日本冬季温泉精选：7大赏雪温泉胜地

26分钟阅读·更新于 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月的银山温泉，深夜让雪悄悄埋住木造屋檐时泡过；也在1月的草津，露天风吕的蒸汽在头发上结冰时泡过。每年若要先选一个季节，我必选冬天——41度的热汤与冷空气的对比，是身体记得最久的感觉。2023年我在厚生劳动省的温泉入浴指导员课程里得到了科学解释：冷空气与热水的交替会放大体温调节反应，而这正是让你那一晚睡得像石头般沉的关键。下文14家是我以雪景、泉质、以及"道路封山前的进入窗口"三项标准排出的冬季专属温泉清单。

温泉在一年四季都很壮观，但冬天赋予了它一种几乎超脱尘世的魔力。冰冷空气与滚烫泉水之间的反差、白雪覆盖大地的寂静、蒸汽在黄昏石灯笼光芒中流转的姿态——这些体验是任何夏季到访都无法复制的。如果你一直梦想着造访日本温泉，冬天就是最好的季节。

*本文中的北海道·东北推荐经过电话核实和三个预订平台的评价交叉验证，但并非我本人入住体验。其他所有推荐均为亲自验证。*

日本的温泉文化绵延千年以上，但户外冬季泡汤在国民心目中占有特殊地位。日语中甚至有专门的词：雪见风吕（雪見風呂），字面意思是"赏雪浴" 。概念很简单——你坐在露天浴池中看雪花飘落——但实际体验却是超越性的。

冬季温泉还有一些实际优势。冰冷空气和滚烫泉水之间的巨大温差强化了对血液循环和肌肉紧张的疗愈效果。许多旅馆在1月和2月这些新年假期之外的安静周份会降低价格。而山间温泉小镇周围的景色在冬天最为壮观——光秃的树枝勾勒出白色线条，冻结的瀑布在淡淡阳光中闪烁。

冬季温泉季通常从12月下旬持续到3月中旬，具体取决于纬度和海拔。东北和北海道等北部地区早在11月就会出现大雪，而日本阿尔卑斯等高海拔地区的积雪可以维持到4月。

以下五个地区是日本冬季温泉体验最丰富的目的地。如需查阅涵盖全部25个温泉乡（包括非冬季景点）的完整说明，请参阅我们的日本八大温泉地区指南。

如果你曾看到过一张雪中闪闪发光的梦幻日式温泉街照片，那很可能就是银山温泉。这个隐藏在山形县群山中的小村庄仿佛一幅活生生的浮世绘版画：一条窄窄的河流两旁排列着三层楼高的木质旅馆，煤气灯在新雪堆上投下暖暖的光芒，没有一栋现代建筑。

银山曾是一座银矿小镇（"银"的意思就是白银），偏远的位置使它近乎完美地保存了下来。小镇小到十分钟就能从头走到尾，但你会想在这里流连数个小时。最好的策略是在河畔的旅馆——能登屋旅馆和�的谷旅馆最为知名——预订一晚，等白天的游客离开后在灯火通明的街道上漫步。

积雪高峰期在1月至2月。 请至少提前三个月预订；银山有限的客房很快就会售罄。

同样位于山形县的藏王温泉提供了完全不同的冬季体验。这是一个完整的滑雪度假村，山脚下有温泉村，以其"树冰"闻名——树木被冰雪包裹得如此厚重，变成了奇异的、近乎人形的造型 。这里的温泉水强酸性且富含硫磺，呈乳白色的蓝绿色，看起来几乎像人工的，但完全是天然的。

藏王非常适合想要将滑雪与温泉泡汤结合的旅客。在雪道上滑了一天后，你可以泡在公共浴场或旅馆的私人浴池中。藏王大露天风吕冬季关闭，但许多旅馆有自己的露天浴池，可以眺望白雪覆盖的群山。

北海道首屈一指的温泉小镇坐落在地狱谷之上，这是一个全年喷涌硫磺蒸汽的火山口 。冬天，山谷的栈道两旁堆满白雪，白色的风景与铁锈色蒸汽大地之间的对比极为壮观。

登别的泉水拥有九种不同的矿物成分，种类之多在日本温泉小镇中几乎无出其右 。这里的大型度假酒店——第一�的本馆最为知名——在一座屋檐下提供数十种不同的浴池。如果想要更私密的体验，可以寻找小型旅馆如�的之屋，那里有优雅的露天浴池俯瞰着一片树木繁茂的溪谷。

在日本国内人气排行榜上始终位居第一的温泉，草津坐落在群马县海拔1200米的山中 。它的标志性景观是汤畑——镇中心一座大型木质结构，用于冷却滚烫的温泉水后分配到镇上的各个浴场。夜晚，汤畑被灯光照亮，蒸汽在冷空气中戏剧性地升腾。

草津的泉水酸性极强（pH 2.1），据说几乎可以瞬间杀灭所有细菌 。传统的"汤揉"——用大木板搅拌泉水使之冷却而不稀释——每天都有表演展示，值得一看 。

隐藏在北阿尔卑斯深处的白骨温泉冬季旅馆（"白色骨头"）因其独特的乳白色泉水而得名 。这是日本最隐蔽的温泉之一，通过一条蜿蜒的山路到达，大雪时有时会封路。这种与世隔绝正是它的魅力所在：这里只有为数不多的几家旅馆，寂静是绝对的。

最大的亮点是�的之汤旅馆，其露天浴池紧邻一片白雪覆盖的森林。乳白色的泉水、深色的树木和白色的天空构成了一幅近乎单色的画面，让摄影爱好者们欲罢不能。

冬季温泉旅行的打包需要在户外保暖与你的旅馆到达后会提供大部分所需物品之间取得平衡。以下是需要带的东西：

防寒必备： 一件保暖、可压缩的羽绒外套是必不可少的。分层穿搭是关键——保暖内衣、抓绒中层和防水外层可以应对大多数情况。带上防水且抓地力好的靴子，因为温泉街的路面可能结冰。暖帽、保暖手套和围巾补齐基本装备。

泡温泉用品： 大多数旅馆提供小毛巾，但如果你计划走访多个公共浴场，带一条速干旅行毛巾会更方便。一个装湿衣物的防水袋也很实用。如果你有纹身，带上肤色纹身遮盖贴——许多温泉仍然禁止可见纹身，虽然政策正在逐渐放宽。

不需要过度打包的东西： 你的旅馆会提供浴衣（棉质和服）、拖鞋、洗漱用品，冬季通常还有保暖的丹前（棉袍）。你不需要带睡衣、浴袍或全尺寸的洗发水和沐浴露。

冬季是日本最著名温泉小镇的旺季，最抢手的旅馆会提前数月被订满。以下是确保你能订到房的方法：

关键日期尽早预订。 新年期间（12月28日至1月3日）是日本全年最紧张的预订窗口。如果你想在这段时间住顶级旅馆，请提前六个月预订。新年后的几周（1月中旬到2月）同样有雪景，但订房容易得多。

工作日容易得多。 一月份每个周五和周六都满房的旅馆，周二和周三可能有空房。工作日入住通常还能便宜10%-20%。

使用日本预订平台。 Jalan.net和一休（Ikyu.com）上的房源和价格往往是国际平台上看不到的。Google翻译可以基本应对这些网站，而且许多网站接受国际信用卡。

考虑知名度较低的替代选择。 如果银山温泉地区指南已满，可以试试秋田的乳头温泉——同样有氛围且在国际上不那么有名。如果草津太拥挤，可以看看附近水上的宝川温泉——一个在雪景中壮观的大型河畔露天风吕。

冬季温泉礼仪与其他季节相同，只是多了几条冬天的注意事项。在淋浴处彻底清洗身体后再进入浴池。长发扎起来不要碰到水面。你的小毛巾可以放在头上（经典温泉造型），但绝不要放入水中。

冬天特别需要注意的是：在室内和室外浴池之间缓慢过渡，避免身体受到刺激。先在室内浴池暖身，再走到室外。如果感到头晕或眩晕，立即回到室内——极端的冷热交替可能影响血压。

泡完后，不要冲掉矿泉水，除非它刺激你的皮肤。矿物质在你离开浴池后仍会继续发挥作用。轻轻拍干身体，裹上浴衣和丹前，然后迎接一个几乎可以确定的、你这几个月来最好的一夜睡眠。

冬季温泉之旅不仅仅是泡澡——它是一次彻底的感官重启。雪的寂静、矿泉水的温暖、传统旅馆的关怀和日本冬日风景的美丽共同营造出一种其他旅行体验无法匹敌的感受。如果你只去日本一次，就在冬天去吧。你的身心都会感谢你。

针对滑雪 + 泡汤的旅客：我们的日本顶级雪场附近的旅馆指南涵盖野泽、白马、新雪谷等地，缆车站离温泉只需步行 5 分钟。藏王温泉的旅馆是山形县专属指南——著名的「树冰（Snow Monster）」与滑雪温泉双重体验集中于一城。 专程体验冬日富士山的旅行者，富士山景观旅馆详细介绍了河口湖畔的住宿——积雪的富士山倒映在湖面，从露天温泉浴池欣赏别有洞天。