The 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) You Must Visit in Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa is a group of islands in southern Japan and its climate is tropical. Because it’s usually warm or hot, you may not associate Okinawa with hot springs. It’s worth it. Jump in a hot spring between sunbathing or after a fun day in water. Make sure you didn’t get too much sun before you go. The water could be really stingy otherwise! Here are some places I can highly recommend.

1. Ryukyu Onsen Ryujin-no yu

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Senagajima Island is a little island near Naha Airport. It is well known to be the best spot to see airplanes taking off. The Island has become popular since a new shopping more was built in 2015.

Ryujin-no-yu is located in Senagajima Hotel. It is a natural hot spring coming up 1kim underneath the Island 50 liter every minute. The water contains Sodium and helps you make your body warm up. It’s perfect if you spend all day in the sea.

There are two baths, one for men and one for women, which is common. The baths are different so they change every other day. They both have stone baths, pot baths, a laying spring and a sauna. They have different views and facilities so try both if you can.

You can see a splendid view of the ocean during the day. I like to go there I the evening to see the sun set. As it is close to the airport, you can pop in just before you take off!

2. Tennenn Onsen Sasisano Enjin-no-yu

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Because of its unique geographic structure underneath, Enjin-no-yu offers a total natural hot spring. That means the water doesn’t need to be treated at all to be served. In some places, the water needs to be filtrated or adjusted to be safe to our body. The water in Unjin-no-yu is totally organic.

Because of that the water looks slightly dark brown. It contains some minerals which work for recovery and very good for someone who is sensitive to coldness. Nevertheless the minerals are very effective for silky soft skin!

Unjin-no-yu is located in Yuinchi Hotel Nanjyo which is on one of the highlands in Nanjo city. Enjoy the panorama view of the city day and night from the baths. The staffs are very friendly and will give you advice how to use the facilities effectively.

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3. Uchina-yu

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Uchina-yu is not just a public baths. It has everything you need to easy your body from daily stress and tiredness. You can easily spend a day there.

One of the baths is called Haku-yu, white hot spring, which contains minerals and calcium from corals. One I called Event-yu which offers different themes every day. Themes are like Lavender, Maples, Aloe, and Peppermint. This is a Jacuzzi. The sauna is made with rock salts which is effective for blood circulation and recovery. If that is too hot, you can stay in a steam room. The mist is very effective for joint pains.

There are facilities for different types of massages with salts, oil or shiatsu. You can have facial massage or full body. After all, you can relax in relaxation room lying on a sun bed. What a nice way to spend a day, don’t you think?

4. Rikkarikka-no-yu

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Rikkarikka-no-yu is located right in the middle of Naha city in Naha Central Hotel. A perfect place for backpackers!

It is a community spa for locals. I’ve never seen so many bath tabs in one place. Each tab is good for a certain thing. One is good for tightening your skin and body. One has bubbles which massage your body. It looks like each bubble should be aiming at a certain pot on your body to be effective. Some are hot and some are warm. Each bath has a purpose.

There are 3 saunas: Steam, dry, salts. You can ever rub salts to your bogy to get rid of bad skin! There is a room for bathing on stones. The light in the room is dimmed and make you feel like you are in a cave. There are boxes of baths with partitions. The best way to relax. It is a very family friendly place with a restaurants and vending machine.

5. Miegusuku Onsen Shumanchu-no-yu & Uminchu-no-yu

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There are two Loisir Hotel in Okinawa. One is called Loisir Hotel Naha and the other is Loisir Spa Hotel.

The water for the baths in both hiotel comes from Miegusuki Onsen. The water contains a lot of salt and very good for making your body warm. The water springs up constantly and is very hygienic.

They both have a big bath and some small ones. They also have a sauna and relaxation rooms. There are family friendly but make sure they don’t swim in the big baths! The one Uminchu-no-yu in Spa Hotel is decorated in Okinawa style and very exotic. The view of blue sky from Rotenburo, outer bath, in Uminchu-no-yu is so refreshing. Both open for public and if you stay at one of them, you can go to the other one for free.

 
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6. Enagic Tennen Onsen Aroma

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Aroma is a large public spa with natural hot water springing up 1300m underneath the city of Ginowan. The building is like an authentic Japanese house and it has a beautiful Japanese garden which you can view from Rotenburo, an outer bath. You will forget you are in Okinawa. The garden is beautiful under blue sky but also nice in the night with a few dimmed lights.

There are a jaccuzi and a shallow bath where you can lay down. They also have a inner bath which tab is made of Japanese cypress. The smell is so nice.

The hospitality at Aroma is excellent. They will have everything to make you feel like home. Why don’t you try their massages after a long bath!

7. Terme Villa Chura-yu

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Terme Villa Chura-yu is located one of the most popular shipping area called American Village. Relaxation is not the only thing you can enjoy at this place. There are naked zone and swimsuit zone.

Naked zone is separated, of course, one for men and one for women. There are a hot bath, a cold bath, Jacuzzi and sauna. There are 3 swimming pools with natural hot spring water outside where you go in your swimsuits.

It is located right next to Sunset Beach. Enjoy your day at the beach and call in Chura-yu on your way back. There is a restaurant called Chatan Dining. You can have lovely Okinawa suisine with live music of Okinawa Bands every day.

→The 10 Best Beaches You Must Visit in Okinawa, Japan

8. Blue Reef

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Hotel Monterey is a very stylish with ocean view for all rooms. Blue Reef is their spa area with inner and outer baths, swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, a sauna and a steam room. There is a sports gym next to it so that you can make yourself sweat on a treadmill. Although it is located in a hotel, it is open for public and you can get a day pass if you’d prefer. This is a place to be when the weather is not particularly good to go out.

The kid’s pool is not big but there is a slide children can have fun. It is such a relief for parents to have an area without worrying about making noise. The spa is very spacious and stylish. This is a place where you want to be away from the noise from outside and soak yourself in hot water to relax.

9. Juraki Onsen Churaumi-no-yu

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Churaumi-no-yu is located in Hotel Orion Motobu Resort & Spa. It was built in 2015 so rather new. The view you Emerald green ocean and horizon over the steam of hot spring is just amazing. The water springs up from the stones 1500m beneath which are over 200 million years old. The panorama view is absolutely fantastic, especially the sun set. There are a lot of chairs along the windows for you to relax after bathing.

The natural water is floating, not rotating; therefore it is very hygienic and organic. There are a lot of sightseeing spots around the hotel including the large aquarium. Children under 12 are free although you are not staying at the hotel. A good place to stop for refreshing between sightseeing and dinner!

10. Yurikashi Kanna Thalasso Laguna

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Kanna Thalasso Laguna is a chain of Yurikashi Hotel group and Thalasso Laguna offer the best Thalasso Therapy in Asia.

Thalasso therapy is a hydro therapy in sea water. Trace of elements of magnesium, potassium, calsium sodium and iodide found in seawater are believed to be absorbed through the skin. It is believed to have a strong healing effect and a lot of research is being done in France and Germany. The water is not from natural hot spring. There are 14 different baths, pools, saunas and Jacuzzi to enjoy the heated hot sea water.

This place is not just for relaxation. It is very effective for rehabilitation. There are programs for different purpose and the staffs are very helpful explain the best way to spend time there. There are chiropractors on site but you need to book in advance.

Let’s enjoy Onsen experience in Okinawa!

So what do you think? There is no day you get bored in Okinawa. There are millions of things to do. Everyone needs to relax after being active. So find a hot sping of your choice and indulge yourself in water. Treat yourself to a nice long massage or sauna to recover for the next day of fun!