Chiba: Top 19 Hot Springs for Overnight Stays or Day Trips from Tokyo

Hot Springs in Chiba: Stay Overnight or Enjoy on a Day Trip

A map showing our recommended ryokans and hotels in each of Chiba's hot spring areas.

Chiba Prefecture is close to the heart of Tokyo, but it's also blessed with scenic spots that are surrounded by sea and mountains, as well as countless hot springs.

Places like Shirahama Onsen and Kamogawa Onsen are perfect for an overnight stay as you enjoy the hot springs. But there are also many other great hot spring areas that are accessible by day trip.

This article features our recommended hot springs, nearby ryokans, and hotels, as well as useful travel tips.

Near Tokyo! Hot Spring Facilities in Chiba Prefecture

Hot Spring Facilities and Hotels in Southern Chiba Prefecture

1. Shirahama Hot Springs

Photo by Pixta

Shirahama Town is located in Minami Boso City at the Boso Peninsula's southern tip.

The spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean from here is captivating. This area has many highlights including stunnning sunsets from Nojimazaki Lighthouse. You can also enjoy various marine sports such as surfing and diving.

Shirahama is one of Chiba Prefecture's leading hot spring areas. Within the town there are many hot spring inns.

Recommended Hot Spring Hotels in Shirahama

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Shirahama Ocean Resort offers an ocean view from each of its guest rooms.

Enjoy these spectacular views as you soak in the soothing waters of the hot spring.
It features a sodium chloride-bicarbonate hot spring. This will warm your body right to the core and improve blood circulation.

The resort has other attractive features such as a dog park where you can spend some enjoyable time with your pet, and tasty cuisine using locally caught fresh seafood.

*Not accessible by day trip

2. Kamogawa Hot Springs / Kominato Hot Springs

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Kamogawa City is one of Chiba Prefecture's leading sightseeing spots. This area is known for Kamogawa Sea World with its popular dolphin and killer whale shows, and the terraced rice paddies of Oyama Senmaida.

Kamogawa is home to more than 20 hot spring inns. In the summer, visitors can enjoy marine sports and swimming in the sea, and in the winter you can spend luxurious moments soaking in the hot spring waters as you listen to the sound of the waves.

There are also many restaurants offering fresh local seafood. The kaisendon (fresh seafood rice bowl) is particularly popular.

The Kominato Fishing Port area, not far from Kamogawa Hot Springs, is also known for being the birthplace of Saint Nichiren―the Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher.

Here, also, as Kominato Hot Springs, there are several hot spring inns.

Recommended Hotels at Kamogawa / Kominato Hot Springs

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Kamogawa Grand Hotel offers ocean views from most of its guest rooms. On the spacious Premium Floors (5th, 6th, 7th floors), guests can choose from a variety of room types including Western-style and Japanese-style.

The hotel also features three types of hot spring baths: Umi no Kairo, a large hot spring with several varieties of baths; private open-air baths (rotemburo) where guests can spend time alone with their loved ones in a spacious area; and guest rooms on the Premium Floors which have their own open-air baths.

*Accessible by day trip

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Kichimu is a popular ryokan at Kominato Hot Springs. The guest rooms have beautiful ocean views and there's an open-air bath where you can enjoy stunning scenery, 35 meters above the ground.

*Not accessible by day trip.

3. Tateyama Hot Springs Village (Tateyama)

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Tateyama City is located at the southern tip of Chiba Prefecture and is a sightseeing destination known for its scenic beauty.

Its many highlights include a scenic coastal road called Boso Flower Line, Awa Shrine which is one of Japan's Top Three Fortune Shrines, and an uninhabited island with a beach called Okinoshima Island.

In Tateyama there are also numerous restaurants serving fresh seafood, and about 20 hot spring inns.

Recommended Hotels at Tateyama Hot Springs Village

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Tateyama Hot Springs Senri no Kaze is a hot spring ryokan where visitors can savor dishes made with fresh seafood delivered directly from the facility's own fixed fishing nets.

The hot spring is a sodium bicarbonate spring which is said to have skin-beautifying properties. On the ryokan's third floor there's an open-air bath with a great view.

*Accessible by day trip

4. Yoro Valley Hot Springs

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The Yoro Valley is located in Chiba Prefecture's Otaki-machi and is one of the prefecture's most scenic nature spots.

Visitors here can easily enjoy various outdoor leisure activities including mountain stream fishing, hiking, and barbecuing. In the fall season many sightseeing visitors are captivated by the colorful autumn leaves and relaxing hot springs.

This area is dotted with many tasteful and elegant ryokan and other accommodation facilities. Each and every one offers their own unique range of services.

Recommended Ryokan at Yoro Valley Hot Springs

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Yoro Valley Hot Springs Village-Tenryuso is a small, traditional ryokan.

Its characteristic feature is the sodium bicarbonate chloride spring waters, also known as kuroyu (black hot spring water). These waters are gentle on your body and leave your skin feeling extra smooth.

*Accessible by day trip

5. Katsuura Hot Springs / Ubara Hot Springs

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Katsuura City is known for its morning market. Along with Ishikawa Prefecture's Wajima Market and Gifu Prefecture's Takayama Market, Katsuura Morning Market is said to be one of Japan's Top Three Morning Markets. Here you can also find many ryokan with hot spring facilities.

Ubara Utopia is a sightseeing spot where Mother Nature has carved out some unique topography along the coastline. This area also has hideaway hot spring ryokans.

Recommended Hotels & Ryokan at Katsuura / Ubara Hot Springs

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Katsuura Hilltop Hotel & Residence is one of Katsuura's most popular hotels. It uses part of a resort condominium for accommodation. Despite its luxurious feel, you can stay here at a reasonable price.

On the premises you'll find Sotobo-no-Yu, a famous hot spring that's been loved as a regional health resort since the Edo Period (1603-1868).

*Not accessible by day trip

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

There's also Ubarakan, an inn with a spectacular view and a hidden hot spring feel. This unique spot features a tunnel hot spring bath, located at the end of a small tunnel, and a cave hot spring bath offering an extraordinary experience.

*Not accessible by day trip

6. Chikura Hot Springs

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Chikura is a port town in Minami Boso City offering a wide range of delicious seafood. Visitors here can enjoy beautiful flower gardens and unique public art.

Chikura also has many hot springs. It's close to Kamogawa City, so we recommend visiting popular spots in the nearby area including Kamogawa Sea World.

Recommended Hotels at Chikura Hot Springs

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Chikurakan is a long-established inn where you can enjoy Chiba Prefecture's oldest hot spring and tasty seafood.

This inn is known for Shutsujin-no-Yu and Hagoromo-no-Yu, two popular hot spring baths. These were named in honor of famous samurai Minamoto no Yoritomo, who is said to have fled the capital to come here and restore his strength in order to fight another battle.

*Not accessible by day trip

7. Kameyama Hot Springs

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Lake Kameyama, in Chiba Prefecture's Kimitsu City, is the prefecture's largest lake.

It's highlighted by beautiful scenery in each season, including colorful autumn leaves in the fall. Visitors can enjoy various outdoor leisure activities such as boat cruises on the lake, plus camping, sports, and fruit picking in the local area.

Kameyama City is also famous for Nomizo Falls, a nearby spot that's one of the prefecture's most picturesque.

At Kameyama Hot Springs, guests can enjoy the onsen waters at Oedo Onsen Monogatari Kimitsu no Mori, either by staying here overnight or visiting by day trip.

Recommended Hotels at Kameyama Hot Springs

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Kameyama Onsen Hotel is a long-established hotel that opened in 1950. It sits on the shore of Lake Kameyama, so it's the perfect spot for enjoying scenic views.

The hot springs, chocolate-colored due to the accumulation of plant material dissolving in the water, have been known for their skin beautifying effects since ancient times.

*Accessible by day trip

8. Iwai Hot Springs (Minami Boso City)

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Iwai Hot Springs sits along the Iwai coastline in Minami Boso City. From the olden days it's a spot that's been known as a "beauty hot spring."

The Iwai coastline boasts many attractions. The popular beaches attract many anglers and sunbathers, and nearby, there's one of the prefecture's scenic spots, Mt. Nokogiri.

Recommended Hotels at Iwai Hot Springs

Just as its name suggests, the Ocean View Hot Spring Condominium Hotel-Grand View Iwai comes with a hot spring offering panoramic views.

Guests can stay here at relatively affordable prices since the hotel uses a resort condominium as accommodation.

*Not accessible by day trip

Areas Along the Pacific Ocean (Choshi to Shirako)

9. Inubosaki Hot Springs (Choshi)

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The Choshi area is one of Chiba's most popular sightseeing spots.

Its many highlights include Inubosaki Lighthouse, where you can see the earliest sunrise in Japan, a popular local train that offers picturesque country scenery, the Choshi Electric Railway, as well as delicious fresh seafood.

The Choshi-Inubosaki area also has many places to enjoy hot springs.

Recommended Hotels at Inubosaki Hot Springs (Choshi)

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The Inubosaki Kanko Hotel is a place where guests can enjoy tasty cuisine using the fresh bounty from the nearby sea.

Visitors can enjoy the hot spring by staying overnight or by visiting on a day trip. As you soak in the sodium-calcium chloride enriched hot spring waters, you're treated to a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

*Accessible by day trip

10. Iioka Hot Springs (Near Kujukuri)

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Kujukuri Town is a treaure trove of fresh seafood, known for being Japan's leading producer of sardines (iwashi). In the local area you'll find many spots where you can enjoy seafood including grilled marine products (amiyaki).

Also the nearby Katakai Beach is especially popular with surfers.

The area that lies between Kujukuri and Choshi has an onsen district called Iioka Hot Springs, home to many hot spring inns.

Recommended Hotels at Iioka Hot Springs (Kujukuri)

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Iioka Shiosai Hotel is located on the east side of Kujukuri Beach. This popular hotel is known for its delicious seafood dishes.

The hot spring waters are a dark brown-colored, sodium bicarbonate spring. It's said to be good for cuts and burns, and it's famous as a "beauty hot spring," known for its skin-beautifying properties.

*Accessible by day trip

11. Shirako Hot Springs (Near Kujukuri)

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Shirako Hot Springs sits along the Shirako coastline next to Kujukuri Town.

This is an ancient hot springs area. It's called the "golden hot spring" because of its light yellow-colored spring water. It's said to be effective for dry skin, poor circulation, and depression.

Recommended Hotels at Shirako Hot Springs

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Hotel Shirako Sunrise Otsuka is located in the Shirako Hot Spring area. In addition to the all natural hot springs, the hotel has a full lineup of athletic facilities including tennis courts and a baseball field. This is ideal for people who want to enjoy sports.

*Not accessible by day trip

12. Chosei Hot Springs (Near Kujukuri)

Chosei-mura is a small village facing Kujukuri Beach.

This area has a mild climate throughout the year due to the effects of the Pacific Ocean's Black Current (Kuroshio). Nearby there's a beach that's popular with surfers, Ichinomiya Coast, and there's also the rail line for the popular Izumi Railway.

Recommended Hotels at Chosei Hot Springs

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Spa & Resort Kujukuri Taiyo-no-sato features Chiba Prefecture's largest facility for bedrock bathing (ganbanyoku). Hotel guests and day trip visitors alike can enjoy this relaxing experience.

In addition to the natural hot spring and bedrock bathing, this spa also offers delicious cuisine using locally caught seafood, and a wide range of fun events including comedy shows.

*Accessible by day trip

Other Hot Springs / Spas Accessible by Day Trip

So far we've introduced the main hot spring areas, but Chiba Prefecture also has other popular spas and hot spring facilities.

13. Spa & Hotel Maihama Eurasia (Maihama)

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Maihama is famous for being the location of Tokyo Disneyland.

Spa & Hotel Maihama Eurasia (Japanese) has many spas and restaurants. These are available for hotel guests and day-trip visitors as well.

The hotel also offers body care and beauty treatments. So this is the perfect spot if you'd like to get pampered after a long day of fun at Disneyland!

14. Teganuma Spa Resort Natural Hot Springs Manten-no-Yu (Kashiwa)

Picture courtesy of Teganuma Spa Resort Natural Hot Springs Manten-no-Yu-Official Homepage

Teganuma Spa Resort Natural Hot Springs Manten-no-Yu is a hot spring facility located near one of Chiba's historic sites, Teganuma.

There are four types of indoor baths, a dry sauna and yomogi (herb from the mugwort plant) sauna, as well as three kinds of open-air baths (rotemburo) with natural hot spring water.

Across from the hotel there's Shonan Roadside Station. After a relaxing dip in the hot spring, you can have some fun shopping here before returning back.

15. Ryugujo Spa Hotel Mikazuki (Kisarazu)

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Kisarazu City sits on the Chiba coastline opposite Umihotaru, a scenic 24-hour rest stop on the sea near Tokyo.

Here you'll find the Ryugujo Spa Hotel Mikazuki, where visitors can enjoy spectacular ocean views from the popular spa. The spa is ideal for hotel guests and day trippers.

There's also a wide range of entertainment facilities as well as a pool. So even families with children can have fun here for the entire day.

16. Funabashi Hot Springs Yuraku no Sato (Funabashi)

Picture courtesy of Funabashi Hot Springs Yura no Sato-Official Homepage (Japanese)

Funabashi Hot Springs Yura no Sato (Japanese) is situated in Funabashi, a city with great access from Tokyo. It's a highly rated hot spring facility that placed first in one of the categories of the 18th Nifty Hot Springs Annual Ranking 2023.

This hot spring is a sodium chloride strong salt spring containing iodine (neutral, hypertonic, low temperature spring). It has excellent heat-retaining properties so it's also called a "hot temperature hot spring."

17. Spa Metsa Otaka Ryusenji no Yu (Nagareyama)

Picture courtesy of Spa Metsa Otaka Ryusenji no Yu-Official Homepage (Japanese)

Nagareyama is a popular town that has consistently ranked first for population growth in Japan in recent years. Spa Metsa Otaka Ryusenji no Yu (Japanese) is a highly ranked spa that was awarded top prize nationwide in SAUNACHELIN 2022.

Here there's a total of 15 different types of baths including five carbonated hot spring baths. There are also three saunas with themes, as well as three kinds of cold water baths. So visitors have a variety of ways to enjoy themselves here.

Whether you're hoping to ease the fatigue of everyday life or you want to enjoy some special, out-of-the-ordinary moments, this is the ideal spot for both.

18. Narita Airport Hot Springs Soranoyu

Picture courtesy of Narita Airport Hot Springs Soranoyu-Official Homepage

Narita Airport Hot Springs Soranoyu is an onsen facility just three minutes on foot from Shibayama-Chiyoda Station. From Narita Airport it's only ten minutes by car and there's also a complimentary shuttle bus in operation.

Here they provide a huge range of facilities. There's an open-air bath offering views of airplanes, as well as bedrock bathing (ganbanyoku) and saunas.

Then for something slightly different they also have karaoke, a manga corner, a capsule hotel, and a fitness center. It's a handy place to stop by when waiting at the airport, and is also great for relieving one's daily fatigue.

19. Shisui Hot Springs Yura no Sato Kirari

Picture courtesy of Shisui Hot Springs Yura no Sato Kirari-Official Homepage (Japanese)

Shisui Hot Springs Yura no Sato Kirari is located right near the popular shopping spot, Shisui Premium Outlet, not far from Narita Airport.

The hot springs at Shisui Hot Springs Yura no Sato Kirari (Japanese) are a sodium chloride strong salt spring containing iodine. They offer excellent heat-retaining properties so you won't get cold after your dip in this "high temperature hot spring."

There's also an open-air bath as well as a loyly sauna (Finnish sauna), so this is the ideal rest stop after an enjoyable shopping excursion!

Take a Relaxing Dip in One of Chiba's Hot Springs!

Chiba Prefecture―next to Tokyo with convenient access―has many hot spring districts, as well as spa / hot spring facilities that are ideal for day trips.

Using today's article as a reference, please choose one of these spots in Chiba as your next hot spring destination!

Main image courtesy of Booking.com (Kamogawa Grand Hotel)