Have stayed in onsen ryokans for 200+ times, daytime onsen for 20 times.

 

For superb onsen, nice scenery/ryokan

1. Tokachigawa onsen 十勝川溫泉 (2x in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016) – facing Tokachigawa

2. Shikotsu-ko onsen 支笏湖溫泉

   (2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018)

3. Kussharo-ko onsen 屈斜路湖溫泉 (2x in 2006, 2009) – facing serene lake
4. Sounkyo onsen 層雲峡溫泉 (2004, 2009) – good view of cliffs during koyo season, good base for hiking in Daisetsuzan
5. Utoro onsen ウトロ温泉 (2006) – very nice and fresh seafood buffet, good base to explore World Heritage Shiretoko 5-lake
6. Toya-ko 洞爺湖温泉　(1998, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018) – more for serene view of Toya-ko and fireworks from May till Oct, rather than onsen.
7. Abashiri-ko　網走湖温泉 (2016) – watch sunset over Abashiri-ko from rooms on high floors

8. Akiu onsen　秋保温泉

   (2009, 2017) – sumptuous meals

9. Matsushima onsen 松島温泉

   (2009) – facing Matsushima Bay and nice garden

10. Yamashiro onsen (2016)

11. Arima onsen 　有馬温泉　(2015)

12. Shin-Hotaka onsen 新穂高温泉

    (2010) – Mt Yari can be seen from huge rotenburo next to stream

13. Fukuchi onsen　福地温泉　(2007, 2010, 2012) – huge rotenburo with milky white onsen
14. Omachi onsen 大町温泉　(2010) – very nice stay, but management has changed after our last stay
15. Beppu onsen　別府温泉 (Kankaiji 観海寺 and Kanawa 鉄輪温泉 in 2000, Kankaiji in 2008, 2019 Kannawa in 2013, 2x daytime onsen)
16. Kurokawa onsen 黒川温泉　(2013) – nostalgic little onsen town

For scenery and nice onsen ryokan

Hokkaido

1. Jozankei onsen 定山溪温泉　(2008, 2011)
2. Niseko Konbu onsen ニセコ昆布温泉(2004, 2008)
3. Noboribetsu 登別温泉　(1998)
4. Hakodate Yunokawa onsen 湯の川温泉　(2008, 1x daytime)
5. Asahidake onsen 旭岳温泉　(2009)
6. Niesko Hirafu ニセコ比羅夫温泉　(2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
7. Furano 富良野温泉　(2016)

Tohoku

1. Oirase　奥入瀬猿倉温泉 (2014)
2. Towada-ko 十和田湖温泉　(2014)
3. Hibara-ko 檜原湖猫魔温泉　(2014)
4. Takayu onsen 高湯温泉　(2014)
5. Aizu-Higashiyama 会津東山温泉　(2014)
6. Sakunami onsen 作並温泉　(2005, 2x daytime onsen)
7. Yuzawa onsen 湯沢温泉　(2x in 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017)
8. Ikaho onsen 伊香保温泉　(2005)
9. Yamagata Zao onsen 山形蔵王温泉　(2015, 1x daytime onsen)
10. Kusatsu onsen 草津温泉　(2000, 1x daytime onsen)
11. Nasu onsen 那須温泉　(1x daytime)
12. Togatta onsen 遠刈田温泉　(1x daytime)
13. Bandai Kogen onsen 磐梯高原温泉　(2x daytime)
14. Naruko onsen　鳴子温泉 (1x daytime)

JP Alps (Chubu)

1. Hirayu onsen 平湯温泉　(2007)
2. Norikura Kogen onsen 乗鞍高原温泉　(2015)
3. Shirahone onsen 白骨温泉　(2000, 2001)
4. Hakuba Happo onsen 白馬八方温泉　(3x in 2001,  2012, 2014, 2x in 2015, 2016, 1x daytime)
5. Nozawa onsen 野沢温泉　(2x in 2008, 2016)
6. Unazuki onsen 宇奈月溫泉　(2010, 2015)
7. Yudanaka onsen 湯田中温泉　(2015)
8. Omachi onsen 大町温泉　(1x daytime)
9. Akakura onsen 赤倉温泉　(1x daytime)

Kansai

1. Ogoto onsen 雄琴溫泉 (2012, 2016)

2. Otsu　大津瑠璃温泉　(2005, 2012, 2017, 2018)

3. Ise-Shima Kashikojima 伊勢志摩賢島温泉 (2014)

4. Shirahama onsen 白浜温泉　(2013)

5. Katsuura onsen　南紀勝浦温泉 (2013)

6. Minami-Awaji 南淡路島潮崎温泉　(2015)
7. Himi onsen-go 氷見温泉　(2015)

Kanto

1. Izu-Imaihama onsen　伊豆今井浜温泉　

   (2006) – nice French dinner

2. Izukyu-Shimoda onsen 伊豆急下田溫泉　(2005)
3. Izu-Toi onsen 伊豆土肥溫泉　(2005)
4. Ito onsen 伊東溫泉　(2000)
5. Izu-Atagawa onsen 伊豆熱川溫泉　(2014)
6. Yumigahama onsen　南伊豆弓ヶ浜温泉 (2014)
7. Hakone Ubako onsen (2002)
8. Moto-Hakone onsen (2009)
9. Hakone Gora onsen (2011)
10. Izu-Heda onsen (2018) – serving Takaashi-kani
11. Yunessun in Hakone Kowakien onsen (4x daytime onsen)

Kyushu

1. Yufuin onsen (2008, 2013)
2. Ureshino onsen (2017)
3. Unzen onsen (2017)

4. Kirishima onsen (2018)

5. Hitoyoshi onsen (2018)

6. Shiroyama hotel (2018)

7. Kurokawa onsen ryokan (2019, 2013)

For top-end onsen ryokans/resort (5*)

1. Ginrinsou in Otaru 小樽平磯温泉 (2013)

2. Kagaya in Wakura onsen 和倉溫泉 (2005)

3. Hinanoza in Akan-ko 阿寒湖温泉 (2009)
4. Akan Yuku-no-sato Tsuruga in Akan-ko (2x in 2006)
5. Tadaya in Wakura onsen (2015)

6. Kikuya in Izu-Shuzenji onsen 伊豆修善寺溫泉 (2007)

7. Senjuan in Tanigawa onsen 谷川溫泉 (2010)

8. Suimeikan in Gero onsen 下呂温泉 (2012) – nice French dinner

9. Musouen in Yufuin onsen 湯布院温泉 (2008)
10. Shoya-no-Yakata in Yufuin onsen (2013)

11. Takinoya in Noboribetsu onsen (2013)

12. Nemu-no-sato in Oku-Shima 奥志摩温泉　(2014, 2015) – nice French and Italian, with wine pairing, professional and cordial service

13. Toba International hotel (2015) – Pearl onsen (not true onsen). However, nice French dinner with wine pairing, good service

14. Hotel Tateyama (2010) – probably the highest hotel in Japan in Murodo @2400m along the Alpine route. Not true onsen but using heated natural spring water. However, good French dinner and service. Sea of clouds beneath if weather permits.

15. Kaze-no-Terrace Kukuna (2016) – Kawaguchi-ko onsen. Hotel has rotenburo and rooms facing Mt Fuji. Nice Teppanyaki dinner.

16. Bella Vista (2016) – Onomichi onsen resort facing the Seto Inland Sea. Dinner and Breakfast were meticulously prepared.

17. Kawakyu (2017) – Luxurious onsen resort with nice seaview, lavishly deocrated and excellent meals were served.

18. Sakan (2017) – Historical onsen resort in Akiu onsen nearby Sendai. Venue of the G7 Finance Ministers’ meeting in 2016.

19. Tenku no fune (2017) – Luxurious onsen resort in Kami-Amakusa, Kyushu. Each room has en suite rotenburo. Only Italian meals are served.
    

20. Iya onsen hotel (2018) – perched on a high cliff, huge rotenburo accessible downhill by private cable car. Stayed in a room with ensuite rotenburo and gorgeous koyo views at peak.

21. Yufuin Hanayoshi (2019) – own spacious flat with ensuite onsen, view of Mt Yufu from open deck.

22. Koroukan Gekkoen (2019) – semi suite room with gorgeous koyo views. Delicious Kaiseki dinner with meticulous service.

23. ANA Intercontinental Beppu Resort & Spa (2020) – newly opened 5-star onsen resort

 

Note – lists above not exhaustive. We have not solicited let alone received any sponsorship nor benefit from any party operating those facilities. Do check out their latest reviews before making your own decisions.