There are few better ways to end a day in the mountains than sinking into naturally hot water while the snow falls or the stars come out. Hot springs bubble up wherever the Earth's heat is close to the surface: in the volcanic mountains of Japan and Costa Rica, in the fault lines of the American West and the Canadian Rockies, and deep in the granite of the Swiss Alps.
These are the 10 best hotels in our collection with natural hot springs, from a riverside ryokan with some of the largest open-air baths in Japan to a restored Colorado ghost town and a famous thermal bath in the Swiss Alps, at prices from under $250 a night.
The best hot spring hotels in the mountains at a glance
- Best hot spring hotel in the world: Zaborin, Japan
- Best in Europe: 7132 Hotel, Switzerland
- Best in the USA: Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
- Best value: Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs, Colorado
- Best traditional onsen: Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku, Japan
- Best near Tokyo: Gora Kadan, Hakone
- Best for a volcano view: Nayara Tented Camp, Costa Rica
Japan
1. Zaborin, Niseko, Hokkaido
Best for: couples, food lovers and skiers
Zaborin is a luxury ryokan in a quiet forest on the edge of Niseko, and each of its 15 villas has its own indoor and outdoor hot spring bath, fed by a natural spring beneath the property. After a day in some of the deepest powder snow on Earth, you soak in private under the birch trees, then sit down to refined Hokkaido kaiseki. Read our review of Zaborin.
2. Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku, Gunma
Best for: onsen lovers, families and travellers seeking authentic Japan
In the mountains of Gunma, at the headwaters of the Tone River, Takaragawa has some of the largest open-air onsen baths in Japan, laid out along a clear mountain stream between steep, forested slopes. It is magical under snow and in the red maples of autumn, and it is affordable. Day visitors use the baths too, so bathe early in the morning or late at night. Read our review of Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku.
3. Gora Kadan, Hakone
Best for: couples and food lovers who want refined luxury near Tokyo
Hakone has been Tokyo's favourite hot spring resort for centuries, and Gora Kadan, set in a former summer villa of a branch of the Imperial family, is its most celebrated ryokan. It has indoor and outdoor onsen baths, a spa and some of the finest kaiseki cooking in Japan, about 90 minutes from Tokyo by the Romancecar train. Read our review of Gora Kadan.
4. Hoshinoya Karuizawa, Nagano
Best for: couples and wellness seekers
In a forested valley about an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a modern ryokan-style village of pavilions beside a river, with its own Meditation Bath onsen and the Tombo-no-yu public hot spring nearby. Days follow a gentle rhythm of forest walks, long soaks and seasonal food, and it is especially beautiful in the autumn colour. Read our review of Hoshinoya Karuizawa.
5. Higashiyama Niseko Village, Niseko, Hokkaido
Best for: skiers, couples and families
A Ritz-Carlton Reserve of just 50 rooms at the foot of Niseko Annupuri, Higashiyama is the most luxurious ski hotel in Japan, with ski-in ski-out access and views of Mount Yotei. After skiing, you can book a private onsen in the Chasi Spa. Read our review of Higashiyama Niseko Village.
Europe
6. 7132 Hotel, Vals, Switzerland
Best for: architecture lovers, couples and anyone in need of a restorative escape
In a remote valley in Graubünden, 7132 Hotel is built around Peter Zumthor's Therme Vals, one of the most celebrated buildings of the late 20th century: a series of quartzite pools fed by the village's warm thermal spring. Floating in the outdoor pool as the snow falls on the mountains is unforgettable. Hotel guests have access to the baths, and some rooms are by Kengo Kuma and Tadao Ando. Read our review of 7132 Hotel.
North America
7. Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
Best for: couples, small groups and lovers of the American West
Deep in the San Juan Mountains at the end of a dirt road, Dunton is a 19th-century mining town, abandoned for decades and lovingly restored into a luxury resort of hand-hewn log cabins. Its natural hot springs feed a historic bathhouse and outdoor pools, and some cabins have their own private soaking tubs. Read our review of Dunton Hot Springs.
8. Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs, Ouray, Colorado
Best for: couples, road-trippers and anyone on a budget
Ouray, the little Victorian mining town known as the Switzerland of America, is one of the great hot spring towns of the West. Behind Box Canyon Lodge, four redwood tubs are terraced up the mountainside, filled with natural mineral water and reserved for guests alone. Soaking under the stars with the San Juans all around costs less than $250 a night. Read our review of Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs.
9. Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Canada
Best for: families, skiers and lovers of grand historic hotels
Banff exists because of its hot springs. Their discovery in the 1880s led to the creation of Canada's first national park, and the Canadian Pacific Railway built this castle in the Rockies in 1888 to bring visitors to them. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are a short drive up Sulphur Mountain, and the hotel's Willow Stream Spa is one of the best in Canada. Read our review of Fairmont Banff Springs.
Central America
10. Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal, Costa Rica
Best for: couples, honeymooners and families
High on a hillside facing the cone of Arenal volcano, each of Nayara's 25 luxury tents has a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs. A sloth refuge runs through the grounds, and the rainforest, waterfalls and hanging bridges of Arenal are all close by. Read our review of Nayara Tented Camp.
How to enjoy a hot spring
- In Japan, wash before you bathe. Shower and scrub at the washing stations, then enter the bath clean. Swimsuits are not worn in traditional onsen, and the small towel stays out of the water.
- Tattoos may be a problem in Japan. Some public baths still refuse guests with tattoos, so a ryokan with private baths, such as Zaborin, is the easiest choice.
- Stay hydrated and take breaks. Natural hot springs can be hotter than a hot tub, so soak for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Go in winter. The contrast between snow and steaming water is the whole magic, and the baths are quieter early in the morning and late at night.
For more, see the best mountain hotels in Japan, the best spa hotels in the Alps and hotels with infinity pools and mountain views.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best hot spring hotel in the mountains?
Zaborin in Niseko, Japan, where every villa has its own indoor and outdoor hot spring bath, is our favourite. In Europe, 7132 Hotel beside the Therme Vals in Switzerland is the most famous.
Are there hot spring hotels in the Alps?
Yes. 7132 Hotel in Vals, Switzerland, is built around Peter Zumthor's Therme Vals, a thermal bath fed by a natural warm spring.
What is the best hot spring hotel in Colorado?
Dunton Hot Springs, a restored ghost town in the San Juan Mountains, is the most luxurious. Box Canyon Lodge in Ouray is the best value, with private mineral hot tubs for guests.
Can I use an onsen with tattoos?
Some public baths in Japan still refuse guests with tattoos. Choose a ryokan with private baths, such as Zaborin, or book a private onsen.
