Day-visit Onsen Ranking by Tripadvisor

Open-air bath for ladies at the third ranked Himawari-no-yu.

Tripadvisor Japan recently released "Satisfactory Day-visit Spa & Onsen Ranking 20 " based on users' comments for last two years. This ranking is released for first time as far as I know.

Following is the list of the top 20 ranking. Linked sites are written in Japanese unless otherwise noted.

 1. Healthyland Rotenburo site contains music file (Ibusuki, Kagoshima)
 2. Hottarakashi Onsen (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)
 3. Himawari-no-yu @Shima Spain-mura (Shima, Mie)
 4. Shika-no-yu (Nasu, Tochigi)
 5. Sunaraku English (Ibusuki, Kagoshima)
 6. Dogo Onsen Honkan English (Matsuyama, Ehime)
 7. Zippuku-no-yu (Ueda, Nagano)
 8. Hoheikyo Onsen English (Sapporo Hokkaido)
 9. Tenzan Tojikyo (Hakone, Kanagawa)
10. Takegawara Onsen (Beppu Oita)
11. Kin-no-yu @ Arima Onsen (Kobe, Hyogo)
12. Terme VILLA Chulayu (Cyatan Okinawa)
13. Anakanon-no-yu @ Obuse Onsen (Obuse, Nagano)
14. Tenku-no-yu, Budo-no-oka Onsen (Kousyu, Yamanashi)
15. Yuami-no-shima @ Nagashima Spaland English (Kuwana, Mie)
16. Spa RaQua English (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo)
17. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari English (Koto-ku, Tokyo)
18. Spa World English (Osaka, Osaka)
19. Onsen Cafe (Myoko, Nigata)
20. Hakone Kowakien Yunessan English (Hakone, Kanagawa)

Photo from press release of Tripadvisor Japan.

Animated "THERMAE ROMAE"

I found animated version of popular bathing culture MANGA (cartoons), "Thermae Romae" with English subtitle on YouTube. Below is first episode aired in mid January this year.

Lucius, main character is an architect of Roman baths in ancient Roman Empire and accidentally time warps to present Japan. You can see how SENTO (public bath) in Japan looks like.




A movie version starring Hiroshi Abe will be released on 28 April, 2012. 

Related post: Bathing Culture MANGA "THERMAE ROMAE" (Mar 30 2010)

New Year's Greetings

I know many of you're still in 2011, but Japan is already in 2012 (We're 9 hours ahead of GMT or UTC or whatever it is). So.....


A Happy New Year !! 

Last year was disastrous year for Japan. Many Japanese were suddenly thrust into hell on earth, lost their families, friends, homes, works, and etc.... and still struggling even now. But our "Yamato-damashii" or the Japanese spirit never washed away. We'll overcome these difficulties.

I really appreciate your supports from all over the world after the 311 disaster. Thank you very much for your care.  I wish you many happy returns for 2012!

Onsen Ranking 2011 by Biglobe

IMGP6295 / shin Suzuki

Yubatake or Onsen Pond of first ranked Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma Pref. It's not for soaking.


The Biglobe's recently released "Forth Onsen Awards", shows popular onsen ranking as well (As for most popular onsen ryokan/hotel ranking, see my previous post).

1. Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma Pref)
2. Yufuin Onsen (Oita Pref)
3. Arima Onsen (Hyogo Pref)
4. Noboribetsu Onsen (Hokkaido)
5. Gero Onsen (Gifu Pref)
6. Hakone-yumoto Onsen (Kanagawa Pref)
7. Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo Pref)
8. Kurokawa Onsen (Kumamoto Pref)
9. Dogo Onsen (Ehime Pref)
10. Ikaho Onsen (Gunma Pref)
11. Beppu Onsen (Oita Pref)
12. Atami Onsen (Shizuoka Pref)
13. Gora Onsen (Kanagawa Pref)
14. Nozawa Onsen (Nagano Pref)
15. Wakura Onsen (Ishikawa Pref) no English site
16. Ibusuki Onsen (Kagoshima Pref)
17. Shirahama Onsen (Wakayama Pref)
17. Beppu Onsen-kyo (Wider Beppu area, Oita Pref)
19. Nyuto Onsen-kyo (Akita Pref)
20. Jozankei Onsen (Hokkaido)

You can see top 100 ranking on Biglobe Onsen site (in Japanese only)

Onsen Ryokan Ranking 2011 by Biglobe

Biglobe, one of the biggest portal site in Japan released "The Fourth Onsen Award" recently. 10,931 internet users voted this survey between Oct 5 and Nov 16. Ten most popular onsen ryokans/hotels among Japanese are:

1. Kagaya (Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref)
2. Daiichi Takimotokan (Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido)
3. Suimeikan (Gero Onsen, Gifu Pref)
4. Suginoi Hotel (Kankaiji Onsen, Oita Pref)
5. Hotel Urashima (Nanki Katsuura Onsen, Wakayama Pref) Chinese site
6. Arima Grand Hotel (Arima Onsen, Hyogo Pref)
7. Hyoe Koyokaku (Arima Onsen, Hyogo Pref)
8. Akan Yukyunosato Tsuruga (Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido)
9. Ibusuki Hakusuikan (Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref)
10. Hotel Ichii (Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma Pref)

I couldn't find websites in English for Hotel Urashima (5th) and Hotel Ichii (10th).

Link: Official Onsen Ryokan Ranking page (in Japanese only)