While Japan's countryside remains the traditional home of the ryokan/onsen experience (think of Kinosaki, Noboribetsu, Kurokawa, or Hakone) – with hot spring waters flowing directly from natural sources- the capital provides its own interpretation of this centuries-old bathing ritual, albeit with a metropolitan twist.
For visitors with tattoos, who often face restrictions at communal baths, or those simply seeking privacy, these secluded bathing options present a welcome alternative to the typical shared onsen experience.
In this article, we list all the hotels in Tokyo with a private onsen attached to a room, or with a public bath which you can book for private use.
Map
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1. Onsen Ryokan Yuen Bettei Tokyo Daita
Deluxe Twin Room with Outdoor Bath | Photo by UDS Hotels
The outdoor cedar wood tubs are situated on private terraces with green plants, allowing you to bathe while contemplating the changing sky above Tokyo – a rare luxury in the densely packed metropolis.
Which room?
• Deluxe Twin Room with Outdoor Bath
Note: The outdoor baths are not filled with hot springs.
2. Centurion Hotel & Spa Ueno Station
Photo by CENTURION HOTELS
Centurion Hotel Ueno offers a contemporary take on the private bathing experience. Select rooms feature deep soaking tubs made of stone. These private baths are filled with onsen water rich in minerals, providing a restorative experience after a day exploring nearby Ueno Park and its museums.
There is also a large communal bath at the hotel's onsite Amaterasu Radium Hot Spring spa. It's free of charge during your stay, but you cannot enter if you have any tattoos.
Which rooms?
• Open-Air Bath - Comfort Twin Room
• Open-Air Bath - Executive Twin Room
• Open-Air Bath - Deluxe Family Room
3. Chashitsu Ryokan Asakusa
Teahouse Grand Shell with a Private Open-Air Bath | Photo by cya shitsu ryokan
This intimate hotel honors traditional ryokan aesthetics like beautiful paper screen walls and customs like tea ceremonies. Chashitsu's private onsen options include an outdoor stone bath in one of the rooms and a communal bath that requires a reservation. Both overlook the supertall Skytree tower of Tokyo.
The hotel prides itself on using authentic hot spring water sourced from deep below Tokyo's bustling streets. The bathing terraces incorporate elements of traditional Japanese gardens, creating a meditative atmosphere that belies the hotel's urban location.
Plus, there is a shared open-air bath on the top floor, which guests from any room can book for a 45-minute relaxing session.
Which room?
• Teahouse Grand Shell -Gratte ciel-
4. Prostyle Ryokan Asakusa
Private balcony & onsen | Photo by PROSTYLE Ryokan
The modern, riverside tower of Prostyle has rooms with balconies overlooking Tokyo's skyline, with Tokyo Skytree right in the middle of your view.
At this hotel, you can enjoy in-room onsen baths crafted from volcanic rock, which retain heat exceptionally well and release beneficial minerals into the water. The private bath is semi-open-air, with just a wooden fence separating it from the balcony. So, after a hot soak, you get to relax in the fresh air with a spectacular view of the Sumida River and Tokyo's cityscape.
Which rooms?
• Suite with Open-air Bath
• Corner Twin with Partially Open-air Bath & Tokyo Skytree View
• Corner Suite with Open-air Bath & Tokyo Skytree View
• King Room with Partially Open-air Bath
5. Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten
Photo by Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu
This hotel sets itself apart with its unique Shigaraki-yaki ceramic bathtubs. These artisanal baths, produced in one of Japan's oldest pottery regions, offer not just aesthetic appeal but therapeutic benefits – the clay is known for emitting far-infrared rays that penetrate deeply into the body. Each private bath is filled with mineral-rich onsen water, creating a distinctive bathing ritual that combines traditional craftsmanship with natural wellness.
Which rooms?
• Both the Standard and Corner rooms have private baths
Tokyo hotels with private onsen on demand
6. Tsuki Tokyo
Private Bath YUUYA | Photo by TSUKI Tokyo
This boutique property offers a more exclusive approach to private bathing. Select premium bookings include access to exquisitely designed private baths called Yuuya. Stone walls and Aomori cypress wood bathtubs fill up the minimalist bathing spaces, where you can control the temperature to suit your preferences.
You will only have access to this private onsen if you book one of these two rooms: Oboro and Kasumi.
7. The Edo Sakura
Photo by The Edo Sakura
The pretty black and white ryokan of Edo Sakura offers a bookable private bath system. You can reserve the traditional cypress-wood bath for 40-minute sessions at the modest price of 500 yen (less than $4!), making this an accessible option for travelers on varied budgets. Book any of the four room types (Western or Japanese with tatami), and you'll be eligible to reserve the bath.
8. Ryokan Kamogawa
Photo by Ryokan Kamogawa
This traditional establishment maintains the time-honored ryokan spirit while acknowledging modern privacy preferences. You can book private bathing sessions in a dedicated bathing chamber featuring a deep wooden tub. The bathing area incorporates seasonal elements – from cherry blossom displays in spring to momiji maple arrangements in autumn – creating a distinctly Japanese aesthetic experience.
Best public hotel onsen in Tokyo
The onsen at HOSHINOYA Tokyo
For those comfortable with communal bathing, Tokyo has a lot to offer. The HOSHINOYA Tokyo stands as perhaps the city's most striking modern interpretation of the onsen tradition, with its rooftop baths drawing water from 1,500 meters below the city streets.
Meanwhile, the Dormy Hotels & Resorts chain (with 11 locations across Tokyo) and budget-friendly APA hotels provide accessible communal bathing experiences, as does the characterful Onyado Nono Asakusa Natural Hot Spring.
