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.

Have you heard of Mount Takao? It is outside of Tokyo but is easily accessible via train. Mount Takao boasts a quiet, serene surrounding—a far cry from the hectic city life.

Mount Takao is a day trip option if you want to get out of the city for a bit, and getting there from Shinjuku Station takes about an hour. But the mountain does not just offer the sights and sounds of nature, there are also shopping streets and restaurants located on the mountain itself!

Still not sure whether you should make the commute? Here are 7 Reasons Why You Should Make A Day Trip From Tokyo To Mount Takao.

#1 THERE ARE SEVERAL HIKING TRAILS TO TAKE

Nature lovers will love making the most out of the day trip by hiking up the mountain. Trail Number 1 offers concrete footpaths up the mountain, but the remaining trails are unpaved, although they are less crowded.

A hike up the mountain takes about 90 minutes.

#2 YOU CAN EVEN TAKE A CABLE CAR IF YOU ARE LAZY

There are cable cars going up and down the mountain for travellers who would rather do without the hike. It will only take about 20 minutes or less to get to the top! A single trip costs ¥480, while a round trip costs ¥930.

#3 YOU WILL GET A CLEAR VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINOUS SURROUNDINGS

The view from the mountain is breathtaking, to say the least. There is an outlook point that allows visitors to take in the beautiful surroundings. If you are tired after your hike, you can even sit on the benches while you sip on a drink.

Plus, the view is great for pictures!

#4 SHOP ON THE TRANQUIL STREETS

The road leading up to the cable car centre is lined with independent stores, selling everything from handmade rice crackers, ice cream, to little keychains and souvenirs.

#5 FILL YOUR TUMMY WITH SOME DELICIOUS SOBA

If you take a walk down the serene shopping streets within Mount Takao, you will find plenty of soba restaurants. Soba is evidently a popular dish in Mount Takao, and you can feast on hot, soupy soba noodles, or just some traditional ice-cold soba.

#6 WATCH MONKEYS PLAY AROUND

Near the top of the mountain sits a little Monkey Park, and you just need to pay a small entrance fee to be able to see the jumpy creatures in their enclosures.

Access to the Monkey Park costs ¥420 per head.

Photo Credit: WAttention

#7 THE AUTUMN FOLIAGE IS AMAZING

Mount Takao is very popular during Autumn, when the trees all around the mountain turn into various shades of orange, yellow and red. The autumn foliage is simple stunning; and very quintessential of Japan.

Just this alone is worth the trip to Mount Takao during Autumn!

HOW TO GET TO MOUNT TAKAO

Mount Takao is easily accessible via train from Shinjuku Station in Central Tokyo. It takes approximately one hour.

Simply hop onto the Keio Railway line from Shinjuku, and alight at Takaosanguchi Station—the nearest Station to Mount Takao.

Read: 6 Best Day Trips From Tokyo You Will Regret Not Visiting.

Japan is definitely a country you cannot visit just once.

The different prefectures each carry its own individual charm. You can choose to experience how the modern city life is like, or let the old-world architecture of other cities take you back in time.

It is quite impossible to cover every inch of Japan with just one trip, but you can get the most out of your stay by going for short, eye-opening day trips to other towns and cities located within reasonable distances from Tokyo.

Here are 6 Of The Best Daytrips From Tokyo.

Photo Credit: Boutique Japan

#1 HAKONE, KANAGAWA

Hakone in Kanagawa is reasonably near Tokyo, and is about an hour and a half away from Tokyo. You can easily catch a train down the Odakyu line to Hakone-Yumoto station. You will be greeted with a magnificent sight of Mount Fuji, coupled with a number of other attractions around the area.

Hakone is, in fact, one of the best places in Japan to catch the sakura blooms around spring time. Besides admiring cherry blossoms, you can also visit the numerous hot springs around Hakone, and try some unique black volcanic eggs that can only be found in the town.

There is also the iconic shrine that is everyone’s favourite photo spot.

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#2 KAMAKURA, KANAGAWA

Kamakura, like Hakone, is located in the Kanagawa Prefecture. But what Kamakura is best known for is its Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple, the second largest bronze Buddha statue in all of Japan.

Besides Kotoku-in, Kamakura is also dotted with many other temples such as Engakuji Temple and Hase-dera Temple.

You can also sunbathe and swim around the sandy beaches of Kamakura. It only takes an hour and 15 minutes to get from Tokyo to Kamakura by train!

Photo Credit: YouTube

#3 KAWAGOE, SAITAMA

You do not need a trip to Kyoto to step into “Edomae Nihon”.

Kawagoe in Saitama is only a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo. The serene streets are flanked with quiet little storehouses that were built decades ago, taking you back to the Edo period.

Life here feels almost uncommercialised. You can have a meal at one of the authentic Japanese restaurants along the road, or take some traditional Japanese candy home from one of the stores.

Photo Credit: Washingtonian Post

#4 MOUNT FUJI, SHIZUOKA

You have seen this iconic mountain on postcards and screen savers, but while you are in Japan, you should definitely pay a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site and see Mount Fuji in person.

You can get to Shizouka via the JR Tokaido Shinkansen line, and it would take slightly over an hour.

Shizouka prefecture is one of the best places to score an unobstructed view of the volcano. Try going to Fuji City and Shimizu! Just make sure you visit when the fog and mist are not thick so as to score a clearer view of the magnificent mountain.

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#5 NIKKO CITY, TOCHIGI

Be awed by the beautiful autumnal colours in Nikko City when fall comes. The trees will turn into beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow when the fall months approach and this attracts a good number of tourists every year.

Nikko City is also home to a number of shrines such as Taiyuinbyo, Rinnoji Temple and Tamazowa Imperial Villa. You can also visit the Sacrad Shinkyo Bridge! Originally built in 1936, the bridge looks out to the beautiful natural landscapes, waterfalls, and lakes.

Nikko City is a two-hour train ride from Tokyo.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

#6 CHIBA PREFECTURE

A couple of Japan’s most popular attractions and touristy sites are actually located in Chiba Prefecture, including Tokyo Disneyland. It is also where Narita Airport is located.

The Boso Peninsula takes up a large amount of the prefecture and holds many natural and architectural treasures for your discovery.

While you are in Chiba, be sure to visit the Tateyama Castle for an aerial view of the town and Mount Nokogiriyama. Nicknamed Sawtooth Mountain, Mount Nokogiriyama literally puts you at the edge of the world. From the vantage point, you will be able to see Tokyo Bay, and even Mount Fuji if weather permits.

It takes about an hour and a half to get to Chiba from Tokyo.

Words and photographs by Jolene Koh of Cupcake Weekend

On the last week of May I treaded on nippon ground despite the many incessant warnings of radiation scares and it was a risk well taken. If a city could be a person then I was extremely impressed by Tokyo. She is indeed very magical with so much to explore, taste & feel. Tokyo is undoubtedly my Paris in Asia.

Here’s a quick travel guide on Things to do in Tokyo for five days.

The first thing to do in right after you get off your plane is to purchase a subway pass. The next thing not to do : take a cab (unless you really have to). Not only is it ridiculously expensive, you miss out on alot when you travel via taxi. Though the subway map can be pretty taunting, I assure you that you will get the hang of it within a day or two.

Shibuya

Shibuya is known for shopping and it’s famous scramble crossing. I would recommend having a meal at L’occitane Cafe (directly across the road from Shibuya Station, Hachiko exit). This place not only serves really healthy, wholesome food but also has a great view.

Lined up along the main street and alleys of Shibuya Center Town are a number of music & fashion stores as well as their local fast food restaurants. Shibuya 109 is for the ladies and houses a large variety of fashion goods, similar to Far East Square in Singapore.

Take a walk towards Kamiyama-cho and you’ll pass by a four-storey H&M and further down is the bakery, Viron, that has amazing freshly baked bread & french pastries. The nature lover will enjoy the spacious Yoyogi park that has a central square with beautiful lawn, lush fountains and bird sanctuaries.

Omotesando, Harajuku & Aoyama

Omotesando is the place to get lost, to get found. What I mean is that it’s like a maze in a pretty garden dotted with many quaint cafes and concept stores hidden behind the main road.

If you’re into organic and vegan food you will love Brown Rice Café (5-1-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku). Coffee addicts will find much joy at Streamer Coffee Company (3-28-19, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku), home to one of the world’s best latte artisans. Takeshita Pedestrian Street is best to head to during the weekend because it’s when you will see locals in their anime get-ups and costumes. Ice cream crepes and freshly fried calbee chips are junk food must-haves.

End your day with a walk through the gorgeous Meiji-jingu that is just two minutes away from Harajuku station. 100,00o donated trees at the time of enshrinement form the solemn forest that is crowded with visitors all year round. If you happen to visit this area on a Sunday, make a trip Marche Japon, Tokyo’s best new farmer’s market located at Aoyama, in front of the United Nations University.

Ginza

Your Chanel, Balmain, Issey & LV can all be found at Ginza. This sophisticated area is lined up with departmental stores, luxurious boutiques and high-end flagship shops. Pop by the twelve-story Uniqlo (5-7-7, Ginza, Chuo-ku), even if not to buy anything just to have a look. It is afterall the biggest Uniqlo in the world.

Once you’re done with the excruciatingly tiring task of shopping, have tea Ladureé cafe (2F Mitsukoshi Ginza) or head to Henri Charpentier (2-8-20 Ginza, Chuo-ku) for their to-die-for lemon tart and fine madeleines.

If you are the kind to venture out of the way for fine pastries and sweets, then you should definitely make a trip to Hidemi Sugino (3-6-17 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku). He is Tokyo’s Pierre Herme and his delectable desserts are as good as a queue forming outside his store an hour before they open.

Roppongi

Roppongi Hills (just above Roppongi Station) is the the more cosmopolitan side of Tokyo that has over 200 stores and restaurants, an observatory, an art museum and residential apartments. It’s best to shop, eat and explore the area in the day and leave Mori Tower (the observatory) for the evening so that you can appreciate the sun’s gradual setting over the whole city. (Note that the observatory ticket does not allow re-entry to the sky deck).

There are many good restaurants in Roppongi Hills but one that I would really recommend is Robuchon L’atelier (Mori Tower, 2/F Hillside, Roppongi Hills). Sit at the bar for a semi-casual, interactive dining experience and watch the chefs prepare your meal right in front of you. They offer set lunches/dinners from ¥4,200 (S$67) onwards.

Also in the vicinity is the beautiful Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park where the Tokyo Central Library is located. Azabu Juban Shopping Town is another popular destination and has many attractions such as antique flea markets, rakugo shows and summer-end festivals.

Shinjuku

One of the highlights in Shinjuku is Takashimaya Times Square. It is a shopping/amusement zone that has a wide array of brands, a seven storey Tokyu Hands, the famous Kinokuniya bookstore and many good restaurants.

If you love wagyu beef, be sure to have a meal at Imahan (Times Square Bldg 14F (Shinjuku Takashimaya) that serves amazing cuts which can be enjoyed shabu-shabu or suki-yaki style. Just a five minute walk away from Takashimaya is Lumine 2 (the latest extension of Lumine 1) where Tokyo’s second Laduree cafe (that serves macaron flavoured ice-cream) and Dean & Deluca is located. This new wing stocks current labels like Opening Ceremony, Lanvin en Bleu, Jill Stuart and United Arrows.

Other major departmental stores in Shinjuku include Isetan (you can’t say you’ve been in Shinjuku if you haven’t been to Isetan’s Food Hall), Marui, Keio, Mitsukoshi and Odakyu.

One of the latest additions to Tokyo’s skyline is Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest tower at 634 meters. A panoramic view of Tokyo can be seen from the 450-meter high observation deck. Tickets were sold out for two weeks when it was launched so if you plan to visit it, you should purchase your tickets in advance online.

The Tsujiki Fish Market, Ueno Onshi Park, Nijubashi (Imperial Palace), Ghibli Museum, Disneysea & Disneyland are other popular tourist attractions in Tokyo.