The term "onsen" can create some confusion as to whether one is talking about a Japanese hot springs resort area in general (town or area name), i.e. Beppu or Arima Onsen, or referring to a specific individual traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) which has bathing facilities and is located within the larger hot springs resort area. All across the Internet on a variety of sites related to Japanese hot springs there is an indiscriminant use of the term "onsen" to describe both the hot springs area and the individual inns. This leads to a lot of confusion we call "onsen nonsense". It is often hard to determine exactly what some "onsen" review sites are trying to provide information about!
For purposes of onsen ratings on Buddha's Bath we will be focusing on the individual ryokan level as categorized under the larger widely-know hot springs resort area name and prefecture name. We will always refer to an individual inn with bathing facilites as an "onsen-ryokan."
Here is an example of how information is categorized on Buddha's Bath:
Nakanobo Zui-en, Arima Onsen, Hyogo Prefecture
Onsen-Ryokan Name Town Name Prefecture Name
Click here to learn about our exclusive onsen-ryokan ratings methodology - the Lotus Score. We have developed Lotus Scores for over 700 onsen-ryokan. As you follow through the many pages of onsen-ryokan ratings please remember that links to the onsen-ryokan properties will be in embeded in the following images:
For Japanese
For English
Please also note that while you are researching oncen-ryokan you may forget the methodology associated with the Lotus Score and may wish to review. At the top of every page on the BuddhasBath.com site is the following image which will take you to the explanation page for the Lotus Score:
Buddha's Bath readers can also particpate in rating onsen-ryokan establishments through the Hot or Not? Guest Rating. Learn more here.
Let's Begin Your Search!
Alphabetical Search Based Upon Prefecture Name
Onsen Resort Areas Close to Popular Cities
Onsen-Ryokan Rating Lists
Onsen-Ryokan in Less Well-Known Areas