Photo Credit: Japan Baths
Onsen is a quintessential part of the Japanese culture, and no trip to Japan is complete without visiting one and experiencing them for yourself. There is just something so calming about soaking yourself in steaming hot water and letting your muscles relax after a long day of exploring. In fact, many locals retire to the onsens to wind down after a tiring day.
There are many onsens all around Japan, no matter which city you look at. There are, in fact, over 3,000 onsens all around the country.
Tokyo, in particular, is home to several good onsen. Here are the 6 Best Onsens in Tokyo That You Need To Visit.
Photo Credit: Japan Highlights Travel
#1 TOKYO SOMEI ONSEN SAKURA
This particular onsen is especially popular during the cherry blossom season, when some of the somei-yoshino trees within the compound bloom. But that does not mean you cannot visit it any other time of the year.
The spaces within Tokyo Somei Onsen Sakura is beautifully built and definitely makes you feel right at ease the moment you enter. There are also other facilities within the onsen such as a stone sauna.
The sodium chloride-rich waters you will find within this onsen has also been filtered to remove the colour and smell, so you will be stepping into waters clear as crystals.
Tokyo Somei Onsen Sakura
5-2-24 Komagome, Tokyo
170-0003, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5907-5566
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Sugamo
Photo Credit: Japan Info
#2 MAENOHARA ONSEN SAYUNO YUDOKORO
Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro is ranked one of the best onsens in Tokyo, and that is saying a lot. It is definitely a location you should visit at least once in your lifetime. There are beautiful gardens within the onsen grounds and even individual rooms that you can rent for two hours at a time.
There is also Restaurant Shitensha within the compound which offers a selection of Japanese soba noodles and seasonal dishes. You will get to dine in a traditional Japanese folk house remake, surrounded by a tranquil Japanese garden.
Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro
3-41-1 Maenocho, Itabashi, Tokyo
174-0063, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5916-3826
Daily: 10am – 1am
Nearest Station: Shimura-Sakaue
Photo Credit: Japan Baths
#3 OEDO ONSEN MONOGATARI
Oedo Onsen Monogatari is one of the most frequented onsens in Tokyo.
Besides the usual natural hot spring baths, open-air baths and saunas, the onsen theme park also features occasional festivals, places to drink and dine at, shops and even overnight accommodation.
Photo Credit: Miner8
There are six different types of baths, including a special bath for dogs, named the Tsunayoshi Bath Tub. One of the most popular attractions within Oedo Onsen Monogatari is the Japanese Garden. It stretches across 50 metres and is a great open-air communal area for visitors to mix and mingle.
Oedo Onsen Monogatari
2-57 Aomu, Koto-ku, Tokyo
135-0064, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5500-1126
Daily: 11am – 9am
Nearest Station: Telecom Center
Photo Credit: Travel + Leisure
#4 NIWA NO YU
Niwa no Yu is easily one of the most pleasant-looking mega-onsen bathing complexes in all of Tokyo. It is housed within a Japanese garden that was designed by leading landscape architect Kenzo Kosugi and features a central pool, outdoor Jacuzzis, and saunas besides the usual male and female bathing areas.
The onsen is segregated into male and female quarters, and have no common areas that both genders can enjoy at the same time.
Niwa no Yu
3-25-1 Koyama, Tokyo
176-0022, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3990-4126
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Toshimaen
Photo Credit: Sakura House
#5 SPA LAQUA
Spa LaQua is the modern take on the traditional onsen, with a huge array of facilities such as beauty treatments such as Thai and Hawaiian massages, Korean body scrubs, aromatherapy, and even high-tech saunas. There is also an open-air onsen and a foaming massage bath.
Spa LaQua is open all night long, so you can even pop by at 12am if you are up for a midnight soak.
Spa LaQua
1 Chome-1-1 Kasuga, Tokyo
112-0003, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5800-9999
Daily: 11am – 9am
Nearest Station: Korakuen
Photo Credit: Rakuten Travel
#6 YUKEMURI NO SATO SUSUKINO
This particular onsen is located in Yokohama but is easily accessible via train from Tokyo. Yukemuri no Sato Susukino boasts 15 different types of baths, massages where the masseuse uses his or her feet instead of hands, six rock saunas, and even a restaurant.
The best selling point about Yukemuri no Sato Susukino, however, would be its affordable price point. Entry to the bath area costs only ¥600 (S$7.70), while the rock saunas cost ¥500 (S$6.40).
There is also a free shuttle bus service to the onsen from Azamino Station on the Tokyu Denetoshi Line.
Yukemuri no Sato Susukino
3-2-7 Susukino, Aoba Ward, Yokohama
225-0021, Japan
Tel: +81 45-905-2641
Daily: 7am – 12am
Nearest Station: Azamino Station
For more recommendations, read our Tokyo’s food & travel guides that feature the best places to visit in Tokyo.
Just an FYI, the picture of your last recommendation is not the same Onsen as the one you’re describing.