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February 20, 2025 update
Top 10 Onsen Ryokans 2025 – rankings of the most popular onsen ryokans across the whole country of Japan, and 8 regional editions
Photo: Murodo, Tateyama, Toyama Onsen / Unazuki Onsen
Selected Onsen Ryokan is a collection of the very best onsen ryokans in Japan. This page is the entrance to to 9 different rankings of the most popular onsen ryokans in Japan at Selected Onsen Ryokan in 2024. These include the national edition that features the most popular ryokans across the country, and 8 regional editions including ryokans in Hokkaido, Tohoku, the suburbs of Tokyo, Nagoya-Chubu-Hokuriku, Osaka-Kyoto-Kansai, Hiroshima-Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu and Okinawa. Please use this list as a reference when you pick up your favourite onsen ryokan.
Dedicated to your premium best onsen ryokan experience, Selected Onsen Ryokan introduces around 600 onsen ryokans with different special features throughout Japan. You can compare multiple booking sites to make reservations right from this website.
We offer particularly detailed information about onsen ryokans that provide guest rooms with private open-air baths (rotenburo), and onsen ryokans with rental hot spring baths for private use (kashikiri-buro). This website gives a lot of useful tips to people travelling in couples and families. If you are concerned about privacy and want to have a unique hot spring experience with someone special in a relaxed manner, this site is the best place to find the perfect onsen ryokan for you.
National Edition
Photo: Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Mt. Fuji Lake Kawaguchiko Onsen
The 10 Best ryokans include ones from hot spring areas around Mt. Fuji (including Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka) and hot spring areas near Kyoto (Arashiyama, Kameoka, Takao, and Ogoto).
Hokkaido Edition
Photo: Shibazakura Takinoue Park, Sounkyo Onsen / Abashiri Onsen (Memanbetsu) / Shiretoko (Utoro) Onsen
Popular ryokans were in famous hot spring areas of Hokkaido such as Noboribetsu Onsen, with easy access from Sapporo and Hakodate, Lake Toya Onsen near where a G8 summit was held, and Lake Shikotsu Onsen close to New Chitose Airport.
Tohoku Edition
Photo: Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle), Hirosaki Onsen / Oirase & Hakkoda Onsen
Ryokans in the hot spring areas of Fukushima Prefecture (Aizu Ashinomaki, Koriyama and Tsuchiyu) were more popular this year, in addition to those near ski resorts like Zao and Hakkoda, where you can see beautiful frost-covered trees.
Tokyo suburbs Edition
Photo: Lake Kawaguchiko, Mt. Fuji Lake Kawaguchiko Onsen
Popular ryokans included those with a view of Mt. Fuji, those with secluded hot springs, and ones in Hakone where all rooms feature open-air baths (rotenburos).
Nagoya-Chubu-Hokuriku Edition
Photo: Kumagawa-Juku, Awara Onsen / Kyoto Lake Biwa Onsen
Popular ryokans were in hot spring areas of the Chubu region including Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go, known for their old towns, as well as Shin-Hotaka and Gero.
Osaka-Kyoto-Kansai Edition
Photo: Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown), Kobe Onsen / Arima Onsen
Many of the top ryokans were in hot spring areas around Kyoto (Arashiyama, Takao, Lake Biwa Ogoto, and Kameoka Yunohana). Arima Onsen ryokans, which have been perennial favorites, did not make the Top 10.
Hiroshima-Chugoku Edition
Photo: Motonosumi Shrine, Nagatoyumoto Onsen / Hagi Onsen
Ryokans in hot springs areas like Miyajima in Hiroshima, Tomonoura, and near Izumo Shrine (Izumo and Tamatsukuri) were popular.
Shikoku Edition
Photo: Village of Scarecrows (Kakashi no Sato), Oboke-Iya Onsen
Popular ryokans included those in hot spring areas such as Kotohira near Kotohira Shrine, the highly secluded Oboke-Iya, and Dogo in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.
Kyushu & Okinawa Edition
Photo: Nabegataki Falls, Aso-Kurokawa Onsen / Hita-Amagase & Kuju Onsen
Many ryokans from Yufuin and Beppu in Oita Prefecture, famous for their abundant hot spring water, made the rankings. Other popular ryokans were in hot spring areas like Kurokawa Onsen, surrounded by valleys and forests, and Kirishima near Kagoshima Airport.
