Bathing in hot springs are practiced all over the world, but nobody does it better than the Japanese. Over 3000 hot springs-or "onsen", as they are commonly called, are located in the country.
However, there are certain etiquettes to follow when bathing in Japanese hot springs. The most common is that no swimwear is required to enter the pools. In this case, men and women are separated. In public hot springs however, it is okay to bring swimwear.
But if you want to get the ultimate Japanese onsen experience, there are a couple of places you should check out. Here are some of them:
Shirahama, Wakayama-ken, Kansai. Here in Shirahama, you get two good things in one place: hot spring and beach. Have you ever tried swimming in a hot spring after frolicking on the beach? You should. It feels amazing. The onsen is free in the southern beach town of Shirahama.
Noboribetsu Onsen. Less than an hour away from the New Chitose Airport, you could get a stunning experience in the best onsen in Hokkaido. The hot spring here is surrounded by a 360 view of the natural scenery, and you can relax in the hot spring while feasting your eyes in the snowy landscape around you.
Ōedo Onsen Monogatari. If you don't to travel far for the best hot spring experience, then head over to Ōedo Onsen Monogatari. It is located in Tokyo on the artificial island of Oidaba in the Tokyo Bay, and in here you get several options of pools to choose from, and restaurants, spas, and massage parlors are nearby as well.
Beppu Onsen. "Beppu Hatto" is the largest swimmable hot spring in the world, with over 8 different naturally formed hot springs to choose from. Each of them has different qualities, so you could pick one that you like or try experiencing them all in a day. The Hells of Beppu is also located here, where you can take pictures and explore the surroundings. You can't swim here, though. It's called Hells of Beppu for a reason because their hot springs are so hot no human body can withstand their temperature!
Hida Takayama Onsen. If you want to step back in history in Japan, then go to Hida Takayama Onsen. This hot spring is found in Hida Takayama, a beautiful, culture-rich Japanese town that still retains their castle-like buldings, making it look like 19th century Japan. You also wouldn't get a hard time strolling this area, as most residents know how to speak English.
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