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Kyushu, known for its abundant geothermal activity, is home to some of the most celebrated onsen towns in the country. From the captivatingly enchanting waters of Beppu and the tranquil, sophisticated Yufuin to the historic Unzen with its rejuvenating baths, each stop offers an unforgettable hot spring experience. Embark on a journey through wellness, tradition, and nature.
Beppu Umi Jigoku (Photo Credit: komc)
Beppu, popularized as the "onsen capital of Japan, is located in northern Oita. Resulting from volcanic activity on nearby peaks, Beppu has over 2,000 onsen sources, making it one of the largest hot spring resorts in the country.
Beppu is divided into eight hot spring areas, known as the "Beppu Hatto," each offering varying water qualities and therapeutic properties. These include mud baths of Kannawa and the seaside springs of Shoningahama. One of the resort's most iconic attractions is the Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour) — a series of hot springs too hot for bathing but mesmerizing to watch. There is the Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), drawing you in with its brilliant cobalt-blue water, and the Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell), featuring a striking red water colored by iron oxide.
After experiencing the Hell Tour, you can visit one of the numerous public bathhouses to partake in authentic onsen culture at reasonable prices. You should also consider a therapeutic sand bath on Beppu's beach.
Yufuin Onsen Yumesoen (Photo Credit: komc)
Yufuin, occupying the foot of Mount Yufu, offers a more peaceful onsen experience than Beppu. This picturesque town is one of the most sophisticated hot spring destinations in Kyushu, with its streets lined with upscale ryokan, art museums, galleries, and boutique shops. Yufuin attracts visitors seeking natural allure and tranquility. Visitors believe the town's water to be gentle on the skin and effective for stress relief. Many accommodations feature private outdoor baths that let you take in breathtaking mountain views. You might be here for the hot springs, but you should visit the enchanting Lake Kinrinko, which creates mystical morning mists in cooler months.
Kurokawa Onsen (Photo Credit: komc)
Kurokawa, known for maintaining its traditional architecture, is one of the most beautiful onsen towns in Japan. It features about 30 ryokans scattered along a tree-covered gorge beside a mountain stream with buildings that blend naturally into the surroundings. The water here is rich in sulfur and other minerals, famed for beautifying the skin and relieving muscle fatigue.
Kurokawa has a unique system called "tegata" that allows visitors to purchase a wooden pass that grants access to three different outdoor baths rotenburo) at participating ryokan. This makes it easier for you to bath hop and savor diverse experiences. The town also features two unguarded public bathhouses with small indoor baths. Kurokawa looks especially stunning at night, with traditional lanterns illuminating the pathways and steam rising from riverside baths.
Ibusuki Natural Hot Sand Bath (Photo Credit: komc)
Ibusuki, renowned for its naturally heated sand baths, is a peculiar onsen destination. For the sand bath, you change into a cotton yukata and lie on the beach while attendants cover you with warm volcanic sand, warming your body from head to toe. This unique bath helps unclog pores, stimulate circulation, and improve oxygen flow.
More conventionally, Ibusuki also has hot springs and resort ryokan that overlook Kinko Bay and Sakurajima Volcano, offering a relaxing time accompanied by spectacular scenery.
Ureshino Onsen (Photo Credit: komc)
Ureshino is famous for its calming, alkaline water, rich in sodium bicarbonate and chloride, which is believed to remove dead skin cells and leave skin exceptionally soft and moisturized. This has earned recognition as one of Japan's three "bijin no yu" (beauty baths). The local ryokan also offers tea baths where you can soak in water infused with locally grown green tea, combining the antioxidant properties of tea with the hot spring's mineral benefits.
Beyond the unforgettable bath experience, Ureshino offers visitors the chance to tour tea plantations and participate in tea ceremonies. It also allows guests to sample local tea-infused dishes, including "yu-dofu”, tofu simmered in hot spring water that gives it a silky texture. The town's size and atmosphere make it perfect for a relaxed getaway focused on wellness and soaking in the region's natural allure.
Takeo Onsen Tower Gate (Photo Credit: komc)
The eye-catching, two-story red-and-white Romon Tower Gate is an iconic symbol of Takeo, built in 1914. Beyond the gate is the beautifully preserved Takeo Onsen Shinkansen, a historic bathhouse featuring Taisho-era architecture that once served as the town's main public bath. Today, it hosts pottery workshops and a curated collection of historical objects that traces the story of Takeo onsen through the centuries.
Takeo Onsen has welcomed visitors for over 1,300 years, making it one of the oldest hot spring resorts in Japan. Just like Ureshino's water, Takeo's hot spring water also has a high concentration of sodium bicarbonate, giving it a smooth, slightly slippery texture that leaves the skin feeling remarkably soft and earning it the title of another one of Japan's beauty baths. The town offers a mix of traditional and modern bathing facilities, from renovated bathhouses to contemporary spa complexes.
Ryotei Hanzuiryo, Unzen
The Unzen Onsen, designated Japan's first national park in 1943, is a resort encompassed by hot spring fields also referred to as hells (Jigoku). These "hells" are geothermal areas where clouds of steam rise from bubbling sulfur vents and mineral-rich pools. The walking paths allow visitors to safely observe this geothermal activity up close, the smell of sulfur serving as a constant reminder of the volcanic forces beneath.
Many ryokan offer rooms with private open-air baths where you can soak in while relishing gorgeous Mountain views. The area also holds deeper significance as a site where early Japanese Christians faced persecution, adding historical depth to your visit.
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