Denji has never been to an onsen. The concept of soaking in hot water for pleasure is alien to a boy who grew up eating moldy bread and fighting for loose change. He sees the spring and immediately thinks: “Is this water edible? Can I sell it?”
But once he sinks into the steaming bath, something shifts. For the first time, his body isn’t screaming. The hot water loosens the chainsaw cord embedded in his chest. He almost cries — not from sadness, but from the unfamiliar sensation of not being in survival mode. Of course, the moment is ruined when Power tries to boil a live crab in the bath beside him.
Located deep in the mountains of Saitama Prefecture, Hoshi Onsen (literally "Star Hot Spring") is a wooden, three-story time capsule built in the early Showa era. Here is why it fits the Chainsaw Man mold:
Visit Info: 2 hours from central Tokyo by car. Fan Tip: The men’s and women’s baths swap daily, so you can see the exact angle of the cliff that appears in the background of Aki’s brooding shot.
To truly CoSplay the experience, bring these items: Chainsaw Man Hot Spring Travel
For fans of Chainsaw Man, the transition from the gritty, blood-soaked streets of Devil Hunter battles to the steamy serenity of a hot spring resort was a welcome change of pace. Episode 9 ("From Kyoto") and the corresponding chapters in the manga introduced a pivotal moment for the cast: a getaway to a hot spring inn.
While the characters were there to decompress (and unfortunately, were hunted by the Katana Man), the scenery provided a stark, beautiful contrast to the urban chaos of the series.
If you are looking to plan a pilgrimage to the hot springs featured in Chainsaw Man, here is your ultimate travel guide.
Makima does not enter the water. She sits on a wooden stool nearby, fully dressed, smiling. She watches them all like a zookeeper observing animals in a heated enclosure. When Denji laughs, she makes a mental note. When Aki relaxes his shoulders, she files it away. Denji has never been to an onsen
She asks the innkeeper for a cup of tea. The innkeeper’s hands shake. Makima’s smile never wavers.
The hot spring water, which glowed faintly gold from minerals, dims when she approaches. The steam recoils. Even the onsen knows what she is.
Before we map the journey, we must understand the why. In Chainsaw Man, hot springs represent a utopian ideal. For Denji, a boy who grew up sleeping on dirt and eating stale bread, the onsen is the pinnacle of "luxury." It is the place where the walls of the "Chainsaw Man" persona fall away, leaving just the broken, hopeful teenager beneath.
The most iconic moment (beyond the infamous Reze arc bath scene) is the team’s retreat to the Kyoto Onsen in Part 1. For a brief, fleeting volume, the horror stops. Aki, Power, and Denji argue over splitting a glass bottle of milk. Kobeni cries. It is humanity at its most vulnerable. Traveling to these locations allows fans to step into that panel—to feel the tension dissolve into the sulfuric water. Visit Info: 2 hours from central Tokyo by car
By: Travel Weird Japan
If you are a fan of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s visceral masterpiece Chainsaw Man, you know that the series is not just about chainsaws, devils, and existential dread. Surprisingly, tucked between the blood-soaked corridors of Public Safety and the chaotic hunger of the Gun Devil, lies a recurring theme of rest, recovery, and healing: The Japanese Hot Spring (Onsen).
For the dedicated fan, a standard trip to Tokyo won't cut it. You want to walk where Denji almost got to relax. You want to soak in the same steamy waters where Power plotted to catch a "Great Justice Eel." This is your complete guide to Chainsaw Man Hot Spring Travel—a pilgrimage to the real-life locations and spiritual atmospheres that define the quietest, most poignant moments of the series.
It is important to note that in the anime, Himeno and Aki discuss tattoos in the bath. In real life, Japan has strict rules regarding tattoos in public onsens due to their historical association with the Yakuza.