Worth a Journey

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The World’s 100 Best Saunas & Baths

Zao Onsen Dairotenburo

Yamagata, Japan

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST SAUNAS & BATHS WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 96 2026
Zao Onsen Dairotenburo

A day-trip open-air sulfur bath built beside a mountain stream at the upper end of Zao Onsen, with separate sections for men and women. Two tiered rock pools hold milky, highly acidic water, the upper pool hotter and the lower lukewarm.

Highlights

  • Two-tiered rock pools
  • Stream beside the baths
  • Milky acidic sulfur water

Good to know

  • No washing area, soap or shampoo
  • Photography prohibited inside the facility
  • Toilets only at the parking lot

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