"China Hot Spring Tourism Industry Development Report 2016" shows，There are more than 5,000 hot spring resource points in China，There are about 1,500 hot spring facilities that have been completed and opened，The total number of hot spring tourism receptions in 2016 reached 3.400 million visitors，Total revenue reaches 43 billion yuan。

But compared to the huge market，China’s hot spring industry has a short residence time，Low average consumption，Most hot spring products are accessories，There is a conflict between low-quality hot spring resort products and our increasing demand for hot spring resort products。

The development model is different from the long-established and well-developed Japanese health-preserving hot springs and the European and American health-preserving hot springs，China’s hot springs still stay in hot springs as tourism、Conference、On the model affiliated with industries such as recuperation and other industries，Compared with the world’s advanced hot spring resort system，China’s shortcomings in the creation of hot spring resort products are mainly in the following points:

1. Filled with many tangible and godless products;

2、 Severe homogeneity，Lack of unique cultural themes and products；

3. Lack of concepts and methods of sustainable development;

4. Lack of overall brand building awareness and industrial system.

Systematic research on Japan’s most popular hot spring projects，The author puts forward six constructive suggestions for the development of hot spring resort industry in China，For industry discussion and sharing。

Non-profit organization—Global Wellness Institute ，GWI shows that，In the past two years，The global health industry has grown by 12.8%，Market size increased from 3 in 2015.USD 7 trillion to 4 in 2017.$2 trillion。

10 market data covering the global health economy provide new evidence: the health industry remains the world’s largest、One of the fastest growing industries。Based on the health needs of modern society，The world has formed a huge health industry system。And hot springs are also among this world-class emerging industry because of their health effects on people's physical and mental health。

The hot spring industry ranks ninth among the top ten health industries，As more and more people turn to hot springs to relieve stress、Recover and socialize，The hot spring market continues to maintain strong growth momentum。The market size grew from US$51 billion in 2015 to US$56.2 billion in 2017，And facilities increased from 27507 (109 countries) to 34057 (127 countries)，employed 1.8 million people。This market is highly concentrated in Asia Pacific and Europe，Accounts for 95% of global hot spring revenue。

From a global perspective ，China’s hot spring resorts and Japanese hot springs (onsen) continue to dominate the market，Has 55% of global revenue and 71% of facilities。Other major markets are thermal springs 188bet sports betting app download in European countries with a long tradition of use for health and therapeutic purposes。This treatment is usually funded by the government insurance system，But many countries are currently reducing this insurance system。

China’s hot spring industry has the largest market size in the world。According to GWI’s estimate，The market size of China’s hot spring industry in 2015 was approximately US$15 billion，Japan 32 ahead of second place.USD 300 million，Better than Germany、Russia、Italy、Austria、The sum of the hot spring industry in Hungary and other European countries is even higher。From the perspective of existing products and consumption habits，The important reason supporting China’s hot spring industry to grow into the world’s largest market is population size rather than high-quality hot spring resort products。

There are more than 17,000 hot springs in Japan，Accounting for nearly two-thirds of the world。Onsen has become a part of the Japanese cultural system and daily life，The hot spring industry has also formed a mature industrial system。

"The Top 100 Hot Springs" is an annual hot spring selection event hosted by the Japan Travel News Service，Score and rank thousands of hot spring resorts in Japan using popular voting and 8 organizing committee selections，Announced at the end of each year，This selection has been going on for more than ten years。The main purpose is to understand the actual needs and preferences of consumers，Determine an excellent hot spring resort，It has become one of the indicators for the development of Japan’s hot spring industry。

2017 comprehensive list top10

From the condition setting of "Hot Spring 100"，The four options for sub-scoring are: 1、Ambience；2、Attraction and experience；3、Spring water quality；4、Local food culture。

Top 3 in each category in 2017

We mainly focus on the top three hot springs to analyze the patterns and characteristics of Japanese hot springs，The sub-items focus on the atmosphere options that have guiding significance for us，Finally choose Kusatsu、Gero、 Beppu Dogo and Yufuin are the objects of analysis。

Kusatsu, the top three overall、Gero and Beppu Hachiyu are both representatives of Japanese traditional cultural hot spring resorts，But the excavation of culture and the overall atmosphere are slightly different。

1. Kusatsu Onsen, which takes hot spring elements to the extreme

Kusatsu Hot Spring has been ranked first in the "Hot Springs 100" for more than ten years，Because of the beautiful natural environment，Famous for its extremely high efficacy，Since ancient times, it has been famous as a famous hot spring for treating diseases and strengthening the body。This is a representative of traditional hot spring resorts。

Atmosphere is actually the creation of the scene，Building、Landscape、Even people on the street，A picture of life composed of special activities，Just like a movie creating a dreamland，One of the key points of travel and vacation is to "live somewhere else"，Entering Disney is like entering a fairy tale world，A good hot spring resort allows visitors to step into the overall atmosphere it creates as soon as they enter，This sense of experience is an important reason why tourists from all over the world go to Japan to experience hot spring vacations，Kusatsu is a leader in shaping traditional hot spring cultural experiences。

The central landscape of the street is the famous "Yubatake"，Yubatake is actually the cooling and heat dissipation system of Kusatsu Hot Spring and the system for collecting hot spring flowers，There are dozens of wooden boxes like tofu boxes in the middle of the Yubata to absorb the minerals left after the hot springs flow，Reprocessed into hot spring powder (soup flower)。The hot spring is cooled down layer by layer and finally forms a small hot spring waterfall，known as Tanglong，is the most famous attraction in Kusatsu。

This is simple and original，The professional system that emits mist all year round is the most representative hot spring town landscape in Japan，Fully illustrates people’s preference for “hot spring cultural elements” itself and the importance of mist, a special atmosphere creator, in hot spring resort towns。

Yubata in the night

The center of Kusatsu Onsen (Yubatake) and the main shopping street (Nishinogawara Street) are dominated by traditional Japanese buildings，Pleasant neighborhood size，Many tourists wearing Japanese yukata activities，There are well-equipped public baths around Yubata，Hot Spring Hotel，Gift shops and restaurants。The business format on the shopping street is hot spring B&B、Mainly souvenir shops and traditional Japanese restaurants。

Landscape around Yubata

Street Scene "Hot Spring Egg"

Hot spring B&Bs are mainly Japanese style，Small but exquisite B&B，Show their unique culture and aesthetics due to the owner’s preferences。

The end of the street is Nishinogawara Park，Featuring a large open-air bath and hot spring water system。The open-air bath can accommodate 100 people at the same time，One of the best in Japan。

Another feature of Kusatsu Onsen is its unique Yunomi performance，Handled down from the Meiji period，Stir and beat with a long wooden board，Cool the 98-degree hot spring from the source to more than 40 degrees, which is suitable for bathing，The whole process of stirring and beating is transformed into a song and dance，The audience can also experience the soup kneading process。

Soup performance

The Declaration of Izumiism can be seen everywhere in Kusatsu Onsen Town，It means to take the quality of spring as the first priority，Reflecting the most important characteristics of Kusatsu Onsen。

In addition, Kusatsu Ski Resort is the most famous hot spring ski resort in Japan，The winding slopes of Kusatsu International Ski Resort，Ideal for experienced skiers to show off their skills，Is a core attraction of Kusatsu in winter。

In addition to the specialties of Kusatsu Onsen, spring flower，Except cosmetics made with hot spring water、Udon noodles and hot spring steamed buns are also indispensable hot spring specialties。

2. Gero Onsen creates a rustic and relaxing atmosphere

The second-ranked Gero Hot Spring and Arima Hot Spring、Kusatsu Hot Spring is also known as the three major hot spring towns in Japan，Has more than a thousand years of history，，Always maintaining the simple and leisurely overall atmosphere of the hot spring town。

Gero Hot Spring ranks second in the spring water quality category，is its most commendable resource，Also known as Beauty Soup。

Gero Hot Spring has always maintained its leisurely and simple style，But at the same time, it also conforms to the trend of the times，Foot bath has become popular in recent years，Gero Hot Spring Street has created many foot baths for tourists to soak their feet，formed one of its major features。There are about 10 footbath locations in Gero Onsen Street。Different styles，While eating local hot spring Tamago ice cream，While soaking your feet，It is a trend started by Gero Hot Spring Street。

Gero Hot Spring is said to have been discovered by an injured egret，The villagers discovered that the hot spring water gushing out here can heal wounds，After the egret leaves，Leave a statue of Medicine Master Tathagata，Still standing on the bridge at Gero Hot Spring Street。

In addition，Gero also has his own mascot: a frog。Frog elements can be seen everywhere on the streets，There is even a frog shrine，Pillars in the shrine，Stone lamp，All items have frog images。Adds a lovely and lazy atmosphere to this traditional and simple hot spring town。

Frog Shrine

What makes Gero Hot Spring different from other hot springs is the historical and cultural site Gassho Village，188bet sports betting app download Gero Onsen Gassho Village is headed by the "old family residence" designated as an important cultural property by the country、A village recreated with 10 gassho-structure private houses relocated from Shirakawa-go and other places，It is a precious open-air museum that understands the lives of residents at that time。Not only can you experience the original scenery of Japan, but you can also learn about painted pottery、A place of paper making culture。

3. “Hell”-themed Beppu Eight Hot Springs

The hot spring resort ranked third in the comprehensive list is Beppu Hachiyu，Beppu has the largest amount of hot spring water in Japan，Second only to Yellowstone National Park in the United States。 Looking at Beppu from a height，Thick white smoke is rising everywhere in this small town，Rooftop、Streetside、Woods or even people’s windows。

Beppu night view with steaming fog

There are more than 200 public hot springs throughout the city，It is a famous hot spring town in Japan。

There are eight most representative hot springs in Beppu and surrounding areas，Known as the “Eight Soups of Beppu”，Scattered in the city，The eight hot springs in Beppu are mainly hot spring streets，Every street has its own characteristics。

The busiest among the eight hot springs in Beppu，The most prosperous，The hot spring town around JR Beppu Station with the largest number of restaurants

The most popular steam hot spring in Kannawa Onsen

The most famous attraction in Beppu is the Eight Hell Hot Springs，It is also the theme feature of this area。Sea Hell、Onishibo Lord Hell、Mountain Hell、Zao Hell、Ghost Mountain Hell、White Pond Hell、Blood Pool Hell (Blood Pool Hell)、Tornado Hell，The unique landscape attracts people who love hot spring culture to visit。It is the core attraction that distinguishes Beppu from other Japanese hot spring resorts。

Beppu’s most famous local food is also themed “Hell”，Named Hell Steam，It is a method of cooking food with hot spring heat。

Judging from the individual evaluation of atmosphere，Except for traditional cultural Kusatsu，Ranked second is the artistic and culturally creative Dogo Onsen，The third is Yufuin, which is fashionable and diversified。

Dogo Hot Spring is located in Matsuyama City，With 3000 years of history，One of the three major ancient springs in Japan。This was originally a representative of traditional hot springs。

As a representative of "divine hot springs", the main building of Dogo Onsen was renovated in 1894，Designated as a national important cultural property in 1994 as a public bathhouse，At the same time, it was recognized as a "modern industrial heritage" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry。Inside the three-story wooden building，Each room、Corridor、The stairs are intricate，Like a maze。This incredible building was also the inspiration for the hot spring house architecture in Hayao Miyazaki's movie "Spirited Away"。

2014，To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the renovation of the Dogo Onsen Main Building，Reviving the dwindling passenger flow，The first "Dogo Onsen Art Festival" kicked off，With the title of "Ancient and Avant-garde"，Invite contemporary artists to settle in，Create public installations and hold live performances，including Yayoi Kusama、Nobuyoshi Araki and other famous artists participated。2015、In 2016, photographer Mika Ninagawa and painter Akira Yamaguchi were separately invited.。An ancient hot spring infused with new "artistic" charm，Attracting more tourists and citizens to come for pilgrimage。

Ninagawa Mika made a cross-border decoration design for him in 2015，The gorgeous flower pattern in the style of Ninagawa Mika merges and collides with the ancient Japanese architecture，brings visitors a pleasant 188bet online sports betting atmosphere that transcends reality，Triggered a wave of heated discussion and discussion。

The 2nd Dogo Onsen Art Festival in 2018 is themed "Salute"。The organizer hopes to visit the public and local residents，While strolling through the ancient hot spring district，You can also be fascinated by the hot spring town of art，Awakening the new atmosphere of the old street。

Yubouin ranked third on the atmosphere list，It is a very popular hot spring resort in Japan in recent years，Especially popular with female tourists，The most important factor in attracting tourists is its fashionable and diverse atmosphere，Town managers humbly go to European hot spring towns to learn from experience，Building a model of Yufuin’s unique characteristic town through the development model of creativity + cultural tourism。

The main body of Yufuin is the famous hot spring street Yunotsubo Street，The entire street is home to many internet celebrity shops，The street starts from the train station，The secondary alleys on both sides are small and elegant，Diverse architectural styles，There are alleys dominated by wooden Japanese-style buildings，There are also alleys mainly featuring European fairy tales and fantasy。There are three or four art galleries in the center of the small town，Various fashionable cultural and creative shops。

Yunoping has many "Golden Prize" shops

At the end of Yunotsubo Street is Yufuin’s famous landscape Kinrin Lake，Jinlin Lake is a small lake with a circumference of about 400 meters，Hot springs gush out from the west side of the lake，Clear water gushes out from the east side of the lake。It’s dusk，The lake surface will glow with layers of golden scales under the setting sun。

From the above analysis of the top hot spring resorts in Japan，We have summarized several suggestions on the creation of Chinese hot spring products:

1. The “shape” of hot spring vacation products

A、lower level、Independent architectural form，Among them, wood is the most suitable，China’s skills in wooden construction are the highest in the world，The details can reflect the exquisiteness and aesthetics of wooden craftsmanship。

B、Naturally winding streets，The main street can be slightly wider，Difference from fully pedestrian-scale secondary alleys，The entrance to the main street is arranged at a traffic gathering place，There should be a landscape or other attraction at the end。

C、Natural growth and even a bit "crowded" planning texture，The town needs to have traces of natural growth，Just like the water towns in Jiangnan, China，Like ancient towns in Europe，The buildings are scattered and different，Zhang Chi Youdao。

D、 Different B&Bs: B&Bs should become the main form of accommodation with a high proportion in resorts，Each B&B is in the inner courtyard、Feng Lu、Indoor、Decoration、Special lectures on food and other aspects have become a highlight of the resort to attract tourists。

2. The “god” of hot spring vacation products

Take shape，If there is no penetration of "hot spring element"，Creation of hot spring atmosphere，That product is just a beautiful town at best，From Japan’s experience，There are three main aspects:

A、Creation of fog，Can create an image like Beppu、A small town shrouded in fog like Gero，It can also be like Beppu、Kusatsu、Yufuin also forms a feature in the landscape park。

B、 The main landscape of hot spring elements: the structures and systems related to hot spring craftsmanship can serve as the center of the town，Reflecting the characteristics of hot spring culture。

C、Hand Soup、Foot Soup、Food and other street scenes: small hand、Foot Soup、Hot spring pool with eggs，Although it is small, it can have a big impact 188bet Online Sports Betting and Casino on the atmosphere of the street。

D、 Hot spring etiquette: It is well known that Japan is very particular about hot spring etiquette，The sense of ritual can cause changes in people’s mood，In public baths、The emphasis on hot spring etiquette in B&B hotels helps to enhance the overall atmosphere of hot spring resort products。

The above elements can basically constitute a hot spring resort product that is both physical and spiritual，The next two points are about the characteristics of hot spring vacation products，That is, the main aspect of differentiation。

3. The “position” of hot spring vacation products

It is the overall positioning，Customer’s positioning，Based on surrounding markets and trends，Determine customer type and preferences，It is a traditional approach aimed at the older market，It is still aimed at younger people who take the path of art or fashion。

Traditional type: water quality is a very important reference factor，The creation of vacation products is based on health care、Health requires a professional system and related supporting facilities，High proportion of health industry，Highlight the recuperative functions of hot spring resort products。

Artistic and fashionable: in architecture、Landscape、Decoration、The business format must be very modern and fashionable，Building influence on the Internet，There is a relatively high proportion of cultural businesses，Highlight the cultural functions of hot spring resort products。

4. The “soul” of hot spring vacation products

Refers to the cultural system of hot spring vacation products，Hot spring resort products should form their own cultural system according to local conditions。

A、Topic: Discover local culture、Resource、History，The big themes include the overall "hell" cultural theme that runs through Beppu and Noboribetsu，The small system includes Kumamon from Kumamoto Hot Spring、Relaxing and small cultural themes such as the frog mascot of Gero Onsen、Mythological origin themes such as the Gero Hot Spring pharmacist statue，The key is to form a memory point

B、 Festival、Event Festival: You can refer to Japan’s hot spring festival、Fireworks Party、Hot spring festival and other festivals form their own festival system。

The next two points are about attractions and derivative products related to hot spring vacation products，This is also the key point to attract tourists。

5. “Entertainment” of hot spring vacation products

Refers to the core attraction besides hot springs，Mainly for natural landscapes、Suggestions on the utilization of cultural landscapes and rural landscapes。

A、Natural landscape: mountains, rivers and seas，The resort can plan tours for the developed natural landscapes and provide them to tourists，If the conditions are suitable, it can be developed into a sports venue。

B、Cultural landscape: historical buildings and art, etc.，Discover the surrounding local culture，Planning a contextual exploration trip，You can also refer to the practice of Gero Hot Spring Gassho Village，Relocating ancient buildings elsewhere for revitalization and protection。

C、Rural landscape Japan’s farm and ranch tourism is very prosperous，And many hot spring resorts are located in rural areas，So there are almost farms and ranches around the hot spring resort area that you can visit，There are also many activities，It is an entertainment project that is very suitable for reference of Chinese hot spring vacation products。

6. The "things" of hot spring vacation products

Finally, let’s talk about the derivatives of hot spring resorts、Souvenirs, etc.，Japan’s hot spring derivatives currently have a market of approximately US$4 billion，China is relatively backward in development in this area，Hot spring resorts should focus on health-care derivatives，Hot spring food、Do more research and development on cultural souvenirs 188bet app and other aspects，In addition to economic benefits，Spreading、Brand Building、It has a very great effect on the construction of cultural system。

*thisWen LaiSource: WeChatPublic account "Real Estate Observer"（ID:realestatereview），Author: Dai Xiaoxi、Wang Wei，Expert Author，General Manager of Lingyi Consulting (personal WeChat ID: brian378183884)，Original title: "Zhuopu、Exquisite、Feelings—Looking at the major trends in China’s hot spring resort products from Japan’s five top hot springs》.