Unzen: Hot Springs, Hiking Trails and History

Unzen brings together the historic hot spring resort of Unzen Onsen, hot springs, hiking trails on several mountains and the Unzen Hells. Nature, history and hot springs also come together at the Unzen Oyamano Information Center, while Unzen-yaki adds another historical thread. Your trip can therefore focus on different things: relaxing in the thermal waters, getting active on hiking trails, or exploring history and nature.

Unzen Onsen: Hot Spring Resort and Hot Springs

Unzen Onsen is a historic hot spring resort in Unzen, Obama-cho, Unzen-shi, Nagasaki-ken. Visitors can relax in the therapeutic thermal waters. Unzen Onsen was designated Japan’s first national park in 1934. These are two distinct aspects to bear in mind: the resort is associated with its hot springs, while the designation provides a separate historical context. If relaxation is your main reason for travelling, the thermal waters offer a tangible way to enjoy it; the year 1934 adds the national park connection.

Hiking Trails on Several Mountains

If you would like to make outdoor activity a focus of your stay, Unzen Onsen has hiking trails on several mountains, including 雲仙普賢岳, 国見岳, 九千部岳, 野岳, 矢岳, 高岩山 and 絹笠山. The trails are suitable for beginners, intermediate hikers and experienced hikers. This range makes hiking a possible focus for travellers with different levels of experience. The names of the mountains give you specific options to consider: you can decide which hiking destination interests you most and choose according to your own hiking experience.

Observe the Unzen Hells

At the Unzen Hells, the focus is on observation. A wooden walkway runs around the Unzen Hells, allowing you to see them from different directions. Boiling hot springs can be seen at more than 30 of the hells. Here, hot springs are a visible natural phenomenon, while the thermal waters at Unzen Onsen offer a way to relax. If you plan to visit the walkway, check the current access arrangements in advance.

Nature, History and Hot Springs at the Information Center

The Unzen Oyamano Information Center in Unzen offers information about nature, introductions to local history and exhibitions on hot springs. Each offering has a different focus: nature is covered through information, history through introductions, and hot springs through exhibitions. This gives you three topics to explore side by side, each of which can help shape your stay in Unzen.

The Tradition of Unzen-yaki

Unzen-yaki offers another historical perspective. The tradition is said to have begun around 1925, when Handah Hyakkansai built a kiln in Unzen Shin-yu. This account of its origins adds a distinct tradition to the history of the hot spring resort and national park. If you would like to explore Unzen beyond its hiking trails and thermal waters, the history of Unzen-yaki offers another way to connect with the area’s past.

Getting There and Choosing a Focus for Your Trip

Unzen Onsen can be reached by bus or car. Planning your journey is a separate consideration from choosing your activities. First, think about whether thermal waters, hiking trails, the Unzen Hells or historical topics will be the main focus of your stay. If you are looking for hotels in Unzen, this can be a starting point: it helps you tailor your search to the trip you actually plan to take.

Discover more destinations: Shimabara, Hasami, Ōmura, Sasebo, Matsuura, Hirado, Gotō, Isahaya

For the broader travel overview: Nagasaki Prefecture.