With plumes of steam rising from its hillsides, Beppu is Japan’s onsen capital. The city boasts thousands of hot spring vents feeding bathhouses, sand baths, and mud pools, as well as the dramatic “Hells of Beppu” — vividly coloured geothermal ponds that showcase nature’s raw power. Between soaks, stroll along seaside promenades or ride the ropeway up Mount Tsurumi for sweeping views across Oita Bay. Beppu’s mix of spectacle and relaxation has made it one of Japan’s most famous hot spring towns for centuries.

Tucked into forested mountains, Kurokawa is a village where bathing feels like stepping back in time. Thatched inns and wooden bridges line a riverside path, with outdoor rotenburo hidden among boulders, bamboo, and trees. The town’s unique onsen-hopping pass invites travellers to wander from bath to bath, each with its own character. By night, lanterns glow along the narrow streets, and the sound of the river accompanies seasonal kaiseki dinners. Intimate and atmospheric, Kurokawa embodies the charm of rural Japan’s onsen culture.

On Kyushu’s southern tip, Ibusuki is famed for its unique sand baths, where guests are gently buried in naturally heated black sand by the seaside. The warmth soothes muscles and improves circulation, offering a form of relaxation found nowhere else in Japan. The town also has traditional hot spring baths and access to scenic Kagoshima Bay, with Mount Kaimon rising like a perfect cone in the distance. Sun, sea, and sand blend here into a restorative coastal ritual.

Surrounded by volcanic peaks and crater lakes, Kirishima Onsen is a mountain retreat steeped in myth and mineral water. The area’s steaming outdoor baths are fed by multiple spring sources, each with subtly different qualities, from sulphuric to clear carbonated waters. It’s also tied to Japan’s creation legends: nearby Takachiho-gawara is where the gods are said to have descended to earth. Between soaks, hike the Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park or enjoy the misty views from a hillside ryokan balcony.