Famous onsen towns like Kusatsu and Gero can get overcrowded. Enter Suwa, a lakeside town in the middle of Nagano Prefecture that pairs old-school bathhouses with serene lake scenery. Compact and low-key, it hasn't been choked by overtourism (well, yet).
Suwa: One of Japan's Best Onsen Towns You’ve Never Heard of - Unseen Japan
Japan is popular. Hot springs are super popular. But Suwa, an onsen town in Nagano Prefecture, remains a hidden gem.
unseen-japan.com