Enjoying an authentic Japanese bathing experience is one of the most memorable parts of traveling in Kyoto.
From mountain hot springs surrounded by nature to beautifully preserved historic public bathhouses in the city, Kyoto offers many wonderful onsen and sento that can be enjoyed as day trips.
Here, I introduce the “Top 5 Onsen & Public Baths in Kyoto.”
Whether you want to relax after sightseeing, experience Japanese culture more deeply, or unwind in a quiet mountain setting, these spots offer the perfect way to discover the true charm of Kyoto.
1st Place: Kurama Onsen
Kurama Onsen is a hot spring resort surrounded by magnificent nature, offering both day-use baths and overnight stays. Here, you can enjoy a peaceful soaking experience far away from the noise of the city. Although it takes about one hour by train from central Kyoto, the area around Kurama Onsen is home to popular attractions such as Kurama-dera Temple and Kifune Shrine, making it easy to spend an entire day exploring.
The open-air bath is designed to blend harmoniously with the natural landscape, allowing you to soak while admiring the lush surroundings.
Inside the facility, there is also a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with Kyoto ingredients. Combining bathing and dining makes it an ideal place to relax and spend a leisurely day.
- Facility Information
Business Hours
10:00–21:00
Restaurant Hours
Lunch: 12:00–15:00 (Last order 14:30)
Dinner: 17:00–20:30 (Last order 20:00)
Parking
30 spaces (free)
Admission Fees
Adults: Weekdays ¥2,500 / Weekends & holidays ¥2,700
2nd Place: Funaoka Onsen
Funaoka Onsen is a public bath located in a quiet residential area of Kyoto, where you can strongly feel a sense of traditional Japan. The building is also culturally significant, and its wooden architecture and classical changing rooms allow visitors to experience the history of bathing unique to Funaoka Onsen.
You can enjoy a wide variety of baths, including an open-air bath and wooden bathtubs, and the facility is popular among international visitors to Japan.
Although its name includes the word “onsen,” it is not a natural hot spring but a traditional public bath (sento).
The admission fee is very affordable, offering excellent value for money. However, since the facility is compact and mainly consists of bathing areas and a small rest space, a stay of about one to two hours is ideal.
- Facility Information
Business Hours
15:00–23:30
(Sundays: 08:00–23:30)
Closed
Tuesdays
Parking
11 spaces
(Please issue the parking validation ticket immediately upon arrival.)
3rd Place: Fufu-no-Yu
Fufu-no-Yu is a hot spring facility located in the popular Arashiyama sightseeing area, making it very easy to stop by during your visit to the nearby tourist spots. Its water comes from the “Arashiyama Onsen” source, classified as a mildly alkaline simple hot spring. The water is gentle on the skin, smooth to the touch, and helps warm the body deeply.
Despite being close to major attractions, Fufu-no-Yu is surprisingly quiet, and visitors can enjoy spacious baths without the crowds typically found in Arashiyama. This makes it a perfect place to relax and recharge between sightseeing activities.
Compared to many other facilities, it is relatively new, so visitors are more likely to feel a strong sense of cleanliness.
An important point for international visitors: guests with tattoos are not allowed to enter, so please be aware before visiting.
- Facility Information
Business Hours
12:00–22:00 (Last admission 21:30)
Admission
- Weekdays ¥1,100
- Weekends & holidays ¥1,300
Closed
None (open daily)
4th Place: Tenzan-no-Yu
Tenzan-no-Yu is a hot spring facility located in the Saga–Arashiyama area, known for its impressive variety of baths fed by natural hot spring water. The outdoor baths, free-flowing hot-spring pools, carbonated baths, high-temperature sauna, and cold plunge offer a wide range of temperatures and health benefits. This makes it an excellent choice for both relaxation and wellness.
Like Fufu-no-Yu, it is located near the popular Kyoto sightseeing area of Arashiyama, making it easy to stop by after exploring the area. The onsite restaurant also offers a diverse menu, allowing visitors to enjoy “hot spring + dining” as a complete experience—warming your body in the baths and then savoring a meal afterward.
Please note that guests with tattoos are not permitted. Also, Tenzan-no-Yu is extremely popular among locals, so the facility can be quite crowded, which may make it a bit harder to relax during peak hours.
5th Place: Gokoyu
Gokoyu is a long-established public bath located near Gojo–Omiya in central Kyoto. The bathing area is spacious, and although it is not a natural hot spring, it is a historic sento offering an impressive variety of baths.
The baths are spread across the first and second floors. On the first floor, you can enjoy jet baths, electric baths, herbal baths, and a milky bath filled with fine microbubbles that make the water appear white. On the second floor, there are high-temperature steam saunas, far-infrared dry saunas, and a cold bath, making it especially popular among sauna enthusiasts and those seeking a more diverse bathing experience.
Because it is located in downtown Kyoto, access is convenient, and it is a great place to visit at the end of a day of sightseeing. As a traditional sento, the admission fee is very affordable while still offering well-equipped facilities.
Since it is situated in the city center, there are no outdoor baths.
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