8 Best Onsen in Okinawa | Tropical Resort Paradise

Have you ever thought about visiting Okinawa?

Okinawa is a group of tropical islands and is the southernmost prefecture in Japan. They have their own distinct culture that differs from mainland Japan, but one thing that they have in common is their love for onsen baths.

There are onsen all over the islands for everyone to enjoy. Relax in an onsen before taking a stroll on the sands.

This article will introduce 8 of the best onsen located around Okinawa.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Senagajima Hotel Ryujin no Yu
2. Terme VILLA Chula-U
3. Hotel Orion Motobu Resort and Spa
4. Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
5. Rikkarikka Yu
6. Enagic Tennen onsen Aroma
7. Shigira Bayside Suite ALLAMANDA
8. HOTEL SANSUI NAHA
9. Conclusion

Google Map of Okinawa

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Senagajima Hotel Ryujin no Yu (琉球温泉 瀬長島ホテル 龍神の湯)

Ryujin no Yu is located within the Senagajima Hotel, approximately 15 minutes away from Naha Airport by car and about 50 minutes by car away from American Village on an island. For those who want to stay at an onsen hotel near the airport, Senagajima Hotel might be the best option to make sure you’re on time for your flight. “Ryujin no Yu” actually means “the dragon god’s bath” in Japanese, so you know that the onsen water will be warm and provide the ultimate relaxation effect.

The whole onsen is designed in a modern Okinawa style, so you can get a real taste of Okinawa culture while enjoying the amazing views of the ocean from inside the onsen bath. The onsen water is said to promote muscle relaxation and blood circulation. Book a room with a private onsen attached on the ocean side to get a feel of what it’s like to relax in a tropical paradise with panoramic ocean views. Check out Senagajima Hotel Ryujin no Yu below.

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Terme VILLA Chula-U (Terme VILLA ちゅらーゆ)

Terme VILLA Chula-U is perfect for those who aren’t 100% comfortable with Japanese onsen bathing customs. Chula-U is an onsen spa with a Japanese “naked” onsen area and a “swimsuit” pool area. The pool area is open to everyone with a swimsuit, so families and couples can wash off and relax in separate areas of the onsen, then put on swimsuits and come together in the swimsuit and sauna area. There is a dining area on the premises, so you can have lunch or a snack without having to reenter.

Terme VILLA Chula-U is located right in Mihama, the famous American Village area in Okinawa, and is less than a 5-minute walk from Chatan Sunset Beach. We recommend booking a room at the nearby The Beach Tower Okinawa, which is an onsen hotel with private rental onsen and pools across the street. Terme VILLA Chula-U is the perfect onsen spa to stop and visit while staying and sightseeing around Okinawa because of its great access to everything around the island, so check it out below.

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Hotel Orion Motobu Resort and Spa (ホテル オリオン モトブ リゾート＆スパ)

Hotel Orion Motobu Resort and Spa is a luxury resort hotel with onsen facilities. They are located in the northern area of Okinawa and although it is far from the airport and other popular tourist attractions towards the southern end of the island, it’s close to the best beaches, waterfalls, and other natural attractions like hikes toward the northern end. Hotel Orion has an onsen located on the 5th floor called “Juraki Onsen” or “The Jurassic Onsen”, from which you can peer out over the beautiful ocean and the distant Ie Jima landscape.

After taking a soak in the natural onsen waters, you’ll want to hop in the sauna too. Don’t forget to check out the most popular part of Orion Motobu, the beaches, and the pools. They have 5 different pools including a jacuzzi and an “infiniti pool” located in their club wing. Although the pools and onsen are great, most guests stay at Orion Motobu for the amazing Emerald Beach at the next-door Ocean Expo Park. The waters are crystal clear and perfect for swimming, relaxing, and spending time with your friends, family, and loved ones. Check out Orion Motobu Resort and Spa below.

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Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo (ユインチホテル南城)

Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo is a large wellness resort with reasonable prices that is connected to Enjin no Yu, an onsen hot spring. It’s located about 40 minutes by car away from Naha airport by car. The onsen bath facilities are top-class, with views that peer out over the cityscape from atop the mountain that Yuinchi sits on. They have an observation bath with great views, a waterfall bath where you can be massaged by falling water, and medicinal water baths that have relaxing effects. There is also a pool with waterslides, perfect for families and large groups of friends looking for fun.

There are a couple of rooms that have private onsen baths with natural onsen water. If you want to get a classic Japanese experience while in Okinawa, book one of the Japanese-style rooms while staying at Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo. If you’re looking for a complete resort relaxation experience, Yuinchi has activities for the entire family to enjoy, like tennis, scuba diving, camping, ping pong, and more. Check out Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo for a relaxing tropical vacation in Okinawa.

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Rikkarikka Yu (りっかりっか湯)

Rikkarikka Yu is a natural spa and public onsen facilities located in the heart of Naha within the Naha Central Hotel. They are a 5-minute walk from the nearest train station that connects to the airport and the rest of Naha. If you’re staying at Naha Central Hotel, call them after you’ve arrived, and they’ll send a car to pick you up from the station for free. Rikkarikka Yu is one of the largest onsen in Okinawa that can help heal tiredness from your trip. Here, you can wash away the dirt and fatigue after sightseeing and refresh yourself in the warm onsen waters popular with locals.

They have 10 different types of baths, along with 3 different types of saunas. After getting a water jet massage in one of the jet baths, relax in one of their massage chairs. The women’s and men’s onsen baths are different but switch every morning, so you’ll have to go twice to get the full experience. If you are looking for a comfortable tropical hotel, check out the Naha Central Hotel located above Rikkarikka Yu.

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Enagic Tennen Onsen Aroma (Enagic天然温泉アロマ)

Enagic Tennen Onsen Aroma is a natural onsen hot spring that is well known by locals for the amazing open-air onsen bath surrounded by a lush Japanese-style garden. You can show up empty-handed because the entrance fee gets you a bag with towels and lounge clothes for post-bath relaxation. If you visit, make sure to use their salt sauna. Scrub yourself down in the sauna with the salt and exfoliate. The salt will wash off after you leave the hot sauna room.

After relaxing in the open-air bath and exfoliating your skin in the salt sauna, head to the relaxation room. Kick back in a relaxation chair before heading on your way, or stop and relax with your family and friends in the tea room while grabbing a snack. Onsen Aroma is the perfect option for those who have spent a day playing in the surf and sand of the nearby beaches, and want to wash off the sand before heading back to your hotel or the airport. Onsen Aroma is located between American Village and Naha Airport, so you could even stop here on your way home.

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Shigira Bayside Suite ALLAMANDA (シギラベイサイドスイート アラマンダ)

Shigira Bayside Suite ALLAMANDA is a hotel located on the premises of Shigira Seven Miles Resort on Miyakojima Island, a smaller island in Okinawa. All of the rooms at ALLAMANDA come with a private jacuzzi bath, a private pool, or a combination of the two. During your stay, you’ll be completely surrounded by brightly colored flowers and tropical plants. Book a suite at the Pool Villa Lagoon, the building with the largest number of pools in Japan. This suite is located near the waterfront where you can watch sea turtles.

The rooms here are luxurious, large, and are sure to create lifelong lasting memories. If you want to make this trip to Okinawa a special occasion, look into booking a night at ALLAMANDA. There are 5 restaurants at ALLAMANDA, and over 20 different restaurants located throughout the resort so you can choose exactly what kind of cuisine you’ll want for dinner. If you’ve had enough relaxing in your room, head to a cabana at the Shigira beach house to relax next to the waves. Check it out below.

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HOTEL SANSUI NAHA (HOTEL SANSUI NAHA 琉球温泉 波之上の湯)

HOTEL SANSUI NAHA is an onsen hotel located near downtown Naha. They have a see-through pool, a sky pool, and a jacuzzi for those of us who like to enjoy water while wearing swimwear. We recommend the sky pool, especially because the views of the sunset on clear days are amazing. The onsen in SANSUI NAHA sources its water from over 500 meters underground, and the first and second floors are equipped with indoor baths, open-air baths, and saunas.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the baths are filled with different herbs that change with the season to give the bath a relaxing scent. The last reception for the onsen is at 11 P.M. and it closes at midnight, so you can be sure to hop in and clean off right before bed. On cool evenings, head up to the rooftop bar and pool for a drink and a dip while relaxing in Naha. They provide a classic hotel buffet breakfast that includes rare Okinawan dishes that you can’t find anywhere else in Japan. Check out HOTEL SANSUI NAHA below.

Conclusion

There are plenty of different onsen options for those who plan to travel to or around Okinawa. The tropical beaches and healing onsen waters are waiting for tourists. Take a taxi, rent a car, or ride the bus to get around and see all that Okinawa has to offer.

For those who are new to onsen, or for those who want a quick refresher on the rules, check out our article on proper onsen etiquette.

• Onsen Etiquette

For those who want to post on Instagram and stay connected on your onsen trip to Okinawa, keep reading below for data SIMs and Pocket WiFi solutions.

If you need high-speed 4G LTE data or pocket Wi-Fi on your trip to an onsen town, check out Sakura Mobile. For those who are worried about staying connected on their trip to an onsen. Read more below.

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Have you booked your SIM card or pocket WiFi for your trip to Japan yet?

In Japan, you’ll want to be connected without missing out on high-speed data and internet!

By reserving online before departing, you can

• Lower your rental fees
• Avoid stock shortages at the airport

To learn more about data and WiFi options for your trip, check out our products below.

CUSTOMER’S VOICE

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