Honest Funaoka Onsen – Hot Spring in Kyoto Review – The Good, the Bad, and What to Expect

Funaoka Onsen receives many positive reviews online, but there are also some negative comments.
I have visited Funaoka Onsen many times, so in this article, I will summarize both the positive and negative opinions found in online reviews and give an honest assessment of whether they are truly accurate.

Positive Reviews

I can bathe even if you have tattoos.

Most bathing facilities in Japan do not allow guests with tattoos, but at Funaoka Onsen, you can enjoy the bath freely without any worries.

Those who visit Kinkaku-ji（Golden Pavilion） should definitely stop by afterward.

Funaoka Onsen is within walking distance from Kinkaku-ji, about a 20-minute walk. Since it’s located along the sightseeing route, it’s easy to include in your travel plans. After walking and exploring Kinkaku-ji, you can relax and rejuvenate your tired body, making it a truly wonderful experience.

It’s a traditional facility with a local atmosphere, not flashy, and very comfortable to relax in.

Funaoka Onsen has a long history, and its interior is even registered as a cultural property of Kyoto.

It is frequently used by local residents and is truly a bathhouse loved by the community.

However, to be precise, it is not a natural hot spring but a public bathhouse (sento).

The stone outdoor bath is excellent.

The stones used in the outdoor stone bath are made from rare and valuable stone from Kyoto, giving it a truly special feel. The baths are separated by gender, and only one of the two bathing areas has the outdoor stone bath. It operates on a daily rotation system, so if you have time, visiting on two consecutive days allows you to experience both types of baths.

The bath is at a mild, comfortable temperature, and the oak wood tub gives off a wonderful natural fragrance.

There is a bath made from hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. Hinoki has a pleasant fragrance, smooth texture, and natural antibacterial properties, allowing you to enjoy a uniquely Japanese bathing experience.

The entrance fee is very inexpensive.

It offers excellent value for money. Being able to enjoy the charming atmosphere of Funaoka Onsen for just 550 yen is truly wonderful.

The electric bath was fun.

The electric bath is a type of bath found in Japanese public bathhouses, where a mild electric current flows through the water. It gently massages the body, improves blood circulation, and helps relieve muscle tension.

Negative reviews

It’s located in a somewhat hard-to-find spot.

Since it is located within a residential area, it can be difficult to find. Be sure to use navigation tools like Google Maps, or consider taking a taxi.

Some of the baths were too hot to enter.

It’s true that some of the baths are hot. However, the open-air bath, the hinoki bath, and the largest bath are at a milder temperature.

There is a wide variety, from cold baths to lukewarm baths and hot baths, offering something for everyone.

I thought it was only available for hotel guests.

Day-use is available. This is incorrect information.

Since it is a facility aimed at foreign tourists, it cannot be considered a place for truly relaxing baths.

In the first place, Funaoka Onsen is originally a bathhouse for local Japanese residents, so it is not typically intended for foreign tourists. Its popularity among visitors from abroad may have created that impression.

A real Japanese sento is a place to wash away the fatigue from daily work, so the custom is usually to return home soon after bathing. As a result, the rest areas tend to be small.

It is not particularly friendly toward foreign visitors.

There is a comment saying that a male guest got angry because someone did not follow the rules, and that person felt the facility was not welcoming to foreign visitors. However, I have visited Funaoka Onsen over 40 times and have never witnessed such a situation.

It’s likely that the commenter had significantly broken the rules.

Visitors should at least follow the basic rules, and it’s important to check them in advance.