Number of hot spring sources in Japan 2013-2023

As of March 2023, approximately 27.9 thousand hot spring (onsen) sources exist in Japan. Many of the spring wells have been tapped into and are used as assets in the tourism industry, as well as in other fields. Around 11 thousand hot spring sources remain unused.

Onsen types

A variety of onsen types exist. In general, springwater temperature needs to be at 25° or higher for the source to be called a hot spring, but there are exceptions to this rule. Most springs classified as onsen have water that is over 42C° hot. Another distinction exists between self-gushing and pumped-up sources. Most hot springs that are currently in use necessitate artificial hauling of the water.

Prefectures with onsen tourism

Naturally, the distribution of hot spring sources along the Japanese archipelago is uneven. The leading prefectures by number of onsen springs are Oita and Kagoshima Prefectures, located on Kyushu, the southernmost island among Japan’s four main islands.
Despite this, by far the highest number of lodging facilities surrounding onsen is in Shizuoka Prefecture. One reason might be that Shizuoka is within driving distance from both Tokyo and Nagoya metropolitan areas, with bullet trains pacing from station to station in slightly more than an hour.
Regarding the annual number of overnight stays at onsen facilities Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, recorded the highest figures. While hot spring resorts around Shizuoka Prefecture are popular for short trips, Hokkaido Prefecture is a common travel destination for wellness and winter sports enthusiasts, with many tourists opting for extended stays.