Sento and Onsen Baths in Tokyo
Part of the Tokyo travel guide — see every topic in All Tokyo Guides.
A hot bath is one of the cheapest ways to feel local in Tokyo. Neighbourhood sento cost ¥550 and open in the afternoon and evening. Bigger onsen spas use real hot spring water, add saunas and rest areas, and cost more. Men and women bathe separately, without swimwear.
Neighbourhood sento
Tokyo still has a few hundred sento, and the adult price is fixed at ¥550 across the city. Most open from about 15:00 to 23:00 or midnight and close one day a week. Many have a big painting of Mount Fuji on the bath wall. Kosugi-yu in Koenji, in a wooden building from 1933, is one of the most famous. A sauna usually costs ¥200–300 extra. Bring a small towel and soap, or rent them for about ¥100–300.
Onsen spas in the city
Spa LaQua, at Tokyo Dome City, uses hot spring water from 1,700 m underground and stays open late; entry is about ¥3,000–4,000. Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, next to Toyosu fish market, opened in February 2024 with a rooftop foot bath and wide views of the bay; day entry is about ¥3,500–4,500. Thermae-yu, in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, is open almost all night.
Bath etiquette
Wash and rinse your whole body at the shower stools before you get in. Keep your small towel out of the water; many people fold it on their head. Tie up long hair. Do not swim, splash or take photos. Dry off before you walk back into the changing room. The water is often 40–44°C, so drink water and get out if you feel dizzy.
Tattoos and timing
Many neighbourhood sento accept tattoos. Many big spas do not, or ask you to cover small tattoos with stickers, so check their website first. Sento are quietest from opening until about 18:00; spas are busiest on weekends and rainy days. After your bath, try a cold bottle of coffee milk, a bath-house classic.
Sento and Onsen Baths at a glance
| Sento price | ¥550 for adults, the same across Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Sento hours | Usually about 15:00–23:00; closed one day a week |
| Sauna | Usually ¥200–300 extra at sento |
| Spa LaQua | Tokyo Dome City; about ¥3,000–4,000 |
| Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai | Toyosu; about ¥3,500–4,500 |
| Bring | Small towel, soap, coins for the locker |
| Tattoos | Often fine at sento; check rules at big spas |
| Water | About 40–44°C |