Traveling is exciting. It opens your mind to new ways of life, cuisines, and destinations—offering an enlightening break from your everyday routine. However, traveling is not without its stressors, from itinerary planning to language barriers.
If you are interested in weaving wellness into your Japan journey or creating an itinerary centered on your mental and physical well-being, consider a trip to Western Japan. This region is abundant in nourishing hot springs and local cuisine, making it an excellent place to craft an adventure that is equal parts inspiring and relaxing.
Beppu City
Resting on the oceanside border of Oita Prefecture, Beppu is the largest hot spring resort in Western Japan, boasting eight major hot spring areas, each home to a variety of hot springs with distinct properties. Its healing waters, coupled with the region’s healthy, hot-spring-steamed cuisine, make for a wellness experience that is uniquely Japanese.
Beppu is renowned for its ‘hells,’ (jigoku in Japanese). These visually-striking hot springs reach temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, making them exclusively for admiring, not bathing!
Among the seven jigoku, three of the most famous ones are Umi Jigoku (a beautiful cobalt-blue pool whose waters sit at a scalding 98 degrees Celsius), Chinoike Jigoku (famous for its red water and steam due to the presence iron oxide), and Tatsumaki Jigoku (a geyser that erupts periodically).
Beppu’s official tourism website outlines a self-guided tour of these seven jigoku. Known as the ‘Jigoku Meguri,’ the tour starts and ends at Beppu Station. In witnessing the hot springs’ powerful bursts of steam, bubbling mud, and boiling water, you’ll come to understand how they came to earn the moniker ‘hells.’
If you’re interested in physically experiencing the ‘hells’ for yourself, be sure to check out the Jigoku Footbaths, the many free-to-use foot-soaking spots that can be found at four of the jigoku, and Oniishi-no-Yu—a bathhouse adjacent to Oniishibozu Jigoku, which offers direct encounters with the area’s natural geothermal power.
Another key attraction in Beppu is its Jigoku-mushi cuisine, in which natural steam from Kannawa Onsen is used to cook food, such as seafood, vegetables, eggs, and meat. This oil-free cooking method retains the ingredients’ nutrients, making for a gentle, nourishing culinary experience. People in the Kannawa district have been practicing this cooking technique since the Edo period (1603–1868), and even today you can still experience it for yourself at numerous facilities. Choose your own ingredients, lower them into the steam, and relish the fresh, natural flavors!
Yufu City
Situated next to Beppu, Yufu is a charming city home to Yufuin Onsen, Japan’s second largest hot spring area in terms of the number of sources and the volume of water.
This nature-encircled getaway is located far from the busyness of city life and offers a retreat for the mind and body. Your revitalizing journey begins the moment you exit Yufuin Station, which is close to a footbath and handbath. The area’s hot springs are gentle on skin and are said to relieve fatigue and stress.
While you are in the area, stop by Nihoncha 5toku (日本茶5toku), a chic cafe known for its matcha and tea produced by a long-established tea merchant. Embrace the simplicity of the moment as you sip the elegant flavors.
On the outskirts of Yufuin Onsen, Lake Kinrin is a tranquil side trip where you can enjoy a waterside stroll as you admire fish and birds. Interestingly, the lake is a mixture of freshwater and hot spring water, resulting in a high temperature year-round. In the morning, when the air is cool enough, the already beautiful scenery is blessed with an ethereal coating of steam.
Yufu is also the home of Yunohira Onsen, a beloved hot spring town with over 800 years of history. Once your feet meet the town’s stone-paved slopes—constructed approximately 300 years ago—you will feel as though you’ve been whisked away to another era.
Since the Edo period, Yunohira Onsen has been renowned for its effectiveness in treating gastrointestinal ailments. During this time, medicine was not commonplace, so hot spring therapy, called toji, became popular. Today, people still take advantage of the area’s healing waters. In fact, thanks to its well-established health benefits, Yunohira Onsen is recognized as a National Health Resort Onsen by the Japanese government.
Himeji City
Located in Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji is best known for Himeji Castle, one of Japan’s 12 original castles. However, past the city’s bustling center, deep in the mountains, rests an equally enchanting destination—Shiota Onsen. This 300-year-old, therapeutic hot spring town (toji-ba), situated along the Yumesaki River, is encircled by rural farmland and home to numerous day-use inns that embrace a slower pace of life. The lush setting also yields exceedingly fresh food, including river and mountain delicacies like river fish, wild vegetables, matsutake mushrooms, and wild boar meat. Your mind, body, and stomach will thank you for the refreshing retreat.
Shiota Onsen is perhaps best represented by Ueyama Ryokan, an over 150-year-old hot spring inn that embodies traditional Japanese hospitality and aesthetics. This woodsy ryokan features Japanese-style rooms, nourishing cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients, and various indoor and outdoor baths. The water is sourced from a weakly saline sodium bicarbonate spring, which is said to be good for the stomach, the intestines, and ailments, such as diabetes and gout. One of the hot spring’s unique appeal points is its potability. The water has a salted lemon-lime flavor and helps improve digestion. During breakfast, you can even enjoy rice porridge made with the hot spring water! The therapeutic baths, closeness to nature, and nutritious meals create a truly restorative experience.
Himeji is also known for its anago (saltwater eel). In fact, Harimanada, a section of the Seto Inland Sea facing the city, is one of Japan’s top anago producing regions. For outstanding anago cuisine, visit Anagomeshi Tsuda and indulge in the restaurant’s signature dish—charcoal-grilled anago slathered in a savory sauce. Another popular menu item is anagomeshi, tender anago served over fresh pot-cooked rice.
Takeo City
Takeo, situated in Saga Prefecture, is home to Takeo Onsen, a hot spring town with over 1,300 years of history. Upon approaching the town, you will first be greeted by the impressive “Romon” gate—a symbol of the onsen. This vermilion structure boasts an eye-catching traditional design, with contrasting hues of white, and is renowned for its nail-free architecture. The gate, along with Takeo Onsen Shinkan (New Building), is designated as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
Past the entrance gate are numerous public and private bathhouses that guarantee soothing experiences. The onsen’s soft, clear water is sourced from a mildly alkaline simple spring that contains a variety of minerals. The water helps relieve fatigue, neuralgia, muscle pain, and joint pain and helps promote one’s overall health. It is also known for its excellent heat retention and smooth, moisturizing effect on the skin, earning it the title, “beauty spring.”
Located behind the Romon is an exclusive private bath called Tonosama no Yu. This luxurious bath, built entirely of marble, was originally constructed during the Edo period for the feudal lord of the Nabeshima Clan. Historical records indicate that notable figures such as Siebold, Miyamoto Musashi, Date Masamune, and Ino Tadataka also bathed here. In addition to the bath, the facility also has numerous 4.5-tatami-mat and three-tatami-mat waiting rooms for relaxation—7.29 and 4.86 square meters, respectively.
After pampering your body, treat your taste buds to some of the area’s famous Saga Beef, a premium type of wagyu. The high-quality meat is characterized by its finely marbled fat, tender lean meat, and sweet, rich flavor. The elevated culinary and spa experiences will leave you feeling genuinely revitalized.
Takamatsu City
Takamatsu, located in Kagawa Prefecture, is an enriching haven where wellness, culture, spirituality, and gastronomy overlap.
Starting outside of Takamatsu’s urban area, Shionoe Onsen Village is a rejuvenating destination deeply intertwined with Buddhism. It was discovered approximately 1,300 years ago by Buddhist monk Gyoki. Later, revered monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) practiced ascetic training in the area and is said to have popularized hot spring therapy. Given its history, the village is included in the Shikoku Pilgrimage—a journey in which people visit temples related to Kukai. The village is also designated as a National Health Resort Onsen thanks to its healing waters that help relieve fatigue and promote overall health.
Shionoe Onsen Village is surrounded by breathtaking nature, including the Otaki Mountain Water Source Forest—one of Japan’s top water sources—which blesses the area with scenic streams and waterfalls. It is an ideal place for a physical and mental reset.
Moving to Takamatsu’s city center, Ritsurin Garden offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. This highly-acclaimed garden is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and has a prestigious Michelin three-star rating. From the walking paths, you can leisurely observe landscaped scenery, Japanese culture, and the beauty of the passing seasons. The garden’s tea houses serve a variety of gourmet delights, such as morning rice porridge (at Hanazono-tei) and matcha, further enhancing your visit.
When in Takamatsu, a must-try culinary delicacy is Olive Beef, which is a rare type of wagyu. Japanese Black cattle are raised on feed that incorporates the leftover pulp from olive oil production, resulting in a uniquely-flavored marbling and tender meat. It also contains high levels of antioxidants, which is a notable health benefit.
Craft a wellness getaway like no other in Western Japan
With its iconic hot spring towns, cultural opportunities, and delectable cuisine, Western Japan is an excellent, off-the-beaten-path region where you can rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul, the Japanese way.