[2026] Masterpieces that sing of hot springs. Songs that make you want to go to a hot spring.
Hot springs are wonderful, aren’t they?
A bath at home feels great, but hot springs are on a whole different level.
There’s the allure of nostalgic hot spring towns and the joy of savoring an escape from the everyday.
In this article, we introduce songs themed around hot springs and special tracks that will make you want to visit one.
Along with local songs that tell stories about hot springs, we’ve also gathered a few tunes related to things like table tennis.
It’s music with the same relaxing effect as a hot spring.
Whether you’re about to head to a hot spring or haven’t been in a while, refresh yourself with these hot spring songs!
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[2026] Masterpieces that sing about hot springs. Songs that make you want to go to a hot spring (11–20)
Thermae RomaeChatto Monchī
Chatmonchy’s 12th single, released in 2012.
Written specifically as the theme song for Fuji TV’s anime Thermae Romae, it naturally takes hot springs as its theme.
But rather than being laid-back, it’s an energizing track with Chatmonchy’s signature powerful, rock sound.
The lyrics, which also focus on Lucius’s struggles in the anime, convey an assertive, “on the attack” mood while singing about baths.
Sharp, gleaming guitar lines and a clear, high-toned vocal give it a crisp, refreshing feel!
Steam of LongingYagisawa Mai [Takahashi Mikako]
![Steam of LongingYagisawa Mai [Takahashi Mikako]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fUH7_My6B3E/hqdefault.jpg)
This is a travel-themed Japanese-style ballad sung by Mikako Takahashi, performing as the character Mai Yagisawa, the stationmaster of Bessho Onsen Station.
Yumao’s lyrics carefully depict the seasons of a hot spring town with rising steam and the nostalgic scenes of the round-window train.
Set to Funta’s gently bittersweet yet warm melody, Takahashi’s tender, enveloping vocals resonate, drawing listeners into a nostalgic world.
Released in October 2007 on the single “Tetsudou Musume Character Song Collection Vol.
5: Mai Yagisawa,” this piece is a character song from Tomytec’s figure project “Tetsudou Musume.” Packed with local charm, it’s perfect for a relaxing soak in the bath or for nights when you want to savor the feeling of travel.
Dogo Steam and Rainy SentimentKitahara Tomoyo
Dogo Onsen is a hot spring in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.
It appears in the Nihon Shoki and is said to be Japan’s oldest hot spring.
The area also served as the setting for Natsume Soseki’s novel Botchan, and it bustles with tourists.
As you might expect in a hot spring town, the song is a classic tragic love ballad, but it’s also a local tune that subtly weaves in tourist spots.
The heart belongs to me, the hot-spring beauty.biteki keikaku
“My Heart Belongs to the Hot Spring Beauty feat.
Nazojo” captivates with its melodic lines and striking title.
It’s a work from BITEKI KEIKAKU, the project led by Gen Hoshino? (Note: Actually by Enon Kawatani), known for songs performed by different vocalists, and it’s included on the 2021 debut album “BITEKI.” Set against the backdrop of a hot spring trip, the song poignantly portrays a forbidden romance and a gray-area relationship that continues despite never truly coming together—its melancholy seeps in along with the musical mood.
Nazojo’s vocals heighten the fragility, and together with the languid, nostalgic soundscape, the song leaves a strong impression as a hot-spring-themed track with the feel of a romantic escape.
hot spring geishaGogatsu Midori
Onsen Geisha is a song about a romance that blossoms at a hot spring.
Released in 1964 by enka singer Midori Satsuki, known for her hits in the “Kite ne” (“Please Come”) series, it laid the groundwork for the later “Geisha Series.” It tells the story of a country hot spring geisha who falls in love with a man, expressing the poignant feeling of loving him yet being unable to follow him.
Though the tune is cheerful and lively with a uniquely Japanese flavor, it’s also wrapped in a certain bittersweetness that seems to convey her inner turmoil.
Midori’s refined, modest delivery is wonderful as well.
Etranger in the Hot Spring TownKIRINJI
The intro leaves an impression that’s a bit different from what you’d expect for a hot spring—and for good reason.
Rather than being about the hot spring itself, this song is themed around a hot spring town.
Each region’s hot spring towns have their own distinct character, and they’re a part of Japanese culture we can proudly share with the world.
With the unique vibe of entertainment districts, the presence of people with “complicated” backstories, and all sorts of angles to view them from, it’s a fascinating world.
Written from that perspective, the song pairs wryly humorous, unique lyrics with an urbane, floating sound, making it a truly sophisticated ode to hot springs.
[2026] Classic songs about hot springs: Tunes that make you want to visit an onsen (21–30)
Steam-Filled NightJunretsu
This is a treasured masterpiece by Junretsu that you’ll want to listen to while reminiscing about an unforgettable night at a hot spring inn.
Known as “super sento idols,” their emotionally rich mood kayō (Japanese ballad style) is truly captivating! This song was included as the B-side on Type D of the single “Ai de Shibaritai,” released in September 2017.
Its poignant yet beautiful lyrics, which let lingering feelings for a former lover drift like steam in the bath, strike right at the heart.
They’ve performed it on stages at health centers—their home base—and it has won over fans there as well.
The gently flowing melody and warmly enveloping chorus work heighten that sense of travel romance.
Why not play it in the car on the way to a hot spring trip or during a leisurely moment after a bath, and let it soothe both body and soul?