As the weather cools down, it is the perfect time to take a dip in the warm waters of the hot springs or public baths that Kanto has to offer. What’s the difference between the two? A hot spring is natural hot water from deep underground while a public bath, or sento as they refer to it in Japanese, is manmade and warmed up by a heating system. A super sento is just a large version of a public bath and has many different baths. Here is a list of hot springs and super sentos in Tokyo and Saitama, making any of these places ideal for your next relaxing day trip.
Tokyo
Mannenyu
Located in the heart of the Shinjuku ward in Shin-Okubo, Mannenyu is a small public bathhouse that offers a few different baths, including one with an electric current that feels like a massage. Entry is 520 yen, and the first small towel is free. It is the perfect place for people with tattoos who want to experience having a public bath because not all places are tattoo-friendly like this one.
Find Mannenyu here.
LaQua
Open 22 hours a day, feel free to go anytime for a dip at LaQua. It is a little more pricey than a regular onsen and is more like a theme park, as it is 3,230 yen for admission. Right in the heart of the city, next to Kourakuen Station, the front desk is located on the sixth floor of Tokyo Dome City LaQua, but spans from the fifth to the ninth floor. The spa boasts a natural hot spring that runs 1,700 metres below the surface. There is an open-air carbonated spring outside in a Japanese Cypress wooden bathtub, which boosts metabolism. There is a separate area called the Healing Baden, which requires the rental of special clothing at an extra cost. For those looking to use a sauna, private rooms at Sauna Lounge Rentola are available to hire for groups of up to 4 people.
Find Spa LaQua here.
Saya-No-Yudokoro
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Forget that you’re in Tokyo at Saya-No-Yudokoro, which offers a variety of baths. From the free-flowing hot springs to pot-shaped baths, the range and size are impressive for the small amount of land this onsen sits on. If you prefer to rent a private bath, you can reserve it online for an hourly rate of 2,100 yen. Just note that Itabashi City law refrains men and women over 7 years old from bathing together, even in a private setting. After taking a soak, head to the restaurant, as it overlooks a beautiful Japanese garden and will keep you in a relaxed mood. Juwari Soba is the signature dish, which is made 100% out of buckwheat flour. This hot spring is just an 8-minute walk from Shimura-Sakaue Station on the Mita Line.
Find Saya-No-Yudokoro here.
Edo-Yu Ryogoku
Ryogoku has deep historical ties, as Sumo is a popular sport in the area. Edo-yu’s building brings a modern feel to a Japanese tradition. It was a Bronze Medallist for the Japan Space Design Award in 2020. There are 6 different baths on offer, including a Chinese Herbal Medicine Bath and a highly concentrated carbonated bath. Edo-yu also has a Finnish-style Sauna with aroma oils to rest in. Open from 10 am to 8:30 am the next day, treat yourself to a relaxing bath whenever you feel like. For those who work remotely, Edo-yu renovated an old bathhouse into a working space and a sauna into a meeting room.
Find Edo-Yu Ryogoku here.
Azabu Kokubisui Hot Springs Takenoyu
Azabu Kokubisui Hot Spring Takenoyu is a smaller bathhouse located near Azabu Juban station. The store was originally founded in 1919, then was renovated a couple of times to become the hot spring business it is today. It is tattoo-friendly and has three different baths, two hot and one cold. Customers are amazed at how smooth their skin is after taking a dip in the special transparent black hot spring water. The water is full of different skin-nutrient minerals, which derive from mud and volcanic ash. Adults are only 520 yen for entry. Be aware that this place is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Find Azabu Kokubisui Hot Spring Takenoyu here.
Saitama
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Spadium Japon
Spend all day at Spadium Japon, as it holds up to its name as a super sento. Take the free shuttle bus from Tanashi, Higashi-Kurume, Shiki, or Asakadai/Kita-Asaka Station. Inside the bathhouse, there are 11 baths and 2 saunas to choose from, including a milk bath and sparkling cool water. The modern design gives a clean look to the baths. Treat yourself to one of the many bedrock baths that have different power stones, which is known as Ganbanyoku in Japanese. Spadium Japon’s Ganbanyoku is the biggest one in the Kanto region, so be sure to try it out!
Find Spadium Japon here.
Saika-no-yu Toda Koen Hot Springs
My favourite natural hot spring to go to is Saika-no-yu in Toda Koen. The free shuttle bus departs from Takashimadaira Station on the Mita Line or Toda Koen Station on the Saikyo Line. Between bathing time, you can hire table tennis or karaoke with a group of friends for a small fee. They also have a vending machine with flavoured milk to help you cool down. The sauna has monthly scented fragrances that help to relax and clear your airway. The variety of baths that they have to offer with different temperatures means that everyone can find a perfectly heated bath for themselves. Saika-no-yu even has a hot spring that comes from 1,500 metres underground.
Find Saika-no-yu here.
Ryusenji-no-yu Soka-Yatsuka
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Built in Nagoya in 1990, Ryusenji-no-yu was the first known super sento in Japan. They then expanded in 2000, which included the Ryusenji-no-yu in Soka-Yatsuka. Ryusenji-no-yu refers to their bathhouse as a “healing paradise that warms the mind and body.” The super sento in Soka offers 14 different kinds of baths, including 4 highly concentrated carbonated hot springs. It also boasts a large bedrock bathing area and makes use of 100% natural aroma oils. Take the free shuttle bus from Soka or Takenotsuka Station and prepare yourself for a rejuvenating day at this spa.
Find Ryusenji-no-yu here.
Uta Hot Springs
Uta Hot Spring may be one of the furthest hot springs on this list, but it serves as a nice little getaway from the big city life for a day. It is fairly close to the Tobu Zoo. The shuttle buses run fairly late to and from Tobu Dobutsu Koen Station, with the last bus leaving the hot spring at 9:45 p.m. On weekends, entry is 1,200 yen with a rental towel and clothing set included. The buffet is an extra 1,780 yen. If the buffet restaurant is too much for you, they also have a Japanese restaurant. Uta Hot Spring has a coupon set that can be used up to 10 times for 9,700 yen, making it just 970 yen per entry! There are 9 baths to try, such as a silk bath and a floating cloud bath. Plus, the place is highly rated on Google reviews, so you may want to come back more than once.
Find Uta Hot Spring here.
Which Hot Springs Do You Want to Bathe In?
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There are so many bathhouses in Kanto that they could not fit into one list, including the popular ones in Chiba and Kanagawa. Hot springs and super sentos have a unique feel because of the types of baths they have or the extra relaxation services. It’s easy to spend a day at these places and the further it is from the city, the more of a holiday it becomes.
Related Articles:
- Ganbanyoku: Japanese Style Hot Stone Therapy
- My First-Time Experience in a Japanese Onsen & What I Wish I Knew
- The Best Hot Spring Towns to Enjoy Fall Foliage
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