Best Onsens
Jan 29, 2019, 10:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: UA JAL
Posts: 26
I been to Nagano, Hakone, and Hokkaido for onsen and each of them have their charms. What I'm about to say is purely personal opinion:
1. Nagano itself doesn't have much to see, I strictly went there to enjoy the ryokan experience and look at some snow monkeys. It's relatively easy to get there from NRT by bullet train and I rented a car from Nagano to reach the mountain area where the onsen are.
2. Hakone has a good amount of stuff to see but the cable cars can be packed! From Hakone, you can drive to Mt Fuji using car rental in Hakone. I should of get at least 1 or 2 nights in the Mt Fuji area so I can explore the area a bit more.
3. Hokkaido, specifically, Toya and Noboribetsu, are nice but would be better if you have access to a car. Last time I only used rail and couldn't check out the surrounding area because I have no idea about how to use the bus.
My sister went to Fukuoka and seem to like it but it's one of those $500 USD per person per night ryokan. I'm basically going through the list on Japan Guide and see which one peaks my interest.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2292.html
1. Nagano itself doesn't have much to see, I strictly went there to enjoy the ryokan experience and look at some snow monkeys. It's relatively easy to get there from NRT by bullet train and I rented a car from Nagano to reach the mountain area where the onsen are.
2. Hakone has a good amount of stuff to see but the cable cars can be packed! From Hakone, you can drive to Mt Fuji using car rental in Hakone. I should of get at least 1 or 2 nights in the Mt Fuji area so I can explore the area a bit more.
3. Hokkaido, specifically, Toya and Noboribetsu, are nice but would be better if you have access to a car. Last time I only used rail and couldn't check out the surrounding area because I have no idea about how to use the bus.
My sister went to Fukuoka and seem to like it but it's one of those $500 USD per person per night ryokan. I'm basically going through the list on Japan Guide and see which one peaks my interest.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2292.html
Jan 30, 2019, 1:37 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,390
Some interesting suggestions here:
Any other onsen towns like Kurokawa Onsen?
Personally I like Tokyo itself for onsen.
Tokyo Onsen
Many are completely unique and I do my very best to experience them as much as I can. They provide a tangible link to the city’s past (hard to imagine a more authentic connection with the Edo period) and yet they are fast disappearing from modern society. Whilst still seemingly plentiful, they are disappearing at a dizzying rate (some of my very favourites from my first visits to Tokyo are already long gone), only a fraction are left, and out of those that have survived some of those are changing into something rather different (super sento).
Any other onsen towns like Kurokawa Onsen?
Personally I like Tokyo itself for onsen.
Tokyo Onsen
Many are completely unique and I do my very best to experience them as much as I can. They provide a tangible link to the city’s past (hard to imagine a more authentic connection with the Edo period) and yet they are fast disappearing from modern society. Whilst still seemingly plentiful, they are disappearing at a dizzying rate (some of my very favourites from my first visits to Tokyo are already long gone), only a fraction are left, and out of those that have survived some of those are changing into something rather different (super sento).
Jan 30, 2019, 11:46 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
You might consider one in Nagano, Gunma, or Fukushima if you'd like to do an overnight. Compare it to the cherry blossom map and pick an area a little colder or warmer than Tokyo and Osaka to hedge your blossom bets.
My general feeling about Hakone https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30287104-post3.html
Beppu... Beppu itself is like older Reno while Kurokawa is upscale carefully curated Colorado high end ski resort. They're not that far apart and Yufuin is also between them which is a cuter town with some shopping and sightseeing. I finally visited Beppu (an onsen mecca) and stayed in JR Kyushu Blossom Oita on top of the train station which was a great choice for me as I had a few other small onsen ryokan stays planned in the Aso region.
My general feeling about Hakone https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30287104-post3.html
Beppu... Beppu itself is like older Reno while Kurokawa is upscale carefully curated Colorado high end ski resort. They're not that far apart and Yufuin is also between them which is a cuter town with some shopping and sightseeing. I finally visited Beppu (an onsen mecca) and stayed in JR Kyushu Blossom Oita on top of the train station which was a great choice for me as I had a few other small onsen ryokan stays planned in the Aso region.
Jan 30, 2019, 3:10 pm
#6
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Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
You might consider one in Nagano, Gunma, or Fukushima if you'd like to do an overnight. Compare it to the cherry blossom map and pick an area a little colder or warmer than Tokyo and Osaka to hedge your blossom bets.
My general feeling about Hakone https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30287104-post3.html
Beppu... Beppu itself is like older Reno while Kurokawa is upscale carefully curated Colorado high end ski resort. They're not that far apart and Yufuin is also between them which is a cuter town with some shopping and sightseeing. I finally visited Beppu (an onsen mecca) and stayed in JR Kyushu Blossom Oita on top of the train station which was a great choice for me as I had a few other small onsen ryokan stays planned in the Aso region.
My general feeling about Hakone https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30287104-post3.html
Beppu... Beppu itself is like older Reno while Kurokawa is upscale carefully curated Colorado high end ski resort. They're not that far apart and Yufuin is also between them which is a cuter town with some shopping and sightseeing. I finally visited Beppu (an onsen mecca) and stayed in JR Kyushu Blossom Oita on top of the train station which was a great choice for me as I had a few other small onsen ryokan stays planned in the Aso region.
Jan 30, 2019, 5:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
Kurokawa's popularity has been increasing so prices have shot up especially in the luxury segment and English speakers. There are a few onsen towns near Kurokawa which are less expensive and still mostly domestic travelers. There's a good kurokawa onsen hopping blog by a English teacher who teaches ryokan staff https://kurokawa-onsen.com/category/onsen-hops/ Onsen hopping with an onsen pass is one of the selling points in Kurokawa. I stayed at two high end ryokans around Kurokawa last fall, one a repeat, as part of a special occasion trip. Kurokawa is a few hours from Oita or Kumamoto by car or bus so while you could make it for a 2 night stay from ITM/KIX or HND, you might lose a few hours of onsen time to transit.
The Kurokawa thread also mentions a few other towns (a map feature would be helpful) I'd probably head for Hirayu or Fukushima if the weather lines up rather than Northern Kyushu for 2 days. I'd allocate more than 2 nights for Kyushu or Hokkaido onsens since there is a lot of quality water.
You might also find this thread useful Hot springs along the new Hokuriku Shinkansen route to Kanazawa?
The Kurokawa thread also mentions a few other towns (a map feature would be helpful) I'd probably head for Hirayu or Fukushima if the weather lines up rather than Northern Kyushu for 2 days. I'd allocate more than 2 nights for Kyushu or Hokkaido onsens since there is a lot of quality water.
You might also find this thread useful Hot springs along the new Hokuriku Shinkansen route to Kanazawa?
Jan 30, 2019, 5:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
Many ryokan onsen will pick you up from a nearby train station with advance reservation First trip to Japan - suggestion for hot spring vacation ?
A few of the onsen ryokans in Kusatsu run complimentary or inexpensive buses to Karuizawa ~ 1.1 hr by shinkansen from Tokyo station. Ryokan shuttles are usually timed for afternoon arrival at the ryokan and morning departure. There's also public buses from Karuizawa or Tokyo if you'd like to extend your time there. You can send your luggage between the cities via takkyubin while you visit an onsen en-route.
A few of the onsen ryokans in Kusatsu run complimentary or inexpensive buses to Karuizawa ~ 1.1 hr by shinkansen from Tokyo station. Ryokan shuttles are usually timed for afternoon arrival at the ryokan and morning departure. There's also public buses from Karuizawa or Tokyo if you'd like to extend your time there. You can send your luggage between the cities via takkyubin while you visit an onsen en-route.
Jan 30, 2019, 6:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,374
You will get different advice from different people regarding which onsen areas are the best.
Also depends on what type of accommodation you're looking for (ex: Yugawara Onsen is good but lacks the variety of quality lodging that Kawaguchiko has), whether you're only interested in your hotel onsen or if you're looking for that quintessential onsen town feel (Kusatsu, Kinosaki, etc, would be good), your budget, accessibility, how much you value views, whether you want to stay on or get away from beaten path, whether you want modern or old-school, etc, etc.
However, most onsen aficionados will agree on the following as far as standards for a preferred onsen destination:
- Onsen town/area has healthy onsen output volume.
- Onsen town/area has gensen (the source hot spring water) that's of a respectable natural temperature (this is arbitrary, but you'd want at least >40C).
- Hotel/ryokan itself has its own gensen (jikagensen) with healthy output volume.
But it's also true that you can't just look at stats. For example, Kinugawa Onsen looks good on paper, but I'm not impressed by the quality of their onsen. In Hakone, the quality of onsen water varies from property to property, even if you're comparing two places that both advertise as having jikagensen with kakenagashi (= "free flowing", but this can be misleading, so I no longer put much stock in it) onsen. Ultimately you have to (or I do at least) look at the stats to narrow down the choices, then read reviews before choosing a place.
My favorite places, all things considered:
Kusatsu, Hakone (Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengahara area), Northern Alps area (Oku-Hotaka, Hirayu, etc), Noboribetsu.
I haven't been to many places in Kyushu... not a fan of Beppu (freecia's description is just about right), but Yufuin is good. Have always wanted to visit Kirishima Onsen, but it is not easy to get to. Bunch of great places in Nagano. Manza, Shirahone, Yudanaka, the list goes on. Some good places in Yamanashi also.
Also depends on what type of accommodation you're looking for (ex: Yugawara Onsen is good but lacks the variety of quality lodging that Kawaguchiko has), whether you're only interested in your hotel onsen or if you're looking for that quintessential onsen town feel (Kusatsu, Kinosaki, etc, would be good), your budget, accessibility, how much you value views, whether you want to stay on or get away from beaten path, whether you want modern or old-school, etc, etc.
However, most onsen aficionados will agree on the following as far as standards for a preferred onsen destination:
- Onsen town/area has healthy onsen output volume.
- Onsen town/area has gensen (the source hot spring water) that's of a respectable natural temperature (this is arbitrary, but you'd want at least >40C).
- Hotel/ryokan itself has its own gensen (jikagensen) with healthy output volume.
But it's also true that you can't just look at stats. For example, Kinugawa Onsen looks good on paper, but I'm not impressed by the quality of their onsen. In Hakone, the quality of onsen water varies from property to property, even if you're comparing two places that both advertise as having jikagensen with kakenagashi (= "free flowing", but this can be misleading, so I no longer put much stock in it) onsen. Ultimately you have to (or I do at least) look at the stats to narrow down the choices, then read reviews before choosing a place.
My favorite places, all things considered:
Kusatsu, Hakone (Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengahara area), Northern Alps area (Oku-Hotaka, Hirayu, etc), Noboribetsu.
I haven't been to many places in Kyushu... not a fan of Beppu (freecia's description is just about right), but Yufuin is good. Have always wanted to visit Kirishima Onsen, but it is not easy to get to. Bunch of great places in Nagano. Manza, Shirahone, Yudanaka, the list goes on. Some good places in Yamanashi also.
Jan 30, 2019, 7:30 pm
#11
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
You will get different advice from different people regarding which onsen areas are the best.
Also depends on what type of accommodation you're looking for (ex: Yugawara Onsen is good but lacks the variety of quality lodging that Kawaguchiko has), whether you're only interested in your hotel onsen or if you're looking for that quintessential onsen town feel (Kusatsu, Kinosaki, etc, would be good), your budget, accessibility, how much you value views, whether you want to stay on or get away from beaten path, whether you want modern or old-school, etc, etc.
However, most onsen aficionados will agree on the following as far as standards for a preferred onsen destination:
- Onsen town/area has healthy onsen output volume.
- Onsen town/area has gensen (the source hot spring water) that's of a respectable natural temperature (this is arbitrary, but you'd want at least >40C).
- Hotel/ryokan itself has its own gensen (jikagensen) with healthy output volume.
But it's also true that you can't just look at stats. For example, Kinugawa Onsen looks good on paper, but I'm not impressed by the quality of their onsen. In Hakone, the quality of onsen water varies from property to property, even if you're comparing two places that both advertise as having jikagensen with kakenagashi (= "free flowing", but this can be misleading, so I no longer put much stock in it) onsen. Ultimately you have to (or I do at least) look at the stats to narrow down the choices, then read reviews before choosing a place.
My favorite places, all things considered:
Kusatsu, Hakone (Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengahara area), Northern Alps area (Oku-Hotaka, Hirayu, etc), Noboribetsu.
I haven't been to many places in Kyushu... not a fan of Beppu (freecia's description is just about right), but Yufuin is good. Have always wanted to visit Kirishima Onsen, but it is not easy to get to. Bunch of great places in Nagano. Manza, Shirahone, Yudanaka, the list goes on. Some good places in Yamanashi also.
Also depends on what type of accommodation you're looking for (ex: Yugawara Onsen is good but lacks the variety of quality lodging that Kawaguchiko has), whether you're only interested in your hotel onsen or if you're looking for that quintessential onsen town feel (Kusatsu, Kinosaki, etc, would be good), your budget, accessibility, how much you value views, whether you want to stay on or get away from beaten path, whether you want modern or old-school, etc, etc.
However, most onsen aficionados will agree on the following as far as standards for a preferred onsen destination:
- Onsen town/area has healthy onsen output volume.
- Onsen town/area has gensen (the source hot spring water) that's of a respectable natural temperature (this is arbitrary, but you'd want at least >40C).
- Hotel/ryokan itself has its own gensen (jikagensen) with healthy output volume.
But it's also true that you can't just look at stats. For example, Kinugawa Onsen looks good on paper, but I'm not impressed by the quality of their onsen. In Hakone, the quality of onsen water varies from property to property, even if you're comparing two places that both advertise as having jikagensen with kakenagashi (= "free flowing", but this can be misleading, so I no longer put much stock in it) onsen. Ultimately you have to (or I do at least) look at the stats to narrow down the choices, then read reviews before choosing a place.
My favorite places, all things considered:
Kusatsu, Hakone (Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengahara area), Northern Alps area (Oku-Hotaka, Hirayu, etc), Noboribetsu.
I haven't been to many places in Kyushu... not a fan of Beppu (freecia's description is just about right), but Yufuin is good. Have always wanted to visit Kirishima Onsen, but it is not easy to get to. Bunch of great places in Nagano. Manza, Shirahone, Yudanaka, the list goes on. Some good places in Yamanashi also.
Jan 31, 2019, 6:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Frensham, Lincolnshire
Programs: RFC
Posts: 5,076
Aoni Onsen, in Aomori. Best done in winter for the full experience.
Jan 31, 2019, 6:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,374
Yes, but I'm not the right person to provide feedback as it's been ~10yrs since I last stayed there.
You're best off asking in the Hyatt forum... I'm sure the hotel has a thread going.
I think it was a very nice place, although it's good for what it is... a chic property that's perfect for r&r and obviously more incentive if you're a Hyatt person.
On the other hand, if the onsen is your priority or you want a quintessential ryokan type experience, it's probably not the place to go.
You're best off asking in the Hyatt forum... I'm sure the hotel has a thread going.
I think it was a very nice place, although it's good for what it is... a chic property that's perfect for r&r and obviously more incentive if you're a Hyatt person.
On the other hand, if the onsen is your priority or you want a quintessential ryokan type experience, it's probably not the place to go.
Feb 1, 2019, 12:50 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,390
Yes, but I'm not the right person to provide feedback as it's been ~10yrs since I last stayed there.
You're best off asking in the Hyatt forum... I'm sure the hotel has a thread going.
I think it was a very nice place, although it's good for what it is... a chic property that's perfect for r&r and obviously more incentive if you're a Hyatt person.
On the other hand, if the onsen is your priority or you want a quintessential ryokan type experience, it's probably not the place to go.
You're best off asking in the Hyatt forum... I'm sure the hotel has a thread going.
I think it was a very nice place, although it's good for what it is... a chic property that's perfect for r&r and obviously more incentive if you're a Hyatt person.
On the other hand, if the onsen is your priority or you want a quintessential ryokan type experience, it's probably not the place to go.
Feb 1, 2019, 12:52 am
#15
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
