Japan has brought the concept of a nice warm bath to a whole ’nother level. And after a long, stressful day on the fast-paced Tokyo streets, there’s no better way to relax. Here is a list of the top onsen and sento spots in Tokyo, perfect for warming you up during these cold winter months and cooling you down after a heated workday.
Utsukushi no Yu – Takaido
Utsukushi no Yu is my personal favourite for having the best name (I always read it as “Beautiful You” in my head) and the outdoor bath is truly a beautiful place. Located in the cute neighbourhood town of Takaido, Utsukushi no Yu has reasonable prices and welcomes families. Patrons are welcome to use the 25-meter swimming club pool on weekends.
Oedo Onsen Monogatari Hot Springs – Odaiba
This natural hot spring located in Odaiba has a fun and traditional interior that mimics an Edo-era shitamachi, or downtown area. There are a variety of baths to choose from here, and even an onsen for dogs so you can come back to a shampooed and massaged pup after your own dip in the spa. It’s a great place to relax after a long day of enjoying Odaiba’s other amusements like the Joypolis indoor theme park, VenusFort shopping centre, and DiverCity plaza.
Thermae Yu – Shinjuku
This fairly new onsen in Shinjuku, Tokyo was built to resemble those in the famous Thermae Romae manga/movie series. It contains all the amenities you could ask for, including a beauty salon, a healing stone sauna, cafe and bar, massage area, and more. The facilities feel fresh and clean, and the interior has a classy modern design.
Yunohama Open-Air Bath – Nii-jima
This completely open-air bath in the Izu island chain is free and open to the public 24/7. Not only that, but it resembles a scene from Ancient Greece, with towering stone columns decorating the area. Nii-jima is a small island with a population of just under 3,000 but still has plenty to do and to see. Since Nii-jima is also a famous surfing spot, it’s best to visit between June and November to make the most of the experience. Although it is part of Tokyo, Nii-jima is quite far from the mainland, so it’s best to make a short trip of it.
Niwa no Yu – Toshima
This onsen complex in Toshima, Tokyo is settled inside a large Japanese style garden designed by famous architect Kenzo Kosugi. Niwa-no-Yu welcomes men, women, and children ages 12 and up. For those who are too shy to strip in front of strangers, Niwa no Yu has an open central pool area where the patrons wear bathing suits and men and women can relax together. It is also located near the Toshima-en amusement park, a quiet amusement park with a vintage feel that boasts a hundred-year-old carousel at its centre.
For those looking for a traditional onsen getaway and for those who like day trips, here’s one north of Tokyo:
Kusatsu Onsen – Kusatsu, Gunma
Kusatsu is a well-known onsen town, said to have healing waters than can cure almost any ailment. The town came to international renown when German doctor Erwin von Baelz spoke highly of the health benefits of the water over one hundred years ago. A statue of the doctor can be spotted in the nearby Sainokawara Park, where hot spring water collects into shallow, naturally formed pools. The onsen itself also holds an interactive yumomi, or water-cooling, performances throughout the day.
Or for a more modern take with a lot of variety:
Yunessun – Hakone, Kanagawa
This spa resort welcomes travelers from across Japan and around the world, and resort really is the key word. Yunessun is a bath house theme park, with plenty of interesting pools to choose from, including a wine bath, a tea bath, and even a garigari-kun ice pop bath – don’t worry, it’s still hot! Patrons at Yunessun can enjoy a fun variety of bathing areas in their swimsuits and even play in a large pool area complete with water slides.
How will you be keeping warm this winter? Let us know in the comments!
Photo by Kaede Kobayashi on Unsplash.
