8 Arashiyama Onsens to Visit in Bamboo Grove, Kyoto! [2024]
Are you planning a getaway to Arashiyama Onsen alone, with your spouse, family, or friends?
After my various outdoor adventures (which I love so much!), there is nothing more I love than a good soak in some therapeutic hot water!
I have read so much about Onsen and its benefits. I’m really looking forward to trying it.
A cheeky trip to Japan, anybody?? O__O
If you are new here, Hi, I am Aisha Preece ! I am an avid solo female traveller and I love helping other females travel safer and better 🙂
Anyway, read on to find out more about the Arashiyama Onsen with other nitty-gritty details!
At a quick glance, the list of Arashiyama Onsen that I will be taking you through are:
- Kyoto Kadensho Arashiyama Onsen
- Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Ryokan Hanaikada
- Suiran Luxury Collection Hotel Kyoto
- Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Togetsutei
- Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Yubadokoro Fufu-no-Yu
- Tenzan-no-yu Onsen
- Eki no Ashiyu
- Rangetsu
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Here are some awesome tours you can take in Arashiyama!
- Arashiyama Walking Tour – Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park & Secrets
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Day Trip from Kyoto with a Local: Private & Personalized
- Arashiyama Bamboo Bike Tour (Early Bird)
- Kyoto: Immersive Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari by Private Vehicle
- 1 Day Private Kyoto Tour (Charter) – English Speaking Driver
- Kyoto: Full-Day Best UNESCO and Historical Sites Bus Tour
Arashiyama (嵐山) (Storm Mountain) is a district in Kyoto, Japan, that is extremely popular for its world-renowned bamboo grove.
The district is on the western outskirts of Kyoto and has been very popular since the Heian Period (794-1185) when the nobles would travel to Arashiyama to enjoy its natural setting.
Arashiyama is well-known for its bamboo forest, monkey park, temples, shrines, Arashiyama onsen, ryokans, Togetsu-kyo Bridge (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and many other attractions that hold historical significance.
As the city is surrounded by mountains, it has clean and fresh groundwater that’s ideal for making high-quality sake, tofu, soba noodles, and matcha tea.
Arashiyama is also popular during cherry blossom and fall color seasons.
You can visit Arashiyama as a day trip or stay in the onsens to experience the Japanese culture and their hospitality.
Either way, I can guarantee you that you will get the ultimate experience visiting Kyoto.
Now, let’s take a look at the list of Kyoto Arashiyama onsen!
1. Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
Kadensho, Arashiyama Onsen, Kyoto – Kyoritsu Resort is a family-friendly ryokan located in the Nishikyo Ward district of Kyoto.
This onsen offers stunning guest rooms that combine the Kyoto atmosphere with Western style, Japanese style, and Kyomachiya.
Kyomachiya, or Kyoto-style machiya, is a Kyoto-style townhouse made of wood with shoji screens, wooden lattices, and other traditional carpentry designs.
This Kadensho Arashiyama Onsen Kyoto offers you a variety of bath options, including private baths.
This Arashiyama onsen Kadensho has open-air medicinal baths, a large indoor bathhouse (men & women), an indoor steam bath, a modern open-air bath (made of bricks), and so many more.
You can choose what type of bath you want and check its availability, as some of the baths do not operate for 24 hours (other than private baths, of course).
There is a healing place called “Yawaragi” that provides massages and other services, so you can try it if you’re interested.
They also have a set of disclaimers and precautions that they expect visitors to read carefully before taking their treatments.
If you have certain conditions, my kind reminder is to check their disclaimers and precautions before booking a treatment.
It’s a PDF file in Japanese language, so I’d recommend you use Google Lens to translate it into English for you to read without scratching your head!
You can use the same method to translate the sections on the website that aren’t directly translated into English.
Onsen Kadensho – Kyoto – Arashiyama is located close to Hankyu Arashiyama Station, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryu Temple, Suzumushi Temple, & Gioji Temple.
Note: This is one of the onsens in Arashiyama that allows those with tattoos. There is a restriction to access public baths directly connected to natural hot springs. But you can use 5 artificially created private onsens.
- From Kyoto station, take the JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The ticket fare is around JPY 240 (USD 1.60).
- From Hankyu Osaka-umeda station, take the Hankyu Kyoto Line “Arashiyama Line via Katsura Station” to Hankyu Arashiyama.
Location: Google Maps
Facilities/Amenities available:
- Souvenir shop
- Yukata department
- Vending machine
- Library
- Free wifi
- Paid parking (1,000 Yen | USD 6.71) per car, per night
- Restaurant
- Healing place (Yawaragi)
- English speaking staff
2. Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Ryokan Hanaikada
This Arashiyama onsen Saishiki no Yado Hanaikada is an authentic Japanese-style ryokan that is almost a 17-20 minute walk from the bamboo grove.
Ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that is very similar to a hotel.
If you’re planning to stay the night in Arashiyama, you should look for this Ryokan or any accommodations like this.
This onsen has gender-segregated open-air baths alongside a private open-air bath (ryokan guests only) with breathtaking views of the Togetsukyo Bridge, the Oi River, and Mount Atago.
Are you someone who travels with your guide doggo buddy? This amazing place allows your furry friend to stay with you.
How amazing is that?
You can bring your doggo with you and stay in this Arashiyama onsen ryokan!
Hmmm… I wonder if I can bring my Sandy with me too. How do you reckon she might feel about joining Ger and me on our trip to Japan?
However, please check with the management and understand the rules and regulations if you’re traveling with your guide dog before packing your bags.
This ryokan is 5 minutes from the Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Grove, and 3 minutes from Cormorant Fishing (Ukai).
Note: This is another Arashiyama Onsen that gives access to all its bathing facilities to those with tattoos.
Facilities/Amenities available:
- Television
- Wifi (at the lobby)
- Refrigerator
- Toiletries
- Towels, Yukata & Hair dryer
- Breakfast and dinner are available
- English-speaking staff
- Breakfast hall
- From JR Tokyo, take the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi (famously known as the bullet train. I’d love to ride on this train as well!) to Kyoto and transfer to JR San’in Line to JR Saga-Arashiyama.
Location: Google Maps – 5 minutes from Arashiyama station by foot
3. Suiran Luxury Collection Hotel Kyoto
Located alongside the peaceful Katsura River, this award-winning 5-star Arashiyama Onsen Hotel boasts a majestic garden and breathtaking views of Arashiyama.
This is a high-class ryokan that was featured in the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. This one is on the pricier side.
I know I said it’s a 5-star hotel, but it’s actually a 100-year-old building hotel that will give you an authentic Japanese-style experience- a peaceful escape with modern city comforts.
Suiran doesn’t have a public onsen bath.
Yahoo! I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want every Tom, Dick, and Harry around when I enjoy my hot bath. O__O
This means that you can enjoy a private onsen bath in the comfort of your room. They also have private onsens with bigger open-air baths that can be rented.
Apart from that, they have in-house eateries such as Kyo-Suiran Restaurant.
This amazing restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisines prepared in the French style, Cafe Hassui, a coffee house, afternoon tea, and many more for a Japanese-style fine dining experience.
Facilities/Amenities available:
- Parking
- Fitness center
- Spa and wellness
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Room service
- Restaurant
- English-speaking staff
Getting there:
- From Kyoto station, take the JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station. From the station, walk (17-20 minutes) or take a taxi to reach Suiran Luxury Hotel.
Location: Google Maps
4. Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Togetsutei
This onsen in Arashiyama is a long-established ryokan that opened in the 1900s.
That’s like more than 100 years ago O_O. I can sense that this Onsen embodies Japanese culture & architecture!
Located at the south end of the Togetsukyo Bridge, this onsen is 2 minutes away from the Monkey Park Iwatayama, 15 minutes away from Bamboo Forest, and 5 minutes away from Arashiyama bus station.
You can book a trip here.
Private bath price: 45 minutes 2,750 yen (USD 18.41) | 105 minutes 5,500 yen (USD 36.82)
Usage time: Morning 6:00-9:00 (Last service 8:00) | Evening 16:00-24:00 (Last service 23:00)
Facilities/Amenities available:
- Free wifi (in the lobby)
- Souvenir shop
- Togetsu Cafe
- Restaurant
- Free Parking
- Wheelchair (Renting is available)
- Non-smoking rooms
- Humidifier (rent)
Access: around 15-20 minutes by JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station
Location: Google Maps
5. Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Yubadokoro Fufu-no-Yu
If you’re looking for an onsen without spending too much money on a ryokan, then this is your place.
The fee is reasonable, and you can pretty much stay all day as this onsen is only open for day-trippers or one-day visits. It operates until 10 pm.
This gender-segregated onsen has two indoor natural hot spring baths (one with jets), one outdoor hot spring bath, a sauna, a cold water bath, and a steam bath (women only).
If you’re not planning to stay for the night, do visit this onsen to soak away your tired feet and body from all the walking before leaving!
Entrance fee:
- Adults – 1,100 Yen (USD 7.36, Weekdays), 1,300 Yen (USD 8.70, Weekends)
- Children (3 years old to elementary school) – 600 Yen (USD 4.02 Weekdays & Weekends)
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm to 22:00 ( last service ends at 21:30)
Facilities available:
- Staff speak enough English
- Toiletries available (might need to buy)
- Towels (can be purchased)
- Shops & Vending machine
Getting there:
- From Kyoto station, take the JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station. It’s an 18-20 minute walk from the station. You can book a taxi if you’re too tired to walk.
Location: Google Maps
6. Tenzan-no-yu Onsen
Tenzan-no-you Onsen, located in Sagano is an actual onsen and the first sodium/calcium chloride spring in Kyoto (actual hot spring)—a high concentration of spring quality close to seawater.
The water comes from a well drilled 1200 meters underground and has a high concentration of sodium that makes it close to seawater.
It is called a sodium-calcium chloride spring as it contains large amounts of sodium ions and calcium ions when penetrates into your skin, it removes dirt and makes it soft.
Their baths are gender-segregated.
They have an open-air bath (Utatane bath), which is a lie-down bath; you can actually lie down on the bath. It also has individual jet tubs, a sauna, a cold swimming pool, and a Cyprus wood sauna (women’s bath).
Besides that, there are hot spring footbaths, ceramic footbaths, fish pedicures, and carbonated springs. Now, you must be wondering what is a carbonated spring.
Quite simply, this spring is created by dissolving carbon dioxide gas into hot water.
Apparently, carbonated springs can improve blood circulation without putting strain on your heart.
It’s called carbonated springs because the carbon dioxide creates bubbles all over your body when you bathe in this spring.
Personal Tip No. 1: you must be cautious when bathing in these carbonated springs as you can experience an excessive rise in body temperature, sweating, dehydration, and other symptoms after using it.
So, use it with caution, and if you have an existing health condition, do your research or check with the receptionist before using it.
Personal Tip No. 2: This onsen doesn’t allow individuals with tattoos.
Price: Prices are different if you’re a member. Non-member – 1080 Yen (USD 7.23)
Facilities/Amenities available:
- Sauna & Cyprus wood sauna
- Cold swimming pool, individual jet tub, Korean massage, & massage chairs
- Relaxation areas, games room, restaurant & Fresh fruit juice counter
Getting there:
- Take the Hankyu Line to Omiya Station and change to the Keifuku Dentetsu (Randen Line), which is the tram line that heads to Arashiyma. Get off at Arisugawa Station and walk for 5-7 minutes from the station to the onsen.
Location: Google Maps
7. Eki no Ashiyu
Eki no Ashiyu is a station foot bath that refreshes your tired feet. Wahoo! I will take any opportunity I can to relax as I explore this beautiful place!
Located on the central platform in Arashiyama train station, you can enjoy the foot bath while waiting for your train and admiring the beautiful sceneries of Arashiyama.
The tickets are sold at the Arashiyama information desk for 250 Yen for adults (USD 1.67) with a towel.
Getting there:
- From Kyoto station, take the JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The footbath is within the station’s vicinity.
Location: Google Maps
8. Rangetsu
This onsen won the Kyoto Accommodation Award in 2017. Guests can enjoy this Japanese-style traditional accommodation that offers indoor and outdoor baths.
I’d love to experience traditional Japanese life for sure!
The general guest room starts from 30,000 Yen (USD 200.81) per person, and the guest room with an open-air bath starts from 59,000 Yen (USD 394.93) per person.
Besides, there are nearby attractions of this ryokan are Togetsukyo Bridge (4 minutes), 7 minutes from Monkey Park Iwatayama (7 minutes), and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 11 minutes).
Amenities available:
- Free Parking
- Free wifi
- Massage
- From Kyoto station, take the JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Main Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The Ryokan is a 15-minute walk from Arashiyama station.
- From Osaka Umeda station, take the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line towards Kyoto- Kawaramachi, then transfer to Hankyu-Arashiyama Line at Katsura station. The Ryokanan is a 15-minute walk from Arashiyama station.
Location: Google Maps
Note: The distances mentioned in this article are measured by foot.
How To Get To Arashiyama?
You can get to Arashiyama by car but the fastest and easiest way to get to Arashiyama is by train.
From Kyoto
Take the San-in Main Line (Sagano Line) from JR Kyoto Station to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (approximately 16 minutes). It can take about 7-10 minutes from the station to reach the bamboo grove.
It can be confusing if you’re using the train services because in Japan there 5 types of trains and you can get easily lost if you don’t know your way around.
Carry a map with you always to make sure you find your way even if you’re lost.
The train system in Japan can be very confusing. Don’t worry, I gotchu! You can use these e-hailing services that are available in Japan to make your commute easier.
The good thing is that there are apps available in other languages, mainly English!
I don’t know about you, but I am so relieved to hear this!
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The Best Time To Visit Arashiyama
The world-famous bamboo grove in Arashiyama is open for visitors all year. However, the best time to visit Arashiyama is during summer.
If you want to avoid crowds, choose weekdays over weekends and try to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
If you’re traveling in December, it’s recommended to visit the bamboo grove at night because the paths get illuminated with soft-gentle lights, leaving you with an other-worldly feeling.
This festival of lights event is called the Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro Illuminations, which only takes place in December for about 10 days from 5 pm to 8:30 pm.
How Can I Find Onsen On The Map?
You can find onsens on a map with the symbol ♨ or the character 湯 (yu, meaning hot water). Sometimes, it’s written in the hiragana text as ゆ.
Most of the onsen staff speak English; however, their English proficiency can vary depending on the onsens.
Do The Staff In The Onsens Speak In English?
You will likely find staff who can speak English to some extent.
You will be fine as long as you follow the onsen rules even if the staff don’t speak in English.
If you want to look and sound cool amongst the locals, learn some phrases from Duolingo! You can learn any language on your mobile!
Ehem, I’m learning the French language on this app, and I’m pretty sure that I impressed my cute French-Malaysian baby nephew with my amazing French when I babysat him😀
If you don’t have the time to do this, fret not, you can use the supreme Google Translate to talk to the locals when there’s a language barrier.
Not so sure how to do it? Do watch this video for some guidance.
What Is A Ryokan?
Ryokans are Japanese-style inns that you can find in hot spring resorts. They are definitely not a hotel type of accommodation. They are more than that.
It’s a place for you to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality, local cuisine, and Japanese-style baths.
Unlike hotels, you will find tatami mats, futon beds, yukata, slippers, and so on.
There are types of Ryokans, such as small, family-run establishments with fewer rooms or large hotel-like establishments.
The average cost of a Ryokan stay is between 15,000 and 25,000 Yen (USD 100.52 -167.53) per person per night.
The stay usually includes an elaborate dinner in the evening followed by breakfast in the morning.
You can learn some simple and useful Japanese phrases that can help you out during your visit.
Best Time To Go To An Onsen
It is said that the best time to go to an onsen is during the winter (December to February).
Due to the change in the temperature, it’s definitely one of the best times to indulge yourself in an onsen.
But it is not limited to only during winter. Onsens are open throughout the year for visitors. You can choose the best time for you to visit.
All the onsens in Arashiyama have different check-in and check-out times.
That means they operate at different times, and you need to check their operating hours before traveling.
Is Arashiyama Onsen Tattoo-Friendly?
There are still some restrictions for tattooed people in some of the onsens. So, you might asked to leave the onsen if you have visible tattoos.
You can cover up small tattoos if possible.
Some of the onsen are fine with tattoos; however, it is best if you contact the onsen that you are visiting and check with them if they are okay with tattoos.
There are some onsens that are tattoo-friendly that you can check out!
There is a reason why tattoos are not acceptable in the Japanese Onsen Culture, and you can find out about it as you keep reading this article. Read on, my friends!
FAQs on Arashiyama Onsen
Is Arashiyama Worth It?
Yes! Arashiyama IS worth it! The district is the home of the world-famous bamboo forest.
It is also known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with forests, rivers, and mountains surrounding it.
Additionally, it is home to several historical and cultural sites which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
There are a lot more attractions in Arashiyama- it offers a Kyoto experience not to be missed.
How Much Does It Cost To Go To Arashiyama Bamboo Grove?
If you’re taking the JR San-In Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station, it will cost you 240 Yen (USD 1.61), unless you have a JR pass.
The Arashiyama bamboo grove is open 24/7 and admission is free.
What Is The Meaning Of Arashi Yama?
Arashiyama (嵐山) means Mountain Storm.
What Is The Best Area To Stay In Kyoto?
The best area to stay in Kyoto is Downtown Kawaramachi.
The place has plenty of shops and restaurants. It is also within walking distance of historical Gion, thus making it the best place to stay in Kyoto.
Other recommended places are Gion, Kyoto Station, and Central Kyoto.
Why Tattoo Is Not Allowed In Onsen?
Tattoos are not allowed in onsens because the Japanese taboo towards tattoos stems from their association with members of Japanese organized crime. Gangsters in Japan are heavily tattooed hence the reason why many onsen prohibit guests with tattoos.
There you have it – the best Arashiyama Onsen to visit when you’re in Arashiyama, Kyoto!
Now that you know more about the onsen in Arashiyama, hopefully, you’re fully inspired to book the tickets! What say you, ready for your hot bath?
There are other things to do and see when visiting Arashiyama Onsen as the city has great sightseeing locations.
If you found this article helpful in any way, do drop a comment and let me know. Oh, and If you like adventure travel, let’s connect on Instagram! I want to see your pictures 🙂
#onsenarashiyama
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