If you're on the hunt for the ultimate trifecta of relaxation — mind, body, and soul — a natural hot spring might just do the trick. These ancient, mineral-laden elixirs are famed for their ability to melt away muscle tension, boost circulation, enhance sleep quality, and rejuvenate your skin, all while delivering an invaluable dose of stress relief and mood enhancement. And if you’re in Asia, you’re in luck. The continent boasts an impressive array of options.
Here’s a curated list of our top MICHELIN Guide hotels where you can indulge in a blissful soak and emerge feeling thoroughly revitalised.
At Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort, ryokan-inspired rooms feature private hot spring baths with river views, while the public bathhouse boasts an array of amenities.
Taiwan: Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort
With more than a hundred hot springs scattered across diverse landscapes — from plains and valleys to mountains and coastal regions — Taiwan is a top destination for a hydrotherapy getaway.
Just an hour's drive from Taipei, Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort offers a serene escape nestled in the Wulai Mountains. Here, ryokan-inspired rooms feature private hot spring baths with river views, while the public bathhouse boasts an array of amenities: a steam room, sauna, outdoor hot spring pool, both hot and cold spring pools, and a hydrotherapy pool. It's a comprehensive bathing experience designed to meet all your relaxation needs.
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Hakone, a town renowned for its thermal treasures, is home to Hakone Gora Karaku, where relaxation is elevated to an art form.
Japan: Hakone Gora Karaku
In Japan, hot springs — or onsen — are more than just a soothing retreat; they’re woven into the very fabric of the nation's culture and history. With over 3,000 hot springs across the country, the experience is nothing short of integral.
Hakone, a town renowned for its thermal treasures, is home to Hakone Gora Karaku, where relaxation is elevated to an art form. Guests can unwind in a sauna, indulge in a hot spring bath, or explore the public bath facilities, all designed to deliver a premium relaxation experience. The rooms, exuding a minimalist-chic yet luxurious vibe, contribute to a meditative atmosphere that permeates the entire hotel.
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At Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, guests can indulge in therapies that channel the region's healing springs.
Indonesia: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Thanks to its volcanic activity, Indonesia is a hotspot for natural hot springs. It’s no surprise, then, that hotels like the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan have embraced this bounty in their spa offerings. At the property, guests can indulge in therapies that channel the region's healing springs.
Take the 90-minute Warm River Stone massage, for instance — this spa experience elevates peacefulness with steam-heated stones from the ancient Ayung River, expertly placed on the body's energy centres. The massage, featuring long, rhythmic strokes and aromatic oils, unfolds amidst a lush, tropical paradise.
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While Six Senses Vana doesn't boast a hot spring itself, its Watsu treatment delivers a unique water-based spa experience, enhanced by the soothing vibrations of singing bowls and shiatsu stretching techniques.
India: Six Senses Vana
India, with its rich array of hot springs, offers a natural haven for thermal wellness.
Wellbeing retreats like Six Senses Vana, nestled on the outskirts of Dehradun at the foot of the Himalayas, embody this healing tradition with programmes centred around detox, yoga, and Ayurvedic or Tibetan medicine. While the resort doesn't boast a hot spring itself, its Watsu treatment delivers a unique water-based spa experience, enhanced by the soothing vibrations of singing bowls and shiatsu stretching techniques. For those seeking a more traditional hot spring experience, a 30-minute drive takes you to the renowned Sahastradhara, where waterfalls, caves, and healing springs await.
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Banyan Tree Lijiang, a high-altitude luxury retreat, offers an oasis of relaxation with its spas and pools just steps from your room.
China: Banyan Tree Lijiang
A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lijiang is a journey worth taking, if only for its breathtaking scenery, which spans from lush rice fields to the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and pristine hiking trails. Banyan Tree Lijiang, a high-altitude luxury retreat, offers an oasis of relaxation with its spas and pools just steps from your room. The region is also celebrated for its hot springs, and if you're up for a five-hour excursion from the hotel, the Yongning Hot Spring — affectionately known as the “hot pond” by locals — offers waters hot enough to boil an egg and rejuvenate the body.
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Mia Resort Nha Trang's spa features a Warm Stone Therapy treatment, which is more about heated volcanic rocks and is applied to the body to target and relieve muscle and joint pain, providing a deeply soothing experience.
Vietnam: Mia Resort Nha Trang
Vietnam is blessed with a bounty of natural hot springs, making it a go-to destination for health-focused retreats. Perched along the stunning beachfront, Mia Resort Nha Trang offers a five-star escape, while its spa features the Warm Stone Therapy treatment, which is more about heated volcanic rocks and is applied to the body to target and relieve muscle and joint pain, providing a deeply soothing experience.
For those eager to explore further, Nha Trang’s surroundings offer even more hot spring delights. A short trip from the resort can lead you to various natural hot springs and mud baths, where you can immerse yourself in the restorative properties of thermal waters.
Book Mia Resort Nha Trang on the MICHELIN Guide →
Asia is home to an abundance of hot springs, and MICHELIN Guide hotels offer some of the finest experiences to be found. From on-site spa treatments featuring therapeutic hot stones to the traditional Japanese ryokan with private in-room hot springs, and even Taiwanese hotels with luxurious thermal baths, these exceptional properties provide an array of indulgent options.
Whether you're seeking relaxation through expertly crafted treatments or immersive hot spring experiences, these top-tier hotels promise a truly restorative retreat.
