Private Onsen for Couples in Tokyo (Kashikiri Buro)
In my years of living in Japan, one question I’ve often been asked by couples is: “Is it possible to find a private onsen for couples in Tokyo?”
While I can’t promise a snowy mountain retreat overlooking Shibuya’s scramble crossing, the answer is YES, it IS possible! However, you have to know where you’re looking, and what you’re looking for.
Quick Choices
Finding an actual “Onsen” with a private bath inside Tokyo is really hard. It’s even harder to find one where you can bathe as a couple. But if you want the best authentic experience, Yuen Bettei Daita offers real hot spring water in Setagaya. For a cheaper, nature-focused alternative, take the 85-minute “Romancecar” train to Hakone Yuryo, which specializes in hourly private baths for couples.
The truth is, private onsens for couples are harder to find in Tokyo than anywhere else in Japan.
Read on to learn why, and to discover more of the options available to you.
Weighing Up Your Choices
If you’re absolutely committed to enjoying your romantic bath in the capital, you’ll need to consider what trade-offs to make.
For “day-visit” private bathing as a couple: you will need to venture outside of the Tokyo prefecture. (don’t panic! This only usually takes 1-2 hours on a local train, and not that expensive)
For “onsen” instead of “sento” private bathing: Tokyo has limited sources of authentic onsen water, but it is possible to find. With that being said, Sento experiences can be just as magical, so I recommend considering it for your first time regardless.
This may seem like a lot of conditions, but it’s necessary knowledge if you want to bathe as a couple in Tokyo, although 99% of foreign visitors will never know this.
Why Day-Visit Private Bathing is Impossible in Tokyo
The answer to this is relatively simple. All bathhouses that are open to the public in Tokyo are subject to a law which strictly prohibits mixed gender bathing, all in the name of hygiene.
However, this only applies to facilities designated as “public bathhouses,” whose primary function is to provide private bathing services.
On the other hand, hotels with bathing facilities are designated as hotels, and not public bathhouses – so if you stay in the right hotel in Tokyo, the following types of facility will be available to you:
Is this law reasonable? I’m the “onsen expert”, not the “hygiene expert”, so I can’t tell you that.
But there are a lot of people in a tight space in Tokyo, so I can see where they’re coming from.
Private Onsen vs Private Sento
I want to make the differences between “onsens” and “sentos” clear, because they are different in nature.
Things can get tricky if you are flying 6,000 miles for the real healing mineral water. Even trickier when your wife is told that the “mystical healing water” she was bragging about was just tap-water.
However, I must stress that the relaxation factor for a first time bather is basically the same either way, so remember to weigh up your priorities between experience, authenticity and volcanicity.
Moving forward in all of my recommendations, I will make it clear whether the facility I am recommending is an onsen or a Sento.
Hotels & Ryokans with Private Onsen for Couples in Tokyo
Moving forward, I’d like to introduce the best options for booking rooms with private onsens in Tokyo. The reality is that most people tend to venture out of Tokyo to enjoy a romantic private bath, and settle for day visit onsens when they are in the city.
I would usually include a disclaimer in such lists to say that “this is not an exhaustive list” but in this case, I really do think it is.
Best Choice: Fufu Tokyo Ginza Hotel
In a nutshell, choose this hotel if you want the best private onsen for couples in Tokyo that money can buy, and you don’t want to venture outside of Tokyo to find it.
Fufu Tokyo Ginza Hotel is located in Ginza, central Tokyo, but the moment you step through the door you wouldn’t know it. The dimly lit & hinoki scented hallways immediately put you in the spa mindset. It feels like an incredibly rare “urban ryokan”, and the privacy is incredible. The hotel itself is designed so that you rarely see other guests, making it a great couple’s retreat.
Every single room has a private onsen ensuite, and the baths are easily large enough for a couple to stretch out side-by-side.
The bath uses natural onsen water transported from the famous Atami Onsen in Shizuoka. This water feels silky smooth to the skin, and is known to relieve fatigue.
Here’s the details for this facility:
Arasawaya Ryokan, Okutama Tokyo
If you’re interested in staying in rustic, family-run traditional ryokan in a mountainside setting, all while technically remaining in Tokyo, this is the pick for you.
While the private baths aren’t inside your room, you can book-out the bath for free when you check-in. This means you still get that private bathing experience without the luxury price tag.
The inn imports volcanic water from the local Tsurunoyu Onsen to use in the baths. Don’t get mixed up – this is a different Onsen to the famous Tsurunoyu all the way north in Akita!
However, the local water is known as “Beauty Water” (Bijin no Yu) because of how smooth and slippery it feels on the skin, which will feel great after a hike in the Okutama mountains.
Here are the main details for Arasawaya Ryokan:
Onsen Ryokan Yuen Bettei Tokyo Daita
This ryokan offers a completely different location to the heart of Ginza or the mountains of Okutama. Instead, it is located near the trendy neighborhood of Shimo-kitazawa, famous for vintage-clothes stores and great options for fusion cuisine. For tourists, Shimo-kitazawa is often discussed as “the cooler, less touristy Harajuku.”
Many would likely be surprised to see a hotel in Shimo-kitazawa designated as one of the best private onsen for couples in Tokyo.
The hotel has a modern, but authentic Japanese aesthetic and feels more like a tea ceremony house than an inn. Despite the location, most agree that it doesn’t feel like you’re in Tokyo, especially when you’re enjoying the baths.
Additionally, the ensuite baths do not use natural Onsen spring water, but the public baths downstairs do, so you can enjoy a romantic Japanese-style private bath in your room, while experiencing onsen water all in the same hotel.
Be aware that not all rooms have private baths attached. You need to book the “Deluxe Twin Room with Open-Air Bath” to experience a beautiful cypress-wood bath on a private balcony overlooking the green garden.
Ryokan Kamogawa
If you’re willing to compromise on the natural onsen factor, at Ryokan Kamogawa you can have an authentic ryokan experience right next to the famous temples of Asakusa, with a reservable bath, at an incredibly reasonable price.
This place is the real deal. Tatami straw mats, sliding paper screen doors, and authentic futons laid out and waiting on the floor by the staff while you’re out for dinner. The hospitality is everything that’s good about Japanese omotenashi and almost feels grandparent-like.
As mentioned, they have a reservation system of 30 minutes at a time for their private bath, and it does not use natural onsen water, but it feels like you’re at the indoor bath of an onsen and it’s incredibly authentic. For the location and the overall experience, I had to mention this one. It’s a great choice as one of the best private onsen for couples in Tokyo.
Hotel Bar Grantios Bettei
Located in Ota Ward (Omori), this hotel is a surprising find. From the outside, it looks like a modern building, but inside, it is designed with a “Modern Ryokan” aesthetic. It is particularly popular with couples who want a romantic final night in Tokyo before an early flight out of Haneda Airport, as it is much closer to the airport than Shinjuku or Shibuya.
The hotel has a distinct “grown-up” vibe, featuring a stylish bar and dim lighting. It feels far more luxurious than its price tag suggests. The sushi bar on the ground floor is a rare find for a hotel in this price bracket, so it’s great for food as well as the bath.
As for the private bath experience, the highlight here is the rooftop private Open-Air Bath called “Kumoya”. It’s reservable for a really reasonable price and although it’s not using onsen water, the atmosphere is exactly what you want from an open-air bath experience.
If you do reserve a room here, make sure to email or message ahead to confirm about reserving the bath (they ask for a phone call, but if you don’t speak Japanese a message should work better)
Higaeri (Day Trip) Facilities Outside of Tokyo
Perhaps you don’t want to stay in a specific ryokan or hotel just to enjoy a private bath, or maybe you’ve already reserved hotels in Tokyo.
Never fear! A day-trip from out of Tokyo prefecture by a short train ride can still provides some great options for a romantic onsen for couples, so I’ll provide my top picks for these below.
Hakone Yuryo (Hakone)
This is widely considered the best day-trip private onsen facility near Tokyo. It is located just a few minutes by free shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (85 mins train ride from Shinjuku).
This is widely considered the best day-trip private onsen facility near Tokyo. It is located just a few minutes by free shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station (85 mins train ride from Shinjuku).
There are 3 different types of private bath and multiple options of each type, but don’t let this abundance fool you – this facility is very popular and you should try to book a month in advance.
Bon no Yu (Chichibu)
Located in the Saitama mountains, this is a more rustic, “hidden” spot compared to Hakone Yuryo. It sits right on the bank of the Arakawa River.
Final Thoughts: Finding the best Private Onsen for Couples in Tokyo
Hopefully, this article has shown you that the impossible is possible.
Jokes aside, as I have shown, it IS possible to find a private onsen for couples in Tokyo, despite the strict rules around the subject.
Having read through all the options, you may still be unsure, so here’s my overall 3 top recommendations.
If you want the full experience right in the center of the city, then choose Fufu Tokyo Ginza Hotel. It’s a top-quality facility with everything you could want.
If you’re on a budget but still want authenticity & quality, choose Arasawaya Ryokan. Not only is the hospitality amazing, but Okutama is a great region to visit too.
If you want to focus on day-visits and you don’t mind leaving Tokyo, choose Hakone Yuryo. It’s a top of the line establishment with booking available online.
No matter what you choose, I truly hope you have a wonderful and romantic onsen visit and that you fall in love with Onsens, as well as each other!
Any Questions or Feedback?
If you need to know more, or you want to provide feedback on the article (for example, something wasn’t as described!) then please feel free to leave a comment below!
Or, you can contact my email for more in-depth Onsen Consulting over at the Get Advice page.
Finally, if you’re interested in exploring onsens outside of Tokyo, head over to the regions page to go on an adventure.
Enjoy your soak!