Ooedo Onsen Monogatari – Natural Hot Spring Park
A Relaxing Japanese Bath in Tokyo – Directions and Overview
Sep 9, 2009
Traditional Japanese bathing is a truly unique experience. Bathing in natural hot springs (onsen) is still a primary way to relax for many Japanese people, especially older generations. However, experiencing Japanese bathing in Tokyo generally means visiting a local sento, or bathhouse. Sento vary from prefecture to prefecture. Some sento are well appointed and modern, while others have not been updated in 40 years. Sento may be bathhouses, but they are not usually onsen (hot springs). To visit an onsen, most Japanese take a short overnight trip to a ryokan outside of Tokyo to experience the hot springs.
While, visiting a traditional ryokan is still the most relaxing way to take an onsen, Tokyo does have the Ooedo Onsen Monogatari, which is a natural hot spring piped from deep below Tokyo. Ooedo Onsen is not just any onsen, however. It is also an Edo period theme park, complete with a tiny “village” where onsen goers can break for food, ice cream, trinket shopping, or even a palm reading.
Getting to Ooedo Onsen Monogatari
The onsen itself is located on Odaiba, which is an artificial island built out on Tokyo Bay. The island is essentially a pleasure island, housing shopping, restaurants, clubs, the onsen, the convention center, and other entertainment facilities that can be accessed by train or car.
The quickest route to get there is to take the trains. Every traveler to Japan who plans to use the train system should familiarize himself with Hyperdia. This site is an excellent resource for train schedules and routes. Just enter the beginning and ending station names into the web form and hit search. It will display the various routes that a traveler can take, the times, and even the prices for various routes. It works across any train system in Japan, even those owned by competing rail companies. It is incredibly useful, so bookmark it and use it for planning.
The easiest route to get to Ooedo Onsen is to take the JR Yamanote line to Shimbashi station. From there, walk to the Yurikamome line. The English signage directing travelers to the Yurikamome line is spotty, but there will be a small side passage leading out to the street and into another stairwell that leads to the line. Asking a passerby for directions can be helpful if there is no sign to be found. “Yurikamome densha wa doko desu ka” will get the point across to a local.
Once on the Yurikamome train, ride it to the Telecom Center station (U-09). The train only travels in one direction from Shimbashi station, so there is no danger of traveling in the wrong direction. Just remember to take the train toward Shimbashi station when returning to Tokyo. This is actually a really pleasant train ride. The train goes over the bay and across the Rainbow Bridge, so it is quite picturesque.
Exit the Telecom Center station by going down the stairs to the street. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari will be toward the left down the block. The building is hard to mistake, because it looks like an Edo era castle with large doors and a wooden gate seated by a parking lot and is visible from the station.
Overview of the Oedo Onsen Park and Pricing
Oedo Onsen may be a theme park, but it is open almost 24 hours a day. A visitor can enter any time after 11AM and stay until any time before 9 AM the next day. Many locals will visit and spend the night sleeping in the lounge and relaxing in the baths multiple times per visit. However, many of the food options close after 11 PM, so be sure to arrive before then if dining is on the list of activities. Ooedo Onsen is also an option if one misses the last train from Odaiba. It is a place to hang out or sleep until the trains start running again at around 5 AM.
Ooedo Onsen has different rates depending on when you arrive at the onsen. The best deal is to arrive after 6 PM and pay ¥2,000 (roughly $20). However, it is best to leave by 10:30PM if a visitor do not plan to spend the night, as the trains run slower in the evenings and last train is between 11:30 PM and midnight depending on the line and station.
Tips for Onsen Goers
- Tattoos are generally not allowed into onsen or sento. However, many facilities will allow visitors to cover tattoos.
- Do not soak for too long! This is especially true for those not used to the very hot temperatures. It is common to feel dizzy and lightheaded, so do not overdo it.
- Likewise, bring bottled water with you into the onsen and stow it near the edge of the bath to keep from overheating.
- Test the water before entering. Some baths are hotter than others.
- Do observe proper Japanese bathing etiquette.
- Avoid staring at other bathers. The Japanese bath together, but they ignore each other’s nakedness. Sometimes, they may sneak a peek, but openly gawking is poor etiquette.
If a traveler is willing brave public nudity, stringent etiquette rules, and potential embarrassment from passing out, visiting an onsen while visiting Japan is one of the most relaxing experiences. There is nothing better than hot spring water soaking into tired muscles and bones. The experience is like none other! Hopefully, this overview will help those wishing to visit Oedo Onsen Monogatari feel prepared for the experience!
Related Resources
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari - Natural Hot Spring Park: A Relaxing Japanese Bath in Tokyo (Directions and Overview)
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari English Web Site
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