This is a dynamic list of geothermal hot springs (onsen) as geological phenomena in Japan. This list is not for listing commercial establishments such as spa hotels, onsen ryokan, healing centers or other commercial establishments.
Japan has many geothermal spring systems as it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire volcanic area. More than 27,000 hot spring sources exist in Japan, together they discharge over 2.6 million liters of water every minute.
These springs have played, and continue to play, an important role in Japanese culture throughout history. In Shinto, Sukunabikona is the kami of the hot springs. As the deity of hot springs Sukunabikona and Ōkuninushi went to the Dōgo hot springs. There Ōkuninushi put Sukunabikona in the hot spring water to heal him of an ailment. Upon awakening, Sukunabikona danced atop a stone. It is said that his footprints left impressions on the rock, known as Tamanoishi, which still exists at Dogo Onsen north of the main building.A Handbook for Travellers in Japan, including the Whole Empire from Yezo to Formosa, by Basil Hall Chamberlain & W.B. Mason, 1901
Akita Prefecture
Akinomiya Hot Springs Nyūtō Onsen Ōfuka Onsen Takanoyu Onsen also known as Falcon's Hot Spring Tamagawa Hot Spring is tied (with Higashi Onsen in Kagoshima) for the highest acid content of all hot springs in Japan, at a PH value of 1.2. Tsurunoyu Onsen
Aomori Prefecture Asamushi Onsen Furofushi Onsen Kappa-no-you Hot Spring Oku-yagen Hot Spring Sukayu Onsen Yagen Onsen
Ehime Prefecture Dōgo Onsen was mentioned in the oldest collection of Japanese poetry, the Man’yo Wakashu.
Fukui Prefecture Awara Onsen, Awara
Fukushima Prefecture , Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Iizaka Onsen Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Sabakoyu Onsen Takayu Onsen Tsuchiyu Onsen
Gifu Prefecture , Gero, Gifu, Hida River , Takayama Nagaragawa Onsen
Gunma Prefecture
Akagi, Gunma , Ikaho, a.k.a. Ikaho Onsen, Kogane-no-Yu (The Golden Waters), Kodakara-no-Yu (Child Waters) Kusatsu Onsen Sawatari Hot Springs Rosoku Onsen has the highest radium content in all of Japan., also known as Yunoshima Radium Kosen Hoyojo (Rosoku Onsen) (有限会社 湯之島ラジウム鉱泉保養所) Shima Onsen Takaragawa Onsen
Hokkaido Prefecture Hokkaido Prefecture has the third most hot springs with 2,304 registered. The hot springs in the prefecture have the second highest discharge rate of water at 260 kiloliters per minute. Asahidake Onsen Futamata
Kamuiwakka Falls Noboribetsu Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, the main source of the Noboribetsu onsen
Onnetō Hot Falls
Tenninkyo Onsen Tōyako, Hokkaidō, Shikotsu-Toya National Park Yunokawa Onsen
Hyōgo Prefecture
Arima Onsen, Kobe, was mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest account of the history of Japan (after the history presented in Kojiki) Kinosaki, Hyōgo Takarazuka, Hyōgo Yumura Onsen, (Shin'onsen, Hyōgo) Yumura Onsen has the hottest water in Japan with a temperature of 208.4 degrees Fahrenheit (98 degrees Celsius).
Ishikawa Prefecture Awazu Onsen, Komatsu, Ishikawa , Kaga, Ishikawa Wakura Onsen, Nanao Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga Yuwaku Onsen
Iwate Prefecture Geto Onsen Hanamaki, Iwate Kindaichi Onsen
Kagawa Prefecture Naoshima
Kanagawa Prefecture Hakone, Kanagawa, near Tokyo. See also Ōwakudani Iiyama Onsen and one other hot spring (Tokigawa Onsen in Saitama Prefecture) are tied for the highest alkalinity in all of Japan. Miyanoshita Onsen Tsurumaki Onsen has the highest calcium content in its waters of all the hot springs in Japan. Yugawara
Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima prefecture has the second most hot springs in Japan, with 2,824 registered. The hot springs systems in Kagoshima have the third highest discharge rate at 201 kiloliters per minute. Higashi Onsen and one other hot spring (Tamagawa Onsen in Akita) have the highest acidity content in its water at a PH value of 1.2, of all the hot springs in Japan. Ibusuki Onsen Kirishima
Kyoto Prefecture Funaoka Onsen, Kyoto
Kumamoto Prefecture
Aso, Kumamoto, Mount Aso Kurokawa Onsen, Aso Nuruyu Onsen
Mie Prefecture Yunoyama Onsen
Miyagi Prefecture Naruko Sakan Onsen Sakunami Onsen
Nagano Prefecture
Asama Onsen Honzawa Onsen has the highest elevation for an open-air onsen, at 2,150 meters. Jigokudani
Nozawaonsen Shibu Suwa
Nagasaki Prefecture
Obama Onsen supposedly the hottest Japanese hot spring () Shimabara, Nagasaki Unzen Onsen
Niigata Prefecture Iwamuro, Niigata
Yuzawa, Niigata
Okayama Prefecture , Okayama Prefecture at the foot of Yubara dam Yunogo Onsen, Okayama Prefecture
Ōita Prefecture
Oita is the prefecture with the most geothermal spring sources in Japan, 4,788 are registered. The prefecture also has the highest discharge rate of 296 kiloliters per minute Beppu Onsen, Hells of Beppu, Beppu, Ōita Prefecture Hyotan Onsen Kankaiji Onsen Myoban Yunosato Onsen Nagayu Onsen has the highest level of carbon dioxide of any hot spring in the world.
Yufuin, Ōita Prefecture
Saga Prefecture Tara, Saga
Saitama Prefecture Tokigawa Onsen and one other hot spring (Iiyama Onsen in Kanagawa Prefecture) are tied for first place for the highest alkalinity in the water.
Shimane Prefecture Tamatsukuri Onsen is mentioned in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (Chronicle of the Land of Izumo) from the year, 733.
Shizuoka Prefecture
Atami Onsen, Atami
Itō, Shizuoka
Minami-Alps Akaishi Onsen Shirakaba-so Mine Onsen, Daifunto Park Kawazu town. (Dai funto park) Kawazu, Shizuoka Shuzenji Onsen
Tochigi Prefecture Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi
Tottori Prefecture Hawai Onsen , Yonago, Tottori , Misasa Tōgō Onsen
Toyama Prefecture Mikuriga-ike Onsen has the highest elevation of all hot springs in Japan, with an elevation of 2,400 meters. Unazuki Onsen, Kurobe
Wakayama Prefecture
, Tanabe, Wakayama Nanki-Katsuura Onsen, Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, Shirahama Ryujin Onsen, Tanabe, Wakayama Tsubaki Onsen Yunomine Onsen, Tanabe, Wakayama, site of the UNESCO World Heritage Tsuboyu bath
Yamagata Prefecture Akayu, Yamagata Ginzan Onsen, Obanazawa Zaō Onsen
Yamanashi Prefecture
Other locations Kaniyu Onsen Okukinu hot springs group Sashiusudake [Baransky] hot springs - in disputed territory between Japan & Russia
See also List of hot springs in the United States List of hot springs in the world Sentō Onsen
References
Further reading Ishizu, Risaku. The Mineral Springs of Japan (1915), published by Sankyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo Imperial Hygienic Laboratory for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
External links
Sento Guide Guide to public baths in Japan Japan Onsen A mountain onsen guide of the Japan Alps