JAPAN'S BEST-DESIGNED SAUNAS9 saunas
Saunas for a trip to Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe
Kyoto townhouses, Osaka's Shinsaibashi and Tenma, Kobe's Sannomiya and Harborland. Saunas to fit into a Kansai itinerary.
A tea-room sauna in a Kyoto machiya
Sauna as art, themed on “imaginary dwellings”
A 95 °C dry sauna, and a cold bath of natural hot spring water at 17 °C
Private modern-Japanese saunas themed on the moon
Moon, ice, El Dorado, sky — seven private rooms of nature
A private sauna in a small alley townhouse, finished like a burrow
An 8th-floor outdoor bath and an auto-löyly tower sauna
Five minutes' walk from Sannomiya Station, open 24 hours
A foot bath 105 m above ground, and a five-tier hot sauna
Planning a visit
Hours, cold baths and tattoo rules for these 9 saunas
Nearest stations: Sannomiya.
| Sauna | Area | Hours | Cold bath | Tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROKKAKU (Kyomachiya private sauna) | Nakagyo | 9:30–20:50, open every day | Two (using good-quality groundwater) | Allowed — it is booked entirely privately, so… |
| KUDOCHI sauna Kyoto Kawaramachi | Kawaramachi | 24 hours | In every room (GENESIS and ECLIPSE also have warm… | — |
| Kyoto Takenosato Onsen Manyo no Yu | Nishikyo-ku | — | Natural hot spring water (17 °C) | — |
| SAUNA OOO OSAKA | Shinsaibashi | — | — | — |
| KUDOCHI sauna Osaka Shinsaibashi | Shinsaibashi | 24 hours | — | — |
| ANAGURA | Edobori | — | — | — |
| Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu | Tenjinbashi | Weekdays 10:00–25:00, weekends & holidays 8:00–25:00 (last… | Groundwater (with vibration) | Not allowed — tattoos of any kind, including… |
| Kobe Sauna & Spa | Sannomiya | 24 hours | 11.7 °C all year | — |
| Kobe Harborland Onsen Manyo Club | Kobe | Large baths 5:00–26:00 (saunas closed 2:00–5:00) | 18 °C | Not allowed — tattoos, tattoo-like stickers or… |
From each official website. “—” means the official information we checked does not say.
Questions visitors ask
Which saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe are open 24 hours?
KUDOCHI sauna Kyoto Kawaramachi, KUDOCHI sauna Osaka Shinsaibashi, Kobe Sauna & Spa are open 24 hours, according to their official hours. Some close the baths for cleaning for a short time.
Which saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe stay open after midnight?
Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu (Weekdays 10:00–25:00, weekends & holidays…), Kobe Harborland Onsen Manyo Club (Large baths 5:00–26:00 (saunas closed…).
Can I go in with tattoos at the saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe?
ROKKAKU (Kyomachiya private sauna): Allowed — it is booked entirely privately, so people with tattoos may use it.; Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu: Not allowed — tattoos of any kind, including stickers, paint and fake tattoos (the…; Kobe Harborland Onsen Manyo Club: Not allowed — tattoos, tattoo-like stickers or body paint.. For the others, check the official website or ask before you go.
Which saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe have a place to rest outdoors?
Kyoto Takenosato Onsen Manyo no Yu, Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu, Kobe Harborland Onsen Manyo Club have an outdoor rest area, according to their official websites.
Can I pay without cash at the saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe?
ROKKAKU (Kyomachiya private sauna): Advance payment by credit card only.; KUDOCHI sauna Kyoto Kawaramachi: Paid by credit card.; KUDOCHI sauna Osaka Shinsaibashi: Paid by credit card.; Kobe Harborland Onsen Manyo Club: Transport IC cards, e-money and QR payments (PayPay, d Barai, Rakuten Pay, au PAY…. Other places do not state payment methods on their official websites.
What are the nearest stations for the saunas in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe?
The stations mentioned most often are Sannomiya Station. Every sauna page has directions and the address in Japanese.
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