Travel guide: Escape Japan crowds, visit hot springs in the countryside

If you want to visit Japan but are looking to avoid the heavy crowds, Travel News Blitz’s Moe Ikeda guides you through the solution.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), the number of international travellers to Japan from January to April was about 14 million visits. 

Around Tokyo and Osaka, locals feel there are more inbound tourists than Japanese people. 

To swap out the tourist rush for a peaceful experience, here are two onsen resorts that are easy to walk around and explore within one day.

Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉)

Naruko Onsen is a small hot spring village located in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region. 

It has a history of more than 1,100 years since it opened and features two public and over 15 private baths.

From Tokyo, it takes 2 hours to go to Furukawa Station by Shinkansen. 

Then, you can transfer to the Rikuuto Line to Naruko-Onsen Station, which takes 50 minutes.

You can also get off the Shinkansen at Sendai Station along the way to visit the biggest city in the Tohoku region. 

It sounds far to visit. However, it is definitely worth going there. 

The scenery from the window on the Rikuuto Line is beautiful and ripped straight out of the Studio Ghibli films. 

You can see the quiet rural landscape, such as rice fields, rivers and mountains. 

A spot you should visit in Naruko is Takinoyu, one of the public baths. 

This is an ancient hot spring with a thousand-year history as the sacred spring of Naruko Onsen Shrine. 

You can enjoy the same hot spring as people in the past did. 

With its building made out of wood, it may remind you of the onsen in the film Spirited Away. 

Admission fees are 300 JPY for adults and 100 JPY for children.  

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Yugawara Onsen (湯河原温泉) 

Yugawara Onsen  is a hot spring resort located in Kanagawa Prefecture. 

A long time ago, this land was used as a therapeutic bath for warriors and villagers. 

Since the Edo period, this place has been called “Yugawara Onsen".

From Tokyo, it takes 40 minutes to Atami Station by Shinkansen. 

Then, you can transfer to Tokaido Line and get off at the next station. 

Atami is one of the most famous tourist spots, where it is crowded all the time. 

By just moving to the next station from Atami, you can escape from the inbound crowds. 

Nestled between mountains and the ocean, it is an area blessed with nature. 

Therefore, you can enjoy the blessings of the ocean and mountains. 

Yugawara Soyu is the park where you can enjoy taking a bath and exploring nature, such as a river and waterfalls. The cafe also has books you can read for free. 

Spending a relaxing time drinking a drink and reading near a waterfall sounds like a lovely way to do a digital detox!

If you would like to have dishes made with fish caught locally, there is a Japanese restaurant, Matsui, run by a local fish shop. 

They serve great portions of Japanese-style fish dishes at excellent values. 

One of the great menus is Sashimi Teisyoku, made with fresh fish.

What's the true meaning of staying at an onsen village? 

Staying at an onsen village is a great way of having a relaxing time, not doing a lot of sightseeing. 

In a small village, you can touch its history and communicate with local people away from the hustle and bustle. 

Hence, it is the perfect break from the usual nonstop vacation and a valuable addition to your Japan trip.

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