♨️ My favorite hot springs
in Blog
Explore these fascinating hot springs around the globe.
The best (and most) hot springs are, no doubt, in onsen-country, Japan ♨️. However, there are still worthwhile alternatives in sometimes unexpected locations that I would recommend checking out. So instead of covering some of the famous onsen towns of Japan, let’s talk about some of the lesser-known options.
In particular, I am very fond of 海中温泉, meaning hot springs in the ocean. These hot springs developed naturally on the coast, which makes them quite unique.
Yakushima
This small island south of the Japanese mainland is one of my favorite places in Japan, not least because of its amazing hot springs!
The Hirauchi Kaichuu Onsen - 平内海中温泉 lies at the coast of the island and its basins are filled with ocean water. It’s basically free, but you are encouraged to donate a few hundred yen to the locals maintaining it.
One of the coolest experiences is to come here in the night and enjoy the starry sky whilst taking a hot bath. There are various temperatures to choose from in the basins, but a little caution is required as some can get very hot.
We were here at the end of the year and the weather was amazing. Moderate temperature, sunny sky, tasty local produce like Ponkan, superb nature, and hot springs in the night made Yakushima one of my favorite destinations.
Ischia
Ischia is an island off the coast of Napoli in Italy.
It’s a popular tourist destination and unfortunately we made the mistake of coming here during the summer, meaning it was very crowded and our overall experience wasn’t the best.
Besides some negative experiences, what saved the trip was our discovery of a hot spring in the ocean in the island’s southern part.
Baia di Sorgeto is a little more difficult to access, but worth it every time. We spent every evening here. As it is entirely natural, this onsen is also free. There are a number of other (commercial) hot springs on the island, but they were all closed due to Covid. Even so, I felt the trip was worth it because Baia di Sorgeto was outstanding.
São Miguel
In the middle of the atlantic ocean lie the Azores, a group of Portugese islands, the biggest of which is São Miguel.
I decided to visit because of the many similarities to Japan / Yakushima: A volcanic island with lush, green vegetation, warm but rainy weather, tea plantations, and of course hot springs ♨️.
It’s a bit difficult to get here, as there aren’t many international flights, so the most likely route is via Portugal’s mainland.
Anyway it’s worth the effort, as this island has so much to offer.
Caldeira Velha is like a little trip through the jungle, with hot springs along the way. Although there is only one smaller basin with really hot water, it’s a very atmospheric and relaxing journey. 
Then there is Termas das Caldeiras, a smaller hot spring bath. We put this one off because it seemed too small from the reviews. In the end we did have an opportunity to try it, and it became one of our favorite experiences. The pools are small but we were lucky that there were few people and at some point we were even alone. Later on someone performed a few songs on a handpan. This was the best meditative atmosphere in any hot spring here. This place also has probably the hottest pool available.
There is also an onsen in the sea, but we had no luck with the tide, so the water wasn’t warm enough. 
Furnas
Then there is the little onsen town Furnas. I recommend staying here to maximize your time in the hot springs. Furnas is quite popular among locals and tourists, so expect a lot of traffic. Therefore, it’s better to be close by and flexible so that you can time your visits and spend extended time in the hot springs without having to worry about getting back home.
First up, the Poça da Dona Beija, which consists of several medium-size pools of depth. Definitely check it out, but be aware that it gets busy towards the evening.
The main attraction is Parque Terra Nostra, which is a botanical garden with several hot spring baths included. One of these is actually a gigantic pool in which you can swim freely.
The park itself is well worth seeing, but that onsen pool is truly a rare sight to behold! It’s extremely satisfying to swim in the thermal water and you can find temperature differences throughout the pool.
Outside Japan, hot spring temperatures are usually lower and you rarely encounter foot-onsens, i.e. hot springs which you put your feet into. Furnas actually has one of those! It’s called Poça da Tia Silvina, and it’s exceptionally hot. This foot onsen it located on the river bank in Furnas and is free. Recommend to grab some desserts from the Glória Moniz bakery and come down here to relax. Might have to bring an umbrella :)
Lastly, they also make food with the thermal heat, which results in a dish called Cozido das Furnas. This is definitely worth trying! Amazing to see the many use cases thermal heat can fit into.
Conclusion
Hot springs are amazing and I wish they could be found anywhere. In recent years I found a few hot springs that can make up for their general absence throughout Europe. I hope to visit many more in other parts of the world.
