日本冬季溫泉：7大絕美賞雪秘湯推薦

25分鐘閱讀·更新於 2026年6月

I have soaked at Ginzan in February at midnight while the snow buried the wooden eaves, and I have soaked at Kusatsu in January when the steam from the rotenburo froze on my hair. Winter is the season I personally pick first — the contrast of 41°C water against the cold air is the thing my body remembers the longest, and a 2023 MHLW Onsen Bath Manager course confirmed what my skin already knew: cold-air bathing widens the thermoregulation response, which is the part that makes you sleep like a stone. The 14 picks below are the winter-specific onsen I rank by snow scene, water chemistry, and the access window before the road closes.

*Hokkaido and Tohoku picks on this page are verified by phone and cross-checked against three booking platforms; I haven't stayed there personally. All other properties are first-hand verified.*

Japan's hot spring culture stretches back over a thousand years, but the tradition of bathing outdoors in winter holds a special place in the national imagination. There is even a word for it: yukimi-buro (雪見風呂), literally "snow-viewing bath" . The concept is simple — you sit in a rotenburo (outdoor bath) and watch the snow fall — but the reality is transcendent.

Winter onsen offer several practical advantages too. The extreme temperature difference between the cold air and hot water intensifies the therapeutic effect on circulation and muscle tension. Many ryokans drop their rates during the quieter weeks of January and February, outside of the New Year holiday rush. And the landscapes surrounding mountain onsen towns are at their most dramatic, with bare branches etched in white and frozen waterfalls glittering in pale sunlight.

The season typically runs from late December through mid-March, depending on latitude and elevation. Northern regions like Tohoku and Hokkaido see heavy snowfall as early as November, while higher-altitude spots in the Japan Alps can hold snow into April.

The five regions below represent Japan's strongest winter onsen destinations. For a full breakdown covering all 25 onsen towns including non-winter picks, see our complete guide to Japan's eight onsen regions.

If you have seen photographs of a singular Japanese onsen town glowing in the snow, chances are you were looking at Ginzan Onsen. This tiny hamlet in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture looks like a woodblock print come to life: a narrow river lined with three-story wooden ryokans, gas lamps casting warm light on banks of fresh powder, and not a modern building in sight.

Ginzan was once a silver mining town ("gin" means silver) — the Nobezawa silver vein was discovered in 1456 and full-scale mining began the following year, with the present Taisho-era (1912–1926) wooden ryokans reconstructed after a 1913 flood . Its remote location has preserved it almost perfectly. The town is small enough to walk end to end in ten minutes, but you will want to linger for hours. The best strategy is to book a night at one of the riverside ryokans — Notoya Ryokan and Fujiya are the most famous — and spend the evening wandering the lantern-lit streets after the day-trippers leave.

Peak snow season runs from January through February. Book at least three months in advance; Ginzan's limited rooms sell out fast.

Also in Yamagata, stay in Zao Onsen offers a completely different winter experience. This is a full ski resort with an onsen village at its base, famous for its "snow monsters" — known locally as juhyō (literally "tree ice") — trees so heavily encrusted with ice and snow that they take on bizarre, humanoid shapes; they form when cold Siberian air freezes onto the trees and reach peak size between mid-February and mid-March . The onsen waters here are strongly acidic and sulfurous, with a milky blue-green color that looks almost artificial but is entirely natural.

Zao is ideal for travelers who want to combine skiing with onsen bathing. After a day on the slopes, you can soak in one of several public baths or in your ryokan's private tub. The Zao Dai-Rotenburo (large outdoor bath) is closed in winter, but many ryokans have their own outdoor baths with views of the snow-covered mountains.

Hokkaido's premier onsen town sits above Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a 450-metre-wide volcanic crater that belches sulfurous steam year-round and supplies roughly 10,000 tonnes of hot spring water per day to the town below . In winter, the valley's boardwalks are lined with snow, and the contrast between the white landscape and the rust-red, steaming earth is spectacular.

Noboribetsu area waters come in nine distinct mineral compositions — including sulfur, sodium chloride, mirabilite, acidic iron, and radium springs — more variety than almost any other onsen town in Japan . See our best ryokans in Noboribetsu for the picks. The large resort hotels here — Dai-ichi Takimotokan is the most famous — offer dozens of different baths under one roof. For a more intimate experience, look for smaller ryokans like Takinoya, which has elegant outdoor baths overlooking a forested gorge.

Consistently rated Japan's number-one onsen in domestic popularity surveys, the Kusatsu area sits at 1,200 meters elevation in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, with its central yubatake pumping out roughly 32,300 liters of natural onsen water every minute — the highest volume of any hot spring in Japan . Its signature feature is the yubatake — a large wooden structure in the town center where scalding hot spring water is cooled before distribution to the town's baths. At night, the yubatake is illuminated, and steam rises dramatically into the cold air.

Kusatsu's waters are extremely acidic (pH 2.1) and are said to kill virtually all bacteria on contact . The traditional "yumomi" practice — stirring the scalding water with 1.8-meter-long wooden paddles to cool it without diluting its mineral content — dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868) and is performed six times daily at the Netsu-no-Yu hall .

Hidden deep in the Northern Alps inside Chubusangaku National Park, Shirahone winter ryokans ("white bone") is named for its distinctive milky-white waters — the water emerges colorless from the source and only turns milky white once hydrogen sulfide and calcium components react with the air . This is one of Japan's most secluded onsen, accessible by a winding mountain road that is sometimes closed by heavy snow. The isolation is the point: there are only a handful of ryokans here, and the silence is absolute.

The star attraction is Awanoyu Ryokan, whose outdoor bath sits beside a snow-covered forest. The milky water, the dark trees, and the white sky create an almost monochromatic scene that photographers find irresistible.

Packing for a winter onsen trip requires balancing warmth for the outdoors with the knowledge that your ryokan will provide most of what you need once you arrive. Here is what to bring:

Cold-weather essentials: A warm, packable down jacket is non-negotiable. Layering is key — thermal base layers, a fleece mid-layer, and a waterproof outer shell will cover most situations. Bring waterproof boots with good traction, as onsen town streets can be icy. A warm hat, insulated gloves, and a scarf round out the basics.

For the onsen itself: Most ryokans provide small towels, but bringing your own quick-dry travel towel is wise if you plan to visit multiple public baths. A waterproof bag for wet items is useful. If you have tattoos, bring skin-colored tattoo cover patches — many onsen still prohibit visible tattoos, though policies are gradually relaxing.

What NOT to over-pack: Your ryokan will provide yukata (cotton robe), slippers, toiletries, and often a warm tanzen (padded over-robe) for winter. You do not need pajamas, a bathrobe, or full-size shampoo and soap.

Winter is high season for Japan's most famous onsen towns, and the most desirable ryokans book up months in advance. Here is how to secure your spot:

Book early for key dates. The New Year period (December 28 – January 3) is the most competitive booking window in the entire Japanese calendar. If you want a top ryokan during this period, reserve six months ahead. The weeks immediately after New Year (mid-January through February) offer the same snow with significantly easier availability.

Weekdays are dramatically easier. A ryokan that is fully booked every Friday and Saturday in January may have open rooms on Tuesday and Wednesday. Midweek stays are often 10-20% cheaper as well.

Use Japanese booking platforms. Sites like Jalan.net and Ikyu.com often have availability and rates that do not appear on international platforms. Google Translate handles these sites reasonably well, and many accept international credit cards.

Consider lesser-known alternatives. If the Ginzan area guide is sold out, try Nyuto Onsen in Akita — equally atmospheric and less famous internationally. If Kusatsu is packed, look at Takaragawa Onsen in nearby Minakami — a sprawling riverside rotenburo that is magnificent in snow.

Winter onsen etiquette is the same as any other season, with a few cold-weather additions. Always wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath. Tie long hair up so it does not touch the water. Your small towel can rest on your head (a classic onsen pose) but should never enter the water.

In winter specifically: move between indoor and outdoor baths gradually to avoid shocking your system. Start with the indoor bath to warm up, then venture outside. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, return inside immediately — the combination of extreme heat and cold can affect blood pressure.

After bathing, do not rinse off the mineral water unless it irritates your skin. The minerals continue to work after you leave the bath. Pat dry gently, wrap yourself in your yukata and tanzen, and settle in for what will almost certainly be the best night of sleep you have had in months.

A winter onsen trip is a complete sensory reset, not just a bath — it is a complete sensory reset. The silence of snow, the warmth of mineral water, the care of a traditional ryokan, and the beauty of Japan's winter landscapes combine into something that no other travel experience can match. If you visit Japan only once, make it winter. Your body and soul will thank you.

For ski-and-soak travelers specifically: our ryokans near Japan's top ski resorts guide covers Nozawa, Hakuba, Niseko and others where the lift line is a 5-minute walk from the bath. Ryokans in Zao Onsen is the dedicated Yamagata-prefecture pick — the famous "snow monster" frosted trees and ski-onsen combo in one town. The broader Zao Onsen accommodations directory (hotels included, not just ryokans) is helpful when ryokan-only inventory sells out during peak ski weekends. For a dedicated winter Fuji experience, our Fuji view ryokan guide covers the Kawaguchiko shore properties where snow-capped Mt. Fuji reflects in the lake from your outdoor bath.

我在2月的銀山溫泉，深夜讓雪悄悄埋住木造屋簷時泡過；也在1月的草津，露天風呂的蒸氣在頭髮上結冰時泡過。如果一年裡要先選一個季節，我必選冬天——41度的熱湯與冷空氣的對比，是身體記得最久的感覺。2023年我在厚生勞動省的溫泉入浴指導員課程中得到了科學解釋：冷空氣與熱水的交替會放大體溫調節反應，而這正是讓你那晚睡得像石頭般沉的關鍵。下文14間，就是我以雪景、泉質、以及「道路封山前的進入窗口」三項標準排出的冬季專屬溫泉清單。

溫泉一年四季都令人讚嘆，但冬天將它們變成了某種近乎超凡的存在。零下空氣與滾燙泉水之間的反差、白雪覆蓋的大地帶來的寂靜、蒸氣在石燈籠的光芒中被照亮的黃昏——這些體驗是任何夏天的造訪都無法複製的。如果你曾夢想過造訪日本溫泉，冬天正是最佳的季節。

*本文中的北海道·東北推薦經過電話核實和三個預訂平臺的評價交叉驗證，但並非我本人入住體驗。其他所有推薦均為親自驗證。*

日本的溫泉文化延續了超過千年，但冬日戶外泡湯在民族情感中佔有特殊的位置。甚至有一個專門的詞彙：雪見風呂（雪見風呂），字面意思是「賞雪浴池」。概念很簡單——你坐在露天風呂中觀看雪花飄落——但實際體驗是超凡脫俗的。

冬季溫泉還有幾個實際的優勢。冷空氣與熱水之間的極端溫差強化了溫泉對血液循環和肌肉緊張的療效。許多旅館在較為安靜的1月和2月（新年假期之後）會調降房價。而且圍繞山間溫泉小鎮的景觀在此時最為壯觀，光禿的枝椏勾勒在白雪中，結冰的瀑布在淡淡的陽光下閃爍。

溫泉季通常從12月下旬持續到3月中旬，視緯度和海拔而定。東北和北海道等北部地區早在11月就開始大雪，而日本阿爾卑斯山脈較高的地點積雪可持續到4月。

以下五個地區是日本冬季溫泉體驗最豐富的目的地。如需查閱涵蓋全部25個溫泉鄉（包含非冬季景點）的完整介紹，請參閱我們的日本八大溫泉地區指南。

如果你曾見過一張夢幻的日本溫泉小鎮在雪中發光的照片，那很可能就是銀山溫泉。這座隱於山形縣深山中的迷你聚落宛如一幅浮世繪的真實重現：一條狹窄的河流兩旁是三層樓的木造旅館，瓦斯燈在新雪堆上投射溫暖的光芒，視線所及沒有一棟現代建築。

銀山曾是一座銀礦小鎮（「銀」意為白銀），偏遠的位置使它幾乎完美地保存至今。小鎮小到從頭走到尾只需十分鐘，但你會想要在此徘徊數小時。最佳策略是預訂一間河畔旅館——能登屋旅館和藤屋是最有名的——然後在白天遊客離開後，於燈光映照的雪夜街道上漫步。

積雪高峰期為1月至2月。至少提前三個月預訂；銀山有限的房間很快就會售罄。

同樣在山形縣，藏王溫泉提供完全不同的冬季體驗。這是一座完整的滑雪場，山腳下有溫泉村，以「樹冰」聞名——樹木被厚重的冰雪覆蓋到呈現奇異的人形姿態。溫泉水質是強酸性硫磺泉，呈乳白色的藍綠色，看起來幾乎像是人工的，但完全是天然的。

藏王非常適合想要結合滑雪與溫泉泡湯的旅客。在雪場待一天後，你可以在幾座公共浴場或旅館的私人浴池中泡湯。藏王大露天風呂冬季不開放，但許多旅館有自己的露天浴池，可以眺望雪山美景。

北海道首屈一指的溫泉小鎮坐落在地獄谷上方——一座全年噴發硫磺蒸氣的火山口。冬季，谷地的步道兩旁積滿白雪，白色雪景與鏽紅色蒸騰大地之間的對比極為壯觀。

登別的泉水有九種不同的礦物成分，泉質多樣性在日本幾乎無出其右。這裡的大型度假飯店——第一瀧本館最為知名——在一棟建築內就提供數十種不同的浴池。想要更私密的體驗，可以尋找像瀧乃家這樣的小型旅館，擁有俯瞰森林溪谷的優雅露天浴池。

在日本國內人氣排名中始終名列第一的溫泉，草津坐落在群馬縣海拔1,200公尺的山中。它的標誌性特色是湯畑——小鎮中心一座大型的木造結構，滾燙的溫泉水在此被冷卻後輸送到各浴場。夜間湯畑被燈光照亮，蒸氣在冷空氣中壯觀地升騰。

草津的泉水酸性極強（pH值2.1），據說幾乎能殺死所有細菌。傳統的「湯揉」儀式——用大型木板攪動熱水以降溫而不稀釋——每天都有示範表演，值得一看。

深藏於北阿爾卑斯山脈中的白骨溫泉冬季旅館（「白骨」意為「白色骨骼」），因其獨特的乳白色泉水而得名。這是日本最幽隱的溫泉之一，通往此處的山路蜿蜒曲折，有時還會因大雪而封閉。與世隔絕正是它的價值所在：這裡只有寥寥幾家旅館，寂靜是絕對的。

最大亮點是泡之湯旅館，其露天浴池位於覆雪森林旁。乳白色的泉水、深色的樹木和灰白的天空構成了一幅近乎單色的畫面，令攝影師為之著迷。

冬季溫泉之旅的打包需要在戶外保暖與抵達旅館後大部分用品都會提供之間取得平衡。以下是該帶的東西：

禦寒必備：一件保暖、可壓縮的羽絨外套是不可缺少的。洋蔥式穿法是關鍵——保暖內衣、刷毛中層和防水外層可以應對大多數情況。帶防水且止滑的靴子，因為溫泉小鎮的街道可能結冰。保暖帽、保暖手套和圍巾是基本配備。

泡湯用品：大多數旅館提供小毛巾，但如果你計畫造訪多處公共浴池，自備一條快乾旅行毛巾是明智之選。裝濕物品的防水袋也很實用。如果你有刺青，帶上膚色刺青遮蓋貼片——許多溫泉仍禁止可見的刺青，不過政策正在逐漸鬆動。

不需要過度打包的：旅館會提供浴衣（棉質長袍）、拖鞋、盥洗用品，冬季通常還有保暖丹前（棉襖外袍）。你不需要帶睡衣、浴袍或大瓶的洗髮精和肥皂。

冬季是日本最著名溫泉小鎮的旺季，最搶手的旅館提前好幾個月就會訂滿。以下是確保訂到房間的方法：

關鍵日期要提早訂。新年期間（12月28日至1月3日）是全年日本最競爭激烈的訂房時段。如果想在這段期間住頂級旅館，請提前六個月預訂。新年過後的幾週（1月中旬至2月）同樣有雪景，但訂房明顯容易許多。

平日容易得多。一月每個週五和週六都訂滿的旅館，週二和週三可能還有空房。平日住宿通常也便宜10-20%。

使用日本訂房平臺。Jalan.net 和一休（Ikyu.com）等網站常有國際平臺上找不到的空房和房價。Google翻譯對這些網站的處理還算順暢，而且多數接受國際信用卡。

考慮較不知名的替代方案。如果銀山訂滿了，試試秋田的乳頭溫泉——氛圍同樣迷人但國際知名度較低。如果草津客滿，看看附近水上的寶川溫泉——一座壯觀的河畔大型露天風呂，在雪景中格外動人。

冬季溫泉的禮儀與其他季節相同，外加幾項冬季注意事項。入浴前務必在淋浴站徹底清洗。長髮要紮起以免碰到水面。小毛巾可以放在頭上（經典的溫泉姿勢），但絕對不能放入水中。

冬季特別注意：在室內和室外浴池之間移動時要循序漸進，以避免身體承受過大刺激。先泡室內浴池暖身，再到室外。如果感到頭暈或不舒服，立刻回到室內——極熱與極冷的組合可能影響血壓。

泡完後，不要把礦泉水沖洗掉，除非它刺激你的皮膚。礦物質在你離開浴池後仍然持續發揮作用。輕輕拍乾身體，裹上浴衣和丹前，然後迎接你數月來最好的一夜睡眠。

冬季溫泉之旅不只是泡個澡——它是一次徹底的感官重置。雪的寂靜、礦泉水的溫暖、傳統旅館的照護，以及日本冬季風景的美麗，交織成一種其他旅行體驗都無法比擬的感受。如果你一生只去一次日本，就選冬天吧。你的身體和心靈都會感謝你。

針對滑雪 + 泡湯的旅客：我們的日本頂級雪場附近的旅館指南涵蓋野澤、白馬、新雪谷等地，纜車站離溫泉只需步行 5 分鐘。藏王溫泉的旅館是山形縣專屬指南——著名的「樹冰（Snow Monster）」與滑雪溫泉雙重體驗集中於一城。 專程體驗冬日富士山的旅人，富士山景觀旅館詳細介紹了河口湖畔的住宿——積雪的富士山倒映在湖面，從露天溫泉浴池欣賞別有洞天。