Best Onsen Ryokans to Enjoy Cherry Blossom in Japan

Sakura, with its fleeting beauty, represents the delicate balance between life’s fragility and resilience. It embodies the longing for beauty and renewal. Picture this: soaking in a warm onsen as the gentle breeze carries cherry blossoms over you, the fragrance filling the air, and petals drifting like soft whispers. In these places, the harmony of onsen and sakura creates an unforgettable springtime experience. Let's explore some of the best onsen ryokans where you can enjoy cherry blossom (Sakura) at the same time in Japan.

1. Akita Prefecture: Oga Hotel

Coastal Rock Bath and the Wild Romance of Night Sakura

• Address: 13-1 Kusamihara, Kitaura Yumoto, Oga-shi, Akita-ken
• Transportation: A 2-minute walk from Oga Onsen Chuo Bus Stop
• Website: [oga-hotel]

Oga Hotel's open-air rock bath, "Ishiyama no Yu," surrounded by rugged rocks and facing a courtyard where wildflowers bloom throughout the seasons, offers a dual gift of sea breezes and sakura blossoms. In spring, dozens of Somei Yoshino sakura trees surround the bath. During the day, the pink sakura resemble clouds, and at night, the illuminated night sakura create an ethereal dreamscape. As you soak, the sea breeze gently touches your skin, creating a natural sauna-like effect that invigorates the mind and body. For a deeper dive into hot spring culture, visit the indoor bath, "Irie no Taki," where the "Hot Spring Bodhisattva" formed by mineral deposits tells the story of the century-old spring waters, providing excellent warmth. Don't miss the local specialty, "Ishiyaki Ryori," where seafood is grilled instantly on hot rocks, locking in flavors as steam rises, pairing with creative washoku dishes for a visual and gustatory feast.

2. Yamagata Prefecture: Yamagata-za Takinami

Private Garden Sakura and the Elegant Encounter with Sulfur Springs

• Address: 3005 Akayu, Nanyang-shi, Yamagata-ken
• Transportation: An 8-minute taxi ride from JR Yamagata Shinkansen Akayu Station
• Website: [yamagata-the-takinami]

Akayu Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture has been operational for over 920 years, and Yamagata-za Takinami is nestled within the Akayu Onsen village. The entire inn boasts only 19 guest rooms, each equipped with an open-air bath fed directly by natural springs. As one of Akayu's most abundant hot spring inns, it pumps 79.1 liters of hot spring water per minute directly into the rooms, allowing guests to experience the purity of the springs in a private space. The guest rooms are divided into three types, and during spring, the "SAKURA" rooms are undoubtedly the best choice. Facing a Japanese garden, guests can immerse themselves in the smooth, warm waters while admiring the sakura blossoms in the courtyard, creating a romantic and poetic atmosphere for the bathing experience. After dark, savor a cup of local sake or wine (sourced from the abundant produce of the Chikuse Basin) and let your mind and body fully immerse in the local flavors of Yamagata.

3. Shiga Prefecture: Hikone Castle RESORT & SPA

Sakura Hot Spring SPA Beneath Hikone Castle

• Address: 1-8 Sawa-cho, Hikone-shi, Shiga-ken
• Transportation: An 8-minute walk from the west exit of JR Hikone Station
• Website: [hch.jp]

Hikone Castle RESORT & SPA stands proudly before the historic Hikone Castle's main tower and the multi-storied gate at Sawa-guchi, offering a panoramic view of Hikone Castle's ever-changing scenery. The "Shiroyane no Yu" bath allows guests to soak while gazing at the main tower, adding a unique charm to the experience. In spring, Hikone Castle is adorned with around 1,000 sakura trees, attracting numerous visitors. The resort is the perfect spot to view this scene. The semi-open-air bath is a secluded haven for enjoying the beauty of sakura, with a view that unfolds as you open the window, allowing you to savor luxurious moments in the bath. The Omi Beef kaiseki ryori here is another highlight: The chef prepares "five senses cuisine" with fresh fish from Lake Biwa and Omi Beef, elevating the palate with fatty, flavorful steak paired with sakura sake.

4. Kagawa Prefecture: Kotohira Kadan

The Four-Century-Old Sakura Hot Spring Favorite of Literary Giants

• Address: 1241-5 Kotohira-cho, Kagawa-ken
• Transportation: A 5-minute ride on the free shuttle bus from Kotohira Station
• Website: [kotohira-kadan.jp]

Kotohira Kadan, a 400-year-old inn located at the foot of Kotohira Mountain, neighbors the famous Kintoki-ji Temple. Browsing through the guest registry reveals that many royalty members and literary figures such as Mori Ōgai and Yosano Akiko have stayed here, showcasing its rich historical background. The inn's vast Japanese garden is adorned with three elegant sukiya-zukuri-style villas, becoming iconic landmarks. The three accommodation areas surrounding the garden make "Fujimi Dai" an ideal choice. The Western-Japanese fusion special rooms cleverly incorporate garden views into the design, with a Hinoki cypress open-air bath on the terrace, allowing guests to soak while enjoying the seasonal changes in the garden. Especially in spring, the weeping sakura beside the room blooms, with pink petals gently hanging into the scene, creating a dreamlike sakura viewing experience. Spend a healing and leisurely time with warm springs and sakura.

5. Saga Prefecture: Yuyado Chikurintei

The Beauty's Bath Among a Sea of Ten Thousand Sakura

• Address: 4100 Otake, Takeo-cho, Takeo-shi, Saga-ken
• Transportation: A 5-minute ride on the free shuttle bus from Takeo Onsen Station
• Website: [chikurintei.jp]

Located in Takeo-shi, Saga Prefecture, "Gofunuyama En" is a grand garden that has existed since the late Edo period, spanning nearly 500,000 square meters. Deep within this serene garden stands the purely Japanese sukiya-zukuri-style inn "Yuyado Chikurintei." The entire inn boasts only 11 guest rooms, each offering a panoramic view of the garden's stunning seasonal scenery. To experience the garden's most dazzling moment, it is recommended to stay during the sakura festival (March 14th - April 6th, 2025). During this time, around 2,000 sakura trees, including Somei Yoshino, Ōshima sakura, mountain sakura, and double sakura, bloom successively, painting the entire garden with a pink poetic atmosphere. All guest rooms are equipped with either a panoramic open-air bath or an open-air bath, filled with the famous clear and smooth Takeo Onsen waters. Staying here allows guests to relax in the hot springs while quietly admiring the sakura blossoms, experiencing the most romantic moments of spring.

6. Niigata Prefecture: Fuuga no Yado Chouseikan

A Luxurious Thousand-Square-Meter Sakura Bath and the Miraculous Radon Springs

• Address: 4632-8 Murasaki, Agano-shi, Niigata-ken
• Transportation: A 45-minute ride on the free shuttle bus from JR Niigata Station (reservation required)
• Website: [chouseikan.co.jp]

Chouseikan, with a 700-year history, is renowned for its rare "miraculous" radon springs, rich in radon elements, which promote metabolism and improve blood circulation, earning it the reputation of a healing and rejuvenating spring. The vast garden open-air bath is surrounded by Somei Yoshino sakura trees that bloom in spring, with petals gently falling onto the water's surface. Soaking in it feels like being gently embraced by sakura. As night falls, the garden transforms into a light and shadow theater, with night sakura illuminated in shades of lavender and pink, creating a breathtaking view. Beyond the hot springs, local delicacies await. Hand-rolled sea bream sushi and specialty milk tofu, paired with "Chōseikan's Spring," a sake brewed with radon springs, allow guests to savor the harmony between ingredients and hot springs on their tongues, adding an unforgettable flavor to the journey.