During your trip to Japan, you plan to visit shrines and temples, enjoy sushi and local cuisine, experience the tea ceremony or meet geisha in Gion district … Among the best experiences, do not forget the onsen, the thermal bath or literally “hot springs”.
There are more than 27,000 hot springs and 3,000 spas in Japan, due to the volcanic origin of the archipelago. Wherever you are, you usually have a nearby station, where you can stay for a weekend. The Japanese, themselves, go there regularly, even for a much shorter period.
Here are our favorite Onsen in Japan.
We love bathing in Japan. We love Onsen
Nestled amid scenic hot springs in the mountains, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel in Hayakawa – Yamanashi Prefecture is recognized as the oldest hotel in the world. Originally established in 705, the traditional “onsen” was opened over 1,300 years ago and has always been managed by the same family and welcomed many distinguished guests as the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, samurais and now tourists from around the world.
Although the hotel has been renovated in 1997, it remains traditional. It is known for its hot springs and has six baths fed by four sources.
Night starts at ¥ 34,720, which includes a kaiseki (gourmet dinner) and breakfast.
More info: http://www.keiunkan.co.jp/en/