5 Recommended Onsen Hotels in Tokyo

1. Black Spa Hotel Suehiro

This hotel is close to Haneda Airport, is easily accessible, and even has free Wi-Fi It is located directly in front of JR Kamata Station’s south exit which is also convenient since it’s a departure point for sightseeing around Tokyo. The hotel takes pride in their natural onsen which has what is called “kuroyu” (black water), coffee colored hot spring water that is particular to the Tokyo area. It differs from regular volcanic type hot spring water in that grass and other vegetation that was buried during the Paleozoic era became infused into the water, giving it its unique color. The water is known for its smooth feeling on skin when you bathe in it and you won’t get cold easily when you’re finished bathing. A single room starts at 7,400 JPY, which for an onsen hotel is extremely reasonable. Check-in is from 3:00 pm and check-out is at 10:00 am. The front desk closes at 1:00 am so even if you arrive late you can rest easy. There is also a pick-up and drop off service for early morning departures so feel free to consult the hotel in accordance with your travel plans.

The sparkling black hot water is proof that it\'s Tokyo\'s natural hot spring. Take this opportunity to be fully satisfied with the soft feeling of the water.

You can savor the feeling of an onsen hotel at this 3 person Japanese-style room. The Western-style rooms come in single, twin, and double to cater to every customer’s needs.

2. SPA & HOTEL Nagomi

The large public bath, with water flowing straight from the source, is the pride of this hotel. In the cases where water flows directly from the source, you can experience the beautifying and warming effects of the black water without it being diminished by sterilizing chlorine salts. There is a sauna and a hot tub as well as other body care options like exfoliation, chiropractic services, and more. There is also a value plan aimed at hotel guests for the stone sauna which uses “Guiyan stones” found only in the Gozairi mine in Gunma. There is a wide variation of room types ranging from single to maisonette suites and the Japanese-style family room is recommended for its private natural onsen. You can fully enjoy the onsen without worrying about other guests. Any of the rooms are available for one person and they are all equipped with Plasmacluster air purifiers. The hotel cost depends on the plan and the number of people so it would be good to doiuble-check before you go in order to find a plan that suits your travel itinerary.

3. Kamejima-gawa Onsen Shinkawa no Yu Dormy-Inn Tokyo-Hatchobori

This hotel is two minutes by subway from JR Tokyo Station. From the hotel to Tokyo Station there is also a free shuttle bus, on weekends and holidays there is a shuttle bus from Tokyo Station, and the hotel itself is extremely convenient as a starting point for sightseeing around the city. The hotel faces a historical canal from the Edo period (1603 - 1868) which you can gaze at from the terrace seats at the breakfast restaurant Hatago while enjoying your Western and Japanese-style breakfast buffet. The hot spring found in this area is the Kamejima-gawa Onsen which is said to be effective for muscular and nerve pain. Every day from 9:30 pm - 11:00 pm, the first floor restaurant has arranged for hotel guests to receive free yonaki soba. From their roomy sauna to their natural onsen that you can use throughout the night; although you’re in the heart of the city, this is a hotel where you can pass the time with ease.
*Please note: The hotel will be closed from September for renovations and plans to reopen early next year. Please check the homepage for more details.

4. Tokyo Yugawara Onsen Manyo-no-Yu

Water is transported every day from Kanagawa\'s famous Yugawara Onsen. This is a luxury facility where you can enjoy the benefits of a genuine onsen while in Tokyo. They offer a wide selection of everything you can enjoy about an onsen including an indoor bath with plenty of water, an open air bath, footbath, stone sauna, variety sauna, beauty salon, massages, private baths, a relaxation room and much more. In addition, the “hydrogen bath”, which uses technology to create fine bubbles, was added in 2016 and is something that you should definitely check out. It is expected to be effective in preventing arteriosclerosis and have anti-aging effects, making it the most popular bath right now. The accommodation fee starts at 7,150 JPY per person for two people in one room. They also offer a selection of fine food and seasonal variations so no matter how many times you come, there will be something new to look forward to. Enjoy yourself with a variety of onsen together with delicious seasonal Japanese food.

5. Suigetsu Hotel Ohgaisou

This hotel includes the preserved former residence of one of Japan’s literary masters, Mori Ogai, and is one of the leading historical hotels in Tokyo. The lodging spaces themselves are separate hotel buildings (main building, east building, and annex) but if you make a reservation, you can hold a banquet in the Japanese-style salon of the old mansion. By the way, because that is where Mr. Ogai penned his masterpiece “Maihime" ("The Dancing Girl"), the room is called “Maihime no Ma" ("The Dancing Girl Room"). There are also option plans to have “furisode-san,” geisha dressed in kimono who are equivalent to the apprentice geisha called maiko in Kyoto, perform at the banquet. Furthermore, the onsen, which is recognized as Tokyo’s number 1 natural historical onsen, has the black sodium bicarbonate “kuroyu” water that is unique to Tokyo. It’s rare to find an onsen hotel in the city with this much culture and history. From the original Meiji era (1868 - 1912) Japanese-style room, to the furisode-san and the metropolitan area’s number 1 kuroyu onsen, this is the kind of luxury that not even Japanese people get to experience often. The accommodation fee depends on the type of plan and the number of people staying overnight. There are a variety of plans from staying overnight without meals to plans with admission to Ueno Zoo included (furisode-san and use of the Ogai Villa is a separate fee). While thinking of the romance of the Meiji Era, choose a plan that best fits your budget and taste.

Although there are many facilities in Tokyo for things like day trips or 24 hour spas, the experience of staying at an onsen hotel and enjoying a natural hot spring is priceless. You can relax your body and mind and enjoy a fine stay in Tokyo.