Onsen

"After a long day or week, few things are more relaxing than hanging out naked with some strangers in a Japanese-style bath."

If you don't believe the above statement, you have to at least give it a try. Use this guide to find yourself a good onsen.

Northern Mie

• Kuwana : Nagashima Onsen

  Both natural and man-made. There are a number of onsen hotels right next to Nagashima Spa Land that allow visitors to the amusement park to make use of the onsen for a few hundred yen -- much cheaper than staying overnight at these fairly luxurious ryokan-style hotels. Some of the baths at these hotels are quite scenic.

• Suzuka : Hana Shōbu

  Man-made. Very new and modern onsen complex near Bell City containing a number of different baths. The unique man-woman (clothed) sauna facilities within the complex are truly impressive and beat almost all other man-made onsen or sento.

Central Mie

• Tsu : Sakakibara Onsen

  Natural. Probably Mie's most well-known onsen town. It was considered in the Heian Era to be one of the top three best onsen in Japan, however in the Edo Era its position on this list was revoked and given to Gero Onsen. Accessible by bus from either Hisai Station or Sakakibara-onsen-guchi Station.

Eastern Mie

None listed

Western Mie

None listed

Southern Mie

None listed

Outside Mie

None listed