Japan, with its location on the Ring of Fire, boasts of a dynamic tectonic activity that frequently causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Although these occurrences pose certain risks, a silver lining does exist—the fascinating natural onsen, or hot springs, scattered across the country. Bathing in these springs is not just a unique experience, but it also offers multiple health benefits including lowered blood pressure and improved skin texture. The prime attraction of these onsens, however, lies in the deep relaxation they provide. If you’re travelling with someone of a different gender and wish to share this serene experience together, you might encounter some obstacles, as most onsens typically offer separate baths for different sexes. However, fret not, as we have compiled a diverse list of 9 mixed-sex onsens located near Tokyo for you to explore! Planning for a comfortable stay during your Tokyo visit? Here are some excellent three-star accommodations as recommended by http://www.tokyo-hotels-stay.com/en/3-stars/. With a comprehensive collection of hotels matching various budgets and preferences, you can choose an establishment that resonates with your needs. For an broader array of choices, check out tophotels.com more hotels in Tokyo. This platform features an exhaustive assortment of hotels within the vivacious city of Tokyo, complete with customer reviews, ratings, and detailed descriptions to guide you in making the perfect choice. In case you’re seeking a luxurious stay experience, look no further than the Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo Aparthotel. This upscale aparthotel exudes a seamless blend of style, comfort, and convenience, ensuring an unforgettable sojourn in Tokyo and easy access to the most desirable onsen sites.
What is Konyoku (混浴)?
First, let's explain a little more about Japan's bathing culture. Relaxing in natural onsen has been known in Japan for over 1,000 years. At first, it was just for the imperial family and other nobles, but from the Edo period onwards, visiting hot springs and communal baths spread among the population.
During the Edo period, people weren't actually that concerned about nudity and men and women regularly bathed together. It was only when Westerners arrived during the Meiji period that this began to change. Their ideas that nudity was something to be embarrassed about began to spread in Japan, and mixed bathing became much less common. But some establishments are keeping the old traditions alive, although there are different forms of konyoku (mixed bathing).
Firstly, there are onsen where everyone can bathe naked together, and these are actually quite rare. Secondly, there are hot springs where you have to wear swimwear in the mixed sections. The third type of mixed onsen is almost a combination of the first two; some public onsen offer a designated hour or day for mixed bathing, in swimwear or nude, and finally, for those who just want to bathe with their fellow travellers, there are private onsen. Let's take a look at some of the places where you can enjoy mixed bathing.
1. Izu Peninsula Sennin Buro Kanaya Ryokan (千人風呂 金谷旅館)
The Izu Peninsula is a favourite destination for many in Tokyo for a short break away from the city. It's only about an hour by train from Tokyo station, and it feels like a whole other world with its subtropical atmosphere. The picturesque Sennin Buro Kanaya Ryokan is located near the popular seaside resort of Shimoda, and they have one of those rare onsen where men and women bathe naked together.
Sennin Buro literally means 'bath for a thousand' and, unsurprisingly, it's a very large and deep wooden tub. The way in which men and women can bathe together is interesting; the men's and women's sections are connected by a room to which only the women have the key. As long as they cover themselves with a towel, they can join the men in the men's section, but not vice versa. Most visitors come as couples, as this is one of the few communal baths where they can bathe together. This public bath also welcomes guests with tattoos and is popular with foreigners.
Sennin Buro Kanaya Ryokan
Admission fee ¥1,000
2. Takaragawa Onsen (宝川温泉)
Famous for its excellent rafting and hiking opportunities, Minakami is an ideal destination for fun and relaxation in a hot spring at the end of the day. Takaragawa Onsen is one of the many spas in the region and the best destination for bathing in nature. It is located in a secluded area in the mountains, and there is an incredible open-air bath that is particularly soothing during the colder months.
Day guests are welcome, and you'll love this onsen if you want to experience a mixed bath but are still a little shy about nudity. At Takaragawa Onsen, you won't actually be bathing naked, but you will be wearing a special bathing robe provided by the establishment. Takaragawa Onsen is also a tattoo-friendly onsen!
Takaragawa Onsen
9am - 5pm
Admission fee ¥2,000
3. Gorokaku (伍楼閣)
Gunma prefecture is, quite literally, a hot spot for natural onsen. This means there will be plenty of resorts to choose from, but for two reasons Gorokaku is a particularly good choice for many foreigners. Firstly, the entire resort offers a mixed bath with only certain hours dedicated to the women's bath. At Gorokaku, you'll be wearing rented bathing clothes, so there's no need to be shy here either. The other reason this onsen is popular with foreigners is that tattoos are accepted, which is also rare.
What's more, there are 5 large baths, each with a different theme, such as one filled with roses and one with a view of the forest. The scenery is magnificent at Gorokaku, making it a place well worth visiting.
Gorokaku (Japanese only)
Two hour pass available for £1,000
4. Miyako Ryokan (みやこ旅館) in Arakawamura, Chichibu
Chichibu is a pleasant destination for a day trip from Tokyo with its beautiful flower-rich parks, the famous Misotsuchi icicles, beautiful boat trips and many impressive hiking opportunities. If you want to make it an overnight trip, why not consider a stay at Miyato Ryokan? This modest ryokan onsen is located next to the Arakawa River, not far from a railway station.
Visiting Miyato Ryokan will really give you the feeling of being in a little secret place. There are separate indoor baths and the mixed bath is the outdoor rotenburo. No mass bathing here, as the rotenburo is only suitable for 3 couples at a time. It's a great way to enjoy the view of the river and nearby mountains.
Miyako Ryokan (Japanese only)
Day pass available for €1,500
5. Kojokaku Hotel (湖城閣)
Also located in Minakami is Hotel Kojokaku, which is surrounded by greenery and offers superb views of a lake. As well as luxurious private baths, Hotel Kojokaku also offers mixed and single-sex baths. Six of the open-air baths are co-ed, so there is a variety of onsen for you to try together.
Hotel Kojokaku is open to day visitors who are not also staying at the hotel, and offers massages and a games room. Nice touch, there's also a jukebox that's still working, at 100 yen for 2 songs, you should definitely give it a spin!
Hotel Kojokaku
Day pass available for 800
6. Yumori Tanakaya (湯守田中屋)
Although the front of this ryokan doesn't look like much with its unimpressive building and busy road, you must enter Yumori Tanakaya to see the hidden beauty beyond the exterior. The bathing area is actually quite a distance from the building. You have to go down 300 steps to reach the two large baths completely surrounded by greenery.
The baths are right next to the river, so if you want to cool off, you can simply use the cool river water. Both baths are co-ed, with a changing room available for women but men must change on site. Please note that if you are not staying at the ryokan, you can only use the baths on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 3pm. In addition, tattoos are not permitted in this onsen.
Yumori Tanakaya
11am-3pm (Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday)
Day pass available 1,000
7. Honke Bankyu (本家伴久)
Nikko is one of the most popular destinations for locals and international tourists for a day trip from Tokyo. There are incredible cultural treasures such as the Nikko Toshogu, and we recommend anyone interested in culture and history to take a private tour to Nikko to get the most out of your visit. And to top it all off, you can spend another half day here exploring Honke Bankyu, a historic onsen with incredible private onsen baths that you can rent for a short period or book a room with a private onsen. Visiting Honke Bankyu feels like stepping back in time with its beautiful, typically Japanese interior and exterior, and the proximity of the baths to the river makes for a very refreshing stay.
Honké Bankyu
3pm - 11pm (only available to hotel guests)
1,000
8. Motomachi Hama hot spring (元町浜の湯)
Oshima is an island that is part of the Tokyo municipality but worlds away from the bustling city centre. The island's laid-back subtropical atmosphere makes it feel much more like Okinawa than central Tokyo. Oshima is home to the Hama-no-yu or Motomachi Hama hot spring, which offers one of the most stunning views of any onsen in Japan. You can see the Pacific Ocean on one side and the island's volcano (Mount Mihara) on the other, which provides the onsen with its hot water.
As the ocean is on its western side, you can see the sunset from here. It's an incredible view, but it's a good idea to count on not being the only one who wants to enjoy the view. There are lots of people here at sunset and in the evening. Bathers wear swimming costumes here, so the open-air baths are mixed.
Motomachi Hama Hot Spring
Admission fee ¥300
1pm - 7pm
Swimsuit compulsory
9. Ashitsuki Onsen (足付温泉)
Also on one of Tokyo's islands, Ashitsuki Onsen on the small island of Shikinejima also offers an ocean view. It is, however, much more robust than the elegant Hama-no-yu. The irregularly shaped bath is not so large and very rustic, with little change in its natural shape. It almost feels like sitting in a warm ocean.
There are small changing rooms, but not many other facilities. You'll have a great view of the ocean and harbour while swimming, and just like in Oshima, swimming costumes are compulsory at Ashitsuki Onsen.
Ashitsuki Onsen
Open 24 hours a day
Free admission
Bathing suit compulsory
Mixed bathing in Japan
As you can see, if you look a little further afield, you'll find plenty of options for bathing with your opposite-sex travelling companion(s) in Japan. Many onsen also offer a mixed bath only at certain times or on certain days, so there are plenty of options for bathing together. Even if you're worried about undressing, many onsens offer and require special bathrobes or swimwear in their mixed baths. An added bonus is that these natural spas often allow (covered) tattoos, which can still be hard to find in Japan. If you're not comfortable sharing the bath with others, you can also opt for private baths, which are sometimes available in the traditional ryokan. In these baths, you and your travelling companion will be the only ones to enjoy the onsen.
We recommend that anyone travelling to Japan and wishing to visit the spas also consider mixed onsen, as there are some real gems that you don't want to miss. This activity also mixes well with one of our fun city tours (https://www.japanwondertravel.com/) on your itinerary, so you can have a varied and fun holiday in Japan!
Have a great trip!
