Japan Spa Resorts, Hotels, Retreats and Destination Spas


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	Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so Tokyo, Japan This Tokyo spa hotel is idyllically situated in an historic and peaceful 7-hectare (17-acre) Japanese garden, and boasts an innovative blend of classic European décor, distinctive Japanese art, modern technology and intuitive service. The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo offers unique relaxation, from a traditional Japanese Onsen mineral bath to a selection of massage treatments. The Hotel also offers two beauty salons to provide hair, skin and nail care, including Guerlain aesthetician services.
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	Gôra Kadan Hotel & Spa Hakone, Japan Discover the wonders of an ancient Japanese hideaway at Gôra Kadan, the former relaxing retreat of the «Kanin-no-miya» imperial family. This noble residence set in beautiful surroundings in the national park of Hakone, offers authentic Tatami-style rooms with cypress bath, open-air bath or whirlpool bath. After a visit to the nearby tradition museums, savor traditional «Kaiseki cuisine» and enjoy spa treatments.
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	Kusatsu Onsen Gunma, Japan The People of Kusatsu in Gunma Prefecture enjoy one of the most prolific hot springs in Japan. Springs gush from a number of wells in town, with a combined output 9,772 gallons each minute. The springs produce sulfurous spa waters with high acidity, believed to be effective against neuralgia and skin diseases. Records as early as the 13th century demonstrate men of power and authority visited the town to bathe in the springs -- already well-known at that time. Today, Kusatsu is part of Joshin'etsu Kogen National Park and enjoys a steady stream of visitors throughout the year. There are more than a dozen public baths in town, which are open around-the-clock to everyone -- without charge. At some of the public baths traditional "yumomi" is still in effect. Yumomi adjusts the temperature by mixing the cold air of the highlands into the hot water with vigorous movements of wooden boards. Attendants stand at the edge of the bath and stir the water in the bath with a wooden board to cool the water. The website linked above has wonderful resources for both the culture, guidelines, and tips for using the onsen baths, but a list of area Onsen, hotel accommodations, and more. We highly recommend it.

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Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun". Japan comprises over 3,000 islands, the largest of which are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for 97% of land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents. Archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan begins with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century AD. Read More

An onsen is a Japanese hot spring. A volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth. Onsen were traditionally used as public bathing places and today play a central role in directing Japanese domestic tourism. Onsen come in many types and shapes including outdoor and indoor baths. Baths may be either public run by a municipality or private often run as part of a hotel, traditional inn or Bed and Breakfast (minshuku). Onsen are a central feature of Japanese tourism often found out in the countryside, and are a major tourist attraction drawing Japanese couples, families or company groups who want to get away from the hectic life of the city to relax. Japanese often talk of the virtues of "naked communion" for breaking down barriers and getting to know people in the relaxed homey atmosphere of an onsen inn. Read More

Japan Ryokan Association: Experience the elements of Japanese culture and customs: living in a room with Tatami (straw mat) flooring, changing into a typical Yukata (robe) after taking an Onsen hot-spring bath, sleeping on a Futon (bedding) put down directly on the Tatami floor, and etc. in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese hotel.

Secret-Japan: A guide to 125+ onsen facilities in Japan

Sento Guide: A guide to 200+ public bathing facilities in Japan

Onsen Express: A guide to onsen facilities in Japan