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The hottest, highest and healthiest hot springs in Japan

15 Comments
By Preston Phro

Japan is practically overflowing with hot, bubbling water it seems and nearly every city and town has a local spring or public bath for people to get a nice soak. Called “onsen” in Japanese, hot spring spas or baths are one of the most enduring symbols of Japanese culture.

Today, we bring you a fact-filled list of Japanese onsen trivia! Impress your friends with your knowledge and find somewhere to go soothe your aching heart when they get mad at you for being so smart.

Have you ever wondered which prefecture has the most hot springs or the largest output of hot water? Based on a list of onsen trivia compiled by the informative Japanese website Nanapi, we bring you fun facts about Japanese hot springs.

Oita Prefecture has the most hot spring sources in all of Japan, with 4,788 registered. Kagoshima is in a distant second place with 2,824, and Hokkaido in the distant north comes in third with 2,304.

As you might expect, Oita Prefecture also has the most output of hot water with 296 kiloliters per minute. Oddly enough, Hokkaido comes in second here with 260 kiloliters per minute, followed by Kagoshima with 201 kiloliters per minute.

As for the largest number of hot spring spas, or onsen, in Japan, Hokkaido takes first place with 254 facilities. Nagano comes in second with 231, and Niigata comes in a distant third place with 150.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the prefecture with the fewest hot springs is Okinawa, followed by Tokyo’s neighbor, Saitama Prefecture.

Now that you’re an expert on Japanese hot-springery, let’s delve into some more specific information. For example, the Beppu Onsens in Oita Prefecture has both the largest number of sources and the greatest output of all the hot springs in the land.

But where is the highest hot spring in Japan? It turns out that Mikuriga-ike Onsen in Toyama Prefecture has an elevation of 2,400 meters.

And for all of the astronomers with a passion for a nice, hot soak, you might prefer something with a better view of the night sky. Honzawa Onsen in Nagano Prefecture fits the bill perfectly, being the highest open-air onsen in Japan. At 2,150 meters up, you’ll have quite a hike to get there, but at least you’ll have somewhere to soak your aching feet.

When it comes acidity, Tamagawa Onsen in Akita Prefecture and Higashi Onsen in Kagoshima are tied for first place. Both of them have a PH value of 1.2 – which means tons of acid, in case you’ve forgotten your high school science. Apparently it’s still quite good for you, though, so no need to fear melting away while taking a dip.

In terms of alkaline, Tokigawa Onsen in Saitama Prefeture and Iiyama Onsen in Kanagawa Prefecture are tied for first place. Apparently, alkaline is supposed to make your skin very smooth, so if you want to stay young and beautiful, you know where to go for a dip.

Rosoku Onsen in Gifu Prefecture has the distinction of being the Japanese hot spring with the most radium. You’ll want to check this place out if you have nerve pain or rheumatism, since radium is supposed to be helpful for such ailments.

All those rugby players out there will want to check out Tsurumaki Onsen in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is the Japanese hot spring with the greatest amount of calcium in its waters. In fact, it’s said to have as much calcium as cow’s milk and to be the most calcium-rich hot spring in the world. Calcium is supposed to be good for nerve pain, burns, cuts, bruises, and sprains.

This next one seems like a bit of a head-scratcher at first. Nagayu Onsen in Oita Prefecture has the most carbon dioxide of any hot spring on the planet. But why would you want to go to an onsen rich in carbon dioxide?? Apparently, the CO2 is said to be good for diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, and heart troubles.

So, which of all the onsen in Japan is the oldest? That’s a bit of a difficult question to answer, but Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture was mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest history of Japan (after the Kojiki). Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture was mentioned in the Man’yo Wakashu, the oldest collection of poetry in Japan. The Nihon shoki was finished in 720 and the Man’you Wakashu was finished sometime around 759, though both of them represent writings from earlier periods.

Finally, the onsen with the hottest water in Japan is Yumura Onsen in Hyougo Prefecture with temperatures reaching up to 98 degrees Celsius (208.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Now, the only problem is, with all the great places to visit, how do we decide where to start??

Source: Nanapi

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Three Unique Onsen Resorts to Try Before You Die -- Make a Natural Hot Spring in the Comfort of Your Own Home -- New study supports beauty claims of famous Japanese hot spring

© RocketNews24

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15 Comments
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without any doubt China and Korea have something better

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

Is it the deep, hot water that soaks up to your neck, the quiet stillness of your surrounds or just the sake and beer that makes Japan's hot springs so incredibly relaxing? As for me it's all about the onsens ability in mental and physical rejuvenation and I believe that comes from the many different chemical compositions in each onsen, each claiming healing properties

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why do I LOVE Japan? Apparently there are more than ten thousand reasons.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Love the hot springs, but some of them are a little too hot, really. As good, relaxing and rejuvenating as they are, when it gets overly too hot, it's not good either, not everyone is tolerant of extreme high heat.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dogo Hot Spring is pretty famous and I went there solely for that reason. Not really anything to write home about; small, crowded during the holiday season and old. That said, there are some really fantastic hot springs to be found all over Japan. Nothing like finding one of the conjugal types where you can relax with your significant other, enjoy a beer and check out the constellations in the night sky.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Oita Prefecture has the most hot spring sources in all of Japan, with 4,788 registered.

Love Oita! So far, I've been to about 63 Onsens. 4,788??? I've got a long way to go it seems.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So far, I've been to about 63 Onsens. 4,788??? I've got a long way to go it seems.

That's hot water sources, not places you can or should get naked. That would be this.

As for the largest number of hot spring spas, or onsen, in Japan, Hokkaido takes first place with 254 facilities. Nagano comes in second with 231, and Niigata comes in a distant third place with 150.

What it doesn't say but what I will declare, is that Tohoku has the best. The end.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Nothing better after a day of skiing, that's for sure.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I've heard that Hakone has hot springs famous all over Japan. How true is this, if it wasn't mentioned?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thank you, JT, for the article. I'm due in Hokkaido in the spring, and it's nice to know I'll have an incredible selection of onsens to visit. They're one of my favourite things about Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good article. More like this please.

Although I don't really want to take a bath with all these dodgy JT posters like myself!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yes, let's continue propagating the myth that most of these "hot springs" are real and not just chemicals added to hot water. Business people would never mislabel anything like, cough, food, cough, or onsens, cough...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Good one, serendipitous. You weren't by any chance the person who took my yukata and towel from the onsen in Zao, were you? Dodgy indeed!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ah, Zao!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I've been to the highest one, at the top of the Alpen route between Toyama and Nagano, several times and the water is wonderfully creamy.

Another than deserves honorable mention for its panorama view is the Greek-styled koga stone hot spring on Niijima. Amazing ocean view.

One could visit a different hot spring every day for many years and not experience them all.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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