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Planning a longer road trip in Japan?
For stays of several weeks or more, a monthly rental can be simpler than booking a new car every few days.
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Japan's hot spring towns are a natural fit for road trips, and many of the country's best-known onsen destinations are easiest to reach by car, particularly those tucked into mountain valleys or coastal cliffs away from major train lines. This section covers driving notes and practical tips for combining a soak in the hot springs with sightseeing along the way.
Popular onsen destinations covered here include Hakone, with its mix of mountain views and easy access from Tokyo, and the coastal hot spring towns of the Izu Peninsula, where it's possible to bathe with an ocean view. Many ryokan and public bathhouses offer day-use access for visitors who aren't staying overnight, which makes it easy to add an onsen stop to a longer driving route without committing to a full stay.
Because onsen towns are often built around narrow mountain or coastal roads, parking can be limited near the most popular facilities, especially on weekends and during holiday periods. Arriving earlier in the day or checking whether a ryokan offers guest parking in advance can help avoid delays, particularly for travelers planning to combine multiple onsen stops in a single road trip.
