温泉巡り

• Reading: おんせんめぐり
• Romaji: onsen meguri
• Kanji breakdown: 温 (warm) + 泉 (spring) + 巡り (going around, touring) → hot spring hopping
• Pronunciation: /oɴ.seɴ.me.gu.ɾi/

Meaning

Hot spring hopping — visiting multiple onsen in one trip, a popular travel style in Japan.

Japan has thousands of natural hot springs, and 温泉巡り is the practice of visiting several during a single trip. Some onsen towns like Beppu and Kinosaki are specifically designed for this — Kinosaki provides guests with a pass to visit seven different public baths. 温泉巡り combines relaxation with exploration, as each onsen has different mineral content, temperatures, and atmospheres. It is especially popular in autumn and winter.

Examples

1. 別府で温泉巡りしたら肌がツルツルになった。 My skin got so smooth after doing a hot spring tour in Beppu.
2. 温泉巡りの旅、城崎がおすすめだよ。 For hot spring hopping, I'd recommend Kinosaki.
3. 週末は箱根で温泉巡りしてリフレッシュしたい。 I want to go hot spring hopping in Hakone this weekend and recharge.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, relaxation, friends

Tone: relaxed, enthusiastic, indulgent

Do Say

• 温泉巡りのモデルコースある？ (Is there a recommended route for hot spring hopping?)
• 温泉巡りパス買えばお得だよ。 (If you get the hot spring hopping pass it's a good deal.)

Don't Say

• 一箇所の温泉に行くだけなら「巡り」とは言わない — 複数回ることが前提 (Going to just one onsen isn't 'touring' — it implies visiting multiple)

Common Mistakes

• Not knowing onsen etiquette — wash before entering, don't bring towels into the water, no swimming
• Thinking 温泉巡り requires a car — many onsen towns are walkable with multiple baths in close proximity

Origin & History

Compound of 温泉 (hot spring) + 巡り (touring, going around). A natural extension of Japan's deep onsen culture, formalised as a travel style with dedicated onsen hopping passes and routes.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-standing tradition, modern travel style

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan. Beppu (Oita), Kinosaki (Hyogo), Kusatsu (Gunma), and Hakone (Kanagawa) are famous for 温泉巡り. Some towns offer multi-bath passes.