onsen, and Mt. Rokko. The tour includes transport, a guide, and selected admission fees, with an optional Senhime Gozen lunch. Guides such as Harry and Gary have earned praise for clear history and practical help, though English fluency can vary.

“This trip was very good. We had good amount of time to see everything. The only negative is the fluency of English of the guide.”

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