6 of the best private hot spring onsens in Japan to soak your troubles away
The Japanese have a long steamy history of getting up to their necks in hot water. And travellers have long followed suit. Surely there is nothing more relaxing than leaving all the stress of life, along with your clothes, in a locker by the door and slipping into mineral-rich healing waters.
Surely there is nothing more relaxing than leaving all the stress of life, along with your clothes, in a locker by the door and slipping into mineral-rich healing waters?
In Japan, the onsen culture of hadaka no tsukiai or “naked communication” is highly valued. But for visitors not used to shooting the breeze in their birthday suits, this roughly translates as one of those butt-naked nightmares where you look down and you’re not wearing your trousers to work.
Soak up the healing powers of these 4 onsen in the heart of Tokyo
For those that would love to take the plunge, without the awkwardness and without staying in a ryokan, there is good news: the private onsen – a private, relaxing room with no awkward interaction. What could be better than that?
Check out a few recommendations:
In Tokyo
Saya No Yu Onsen
A real onsen in Tokyo is hard to find. A real onsen with private rooms is almost impossible – until now. Saya No Yu has the local feeling of a traditional neighbourhood sento (bath house) but the difference is that hot spring water is pumped from 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) underground.
Another major difference is that you can book a private room complete with rubber duckies. The quirky ducks grow with the seasons. So if you visit in summer expect big fat yellow ducks.
A peek inside Japan’s Solaniwa Onsen, the world’s biggest hot-spring theme park
While you might not get an onsen egg in the winter, you will probably spot a small ducky. The bath house also comes complete with a traditional Zen garden.
Price: 2,000 yen (US$18.5) to 3,000 yen for two hours
Near Tokyo: Hakone
Hakone Yuryo
These are the biggest hot springs in the region with 19 private onsens. With the aesthetic beauty of a traditional ryokan you feel as if you are staying at a nice old country inn even if you are just stopping by. Reservations are recommended. A free shuttle bus operates from Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Price: private rooms start at 3,900 yen and go up to 5,900 yen per hour
Yajikita-no-Yu
This offers six types of open-air baths which can used privately. This is a rustic onsen oozing with traditional charm. You can rent a private restroom and there is also a dog spa if you are travelling with Fido.
Price: 2,000 yen for 45 minutes for a private bath
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
This is a huge hot spring amusement park where there are not only private baths, but more types of spa baths than you could shake a stick at.
Indeed, 23 different hot spring baths await you, including indoor and outdoor versions and waterslide versions containing wine, coffee, sake and green tea.
Why Japan’s onsens top visitors’ wish lists
Covered tattoos are acceptable in some public pools where you can also wear a bathing suit.
Price: 5,000 yen for one hour for a private bath
Further away
Daitokan Hotel, Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture
Daitokan Hotel has six 24-hour indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, some of which can be reserved for private use depending on availability.
Why Japan’s onsens top visitors’ wish lists
A cave tunnel leads to the hot spring baths. Public baths are separated by gender. For hotel guests the onsen is free and reservations are not needed.
Price: the private onsens are 1,000 yen on a first come, first served basis
Onsen Toomi-no-Yu, Nagano Prefecture
Shibu Onsen is a historic onsen town, almost perfectly preserved in time in a small valley, and is probably most famous for the cheeky hot spring loving “snow monkeys”.
Toomi-no-Yu is an onsen attached to Hotel Selan in Yomase. The open air bath offers breathtaking views of the Zenkoji Plains. There is a private indoor and outdoor bath for friends and families, which is free for overnight guests. A reservation is needed.
Price: 2,500 yen for 50 minutes with shower and sauna for the private onsen for visitors
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Enjoy the benefits of bathing in wine, coffee, sake or green tea – or even in plain old mineral-rich healing waters – at these spots in Tokyo and beyond