Kiyokawa Onsen

Kiyokawa Onsen nestles deep in the Tanzawa Mountains of Kanagawa Prefecture, where the Nakatsu River carves a forested gorge through one of the most rugged and biologically diverse landscapes accessible from greater Tokyo, protecting populations of Japanese serow, wild boar, and numerous rare plant species within the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park. The tiny village of Kiyokawa retains the character of a traditional Japanese mountain community, with thatched-roof buildings, a contemplative temple atmosphere at Raikoji, and mountain trails that ascend toward the higher peaks of the Tanzawa range. The onsen's geothermal waters, rising through the ancient schist and granite of the Tanzawa massif, provide deeply restorative bathing in one of Japan's most pristine mountain environments within reach of the capital.