Hot springs, or ‘onsen’, are a great idea any time of year, but there’s something about being outside and up to your chin in hot water that really appeals in the colder periods.

Fortunately, you don’t need to head to one of Japan’s many onsen tourist hotspots, which are usually overrun throughout the year anyway. There are plenty of hot spring getaway locations right here in Hiroshima.

If you’re unsure of exactly what to do in an onsen, you can find a good rundown of basic etiquette here. Otherwise, dive in (pun intended) here for a rundown of great local spots.

Miyahama Onsen

This popular onsen resort is in Hatsukaichi city, only a fifteen-minute drive from the Miyajimaguchi ferry terminal. There are four inns, including Sekitei, famed for its garden. The baths come with carefully framed views of Miyajima and the Seto Inland Sea. You can enjoy a relaxing bath and stay for delicious food afterwards. Whether you just want to bathe or stay in overnight lodgings, it makes for a very easy (albeit somewhat pricey) trip away from downtown Hiroshima.

Website: http://miyahamaonsen.com/

Hotel Ofutei

This lush accommodation nestled within the port town of Tomonoura boasts 44 separate rooms, including jacuzzi suites, Japanese-style rooms, and even open-air baths. The resort offers great views of the Seto Inland Sea as well as a nice restaurant serving up seasonal seafood and vegetables.

Website: https://www.ofutei.com/index.html

Washu Grand Hotel Bizenya Koshi

One of two main ryokan (Japanese inn) in Hiroshima’s Kurashiki district, this accommodation includes 75 rooms and seven hot-spring baths where bathers can relax and enjoy beautiful sea views. Tourist attractions nearby include the Seto Ohashi Bridge, Mount Washu Observatory, and the Konpirasan Shrine.

Website: https://www.bizenya-koshi.com/en/

Yuki Onsen Lodge

Yuki Onsen consists of several ryokan where you’ll find warm, refreshing springs as well as mountain scenery and a variety of dining options. Most days visitors head straight for the large Yuki Lodge, which is best equipped for guests who don’t want to stay overnight. The resort also includes Yu-no-yama, a designated Significant Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan, where you will find the picturesque Yuyamamyo Shrine on the hill above the springs. Local Asano clan lords are believed to have used the onsen during the Edo period.

In warmer months, the area also offers some excellent hiking, or just a chance to stroll past the houses backed along the little Minochigawa River.

Website: https://yuki-lodge.jp/

Megahira Hot Spring Ski Resort

Finally, we move deeper into the mountains. Megahira is the closest ski resort to downtown Hiroshima. It’s got less to offer as a ski resort than some of the other nearby facilities, but it’s still fun, with a good snowboard park and nearly six kilometers of ski runs.

One appealing feature for those shy about getting naked is that there are mixed-sex baths where patrons are required to wear bathing suits. For some, this may be a gentler introduction to the onsen experience. For purists, of course, there are still sex-segregated baths. On the women’s side, there’s even a bath made from the wood of a 45,000-year-old tree imported from New Zealand. You won’t get a chance to bathe in these conditions every day!

Website: http://www.megahira.co.jp/pc/spa.html

windowmoon [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons