Hiroshima Day Trips

A soak in an onsen is a welcome way to warm up during Japan’s colder months, although hot spring bathing is popular throughout the year. Hiroshima offers several options, from mountain bathhouses to coastal inns overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Here are four places to consider, whether you want a quick city visit or a relaxing overnight stay. What is an onsen? An onsen is a natural hot spring, and the word also refers to the bathing facilities that use its water. Baths can be indoors or outdoors, ranging from simple public facilities to those within hotels and traditional Japanese inns, known as ryokan. Under Japan’s Hot Springs Act, spring water qualifies if it is at least 25°C at its source or meets specified mineral or other substance thresholds. This means some onsen use naturally cool spring water that is heated for bathing. A sento, by comparison, is a public bathhouse that typically uses heated ordinary water, although some also use natural hot spring water. Yunoyama Onsen In the mountains of Hiroshima’s Saeki Ward, Yunoyama Onsen offers a quieter alternative to the city’s sightseeing spots. According to the bathhouse’s official history, the springs were discovered around 1,200 years ago, and…