Japan Onsen for Beginners: Your First Hot Spring Bath

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

An onsen is a Japanese hot spring bath, and your first visit can be a day trip: you do not have to stay overnight at a ryokan. The most important routine is simple: undress in the changing room, wash and rinse your body before entering the bath, and keep your towel out of the water. Most onsen are shared bathing spaces, so it also helps to know the rules about quiet voices, phones, tattoos and children before you go. The Japan National Tourism Organization’s guide to enjoying onsen explains the basic bathing process and answers common first-visit questions.

If you would rather see the process before you visit, a YouTube video explains how to use an onsen and covers basic manners for beginners. Below, you will find ways to choose a bath, a practical comparison of two day-use facilities in Hakone, and a step-by-step guide to what to do once you arrive. The Hakone prices, hours and policies in this guide were checked on November 3, 2026; confirm them on the linked official pages before travelling, as facility information can change.

1. How to choose your first onsen

There are several ways to try an onsen. You can stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn in a hot spring town, or visit a day-use bath without booking a room; the JNTO explains both options in its onsen guide. For a first visit, a day-use facility lets you experience the bathing routine without planning an overnight stay.

Think about what would make you feel comfortable before choosing. Some rotenburo, or outdoor baths, have views of mountains or rivers, while an ashiyu is a foot bath where you put only your feet in warm water; foot baths can be found in hot spring towns. The JNTO’s introduction to Japanese bath culture describes these options.

If you are uncomfortable being naked around other bathers, look for a kashikiri-buro, or private bath that you rent, or a guest room with its own outdoor bath. Check whether a private-bath price is charged per person or per room, and whether use of a facility’s main public baths costs extra. For example, at Hakone Yuryo, private open-air rooms can be used without paying for the public baths, but the public baths require a separate fee.

Check practical rules as well as the bathing style. Tattoo policies differ by facility, and some places may offer cover stickers for small tattoos, but you need to ask the facility whether this is possible; the JNTO recommends checking a bath’s policy before you visit. If you are travelling with children, check the facility’s age and diaper rules in advance, because they are not the same everywhere.

2. Two beginner-friendly baths in Hakone

Hakone Yuryo and Tenzan are day-use hot spring facilities in Hakone, Kanagawa, with English information on their official websites. Both have indoor and outdoor bathing options, but their prices, payment rules, tattoo policies and booking arrangements differ. The comparison below reflects information checked on November 3, 2026; follow the official links in the table for current details.

Hakone Yuryo’s child information needs particular care. Its official pages differ in how they describe admission for young children: the English top page says preschool children are not accepted in the public bath, while its FAQ and price information say children aged five and under cannot bathe. The listed child rate is ¥1,000 for ages 6–12, but the status of a six-year-old who has not yet started elementary school is unclear from those pages, so contact the facility before visiting. The official references are the English top page, FAQ and hot springs and price page.

Getting to Hakone Yuryo

Hakone Yuryo is in Tonosawa, and a free shuttle bus runs between Hakone-Yumoto Station and the facility. The ride takes about three minutes, and the facility says buses run about every 10–15 minutes; these details were checked on November 3, 2026. Start by travelling to Hakone-Yumoto Station, then use the facility’s official access page to check the shuttle information and where to board before setting out.

For Tenzan, use the official English site and Tenzan facility page to check access information for your visit. The supplied facility information identifies Tenzan’s location as Yumoto-chaya, Hakone, but does not provide a verified route or travel time from the station. Do not assume that Hakone Yuryo’s free shuttle serves Tenzan; check Tenzan’s own instructions when planning the last part of your journey.

Private baths at Hakone Yuryo

Hakone Yuryo has 19 private open-air bathing rooms across three types. The “Ichi-no-maki” type accommodates up to two people and costs ¥10,400 per room on weekdays or ¥11,400 per room on weekends and holidays for 120 minutes, including tax; these prices were checked on November 3, 2026. The facility’s private-bath page gives the room details and online booking information.

Towels and bath towels are included with a private room, and you can use the private bath without entering the large public baths. If you also want to use the public baths, you must pay their admission fee separately, so compare the room price and any additional admission before deciding. Online reservations are accepted from one month before the visit date until 15:00 on the day before; for reservations or changes after that point, contact the facility by phone as directed on its official page.

3. What to bring to an onsen

What you need depends on the facility. Some onsen hotels provide towels and soap, while smaller sento—local public bathhouses—may expect you to bring your own; the JNTO discusses this difference in its bath-culture guide. Check the facility’s own amenities list before packing so that you do not carry items it already provides or arrive without something it expects you to bring.

A hair tie is useful if you have long hair, which should be kept out of the bath water. A small towel is handy for covering yourself while walking between the changing area and the bath, but it must stay out of the water; facilities may provide one or sell it at reception. At Tenzan, visitors are asked to bring a small towel, or can buy one for ¥200, while Hakone Yuryo sells a face towel for ¥300.

A large towel is for drying off after bathing. At Hakone Yuryo, a bath towel costs ¥550, and the facility states that towels are sold rather than rented; at Hakone Yuryo’s private rooms, towels and bath towels are included. Tenzan’s listed information gives a ¥200 price for its small towel, so check its official pages if you need to know whether to bring a separate large towel.

Bring cash if you plan to visit Tenzan, which accepts cash only. For other facilities, check the official payment information rather than assuming that cards are accepted. Do not plan to wear a swimsuit in a typical onsen: bathing is generally without clothing, and Hakone Yuryo specifically prohibits swimsuits in its baths.

4. Step by step: how to use an onsen

1. Take off your shoes. Many facilities ask you to remove your shoes near the entrance. At the latest, take off your shoes or slippers before entering the changing room, as the JNTO explains in its onsen guide.

2. Choose the correct bathing area. Most baths are separated by gender. Look for the signs: 女 means women and 男 means men. At some ryokan, the men’s and women’s baths may switch in the morning and at night, so check the signs each time rather than relying on the previous day’s arrangement.

3. Undress in the changing room. In a typical onsen, remove all clothing, including your swimsuit, before entering the bath area. Put your clothes and belongings in the designated changing area, and leave your phone out of the bath area.

4. Tie up long hair and remove jewellery. Keep long hair above the water. Some hot spring water can discolour precious metals, so the JNTO’s bath-culture information advises that removing jewellery is one way to avoid that possibility.

5. Wash before entering the bath. Sit on a stool in the washing area and use the shower or bucket to wash your body. Rinse away all soap and shampoo before you get into the water; the JNTO recommends washing first rather than treating the shared bath as a place to clean yourself.

6. Leave the washing area ready for the next person. Rinse the stool and bucket after use. This small courtesy helps keep the shared washing space ready for other bathers, as described in the JNTO’s local onsen etiquette guide.

7. Enter the bath slowly. Keep your small towel out of the water: place it beside the bath or, if you prefer, on your head. Do not swim or splash, and keep long hair from touching the water.

8. Take a break if the water feels too hot. Do not force yourself to stay in the bath. Get out and drink water if you feel too hot or uncomfortable.

9. Decide whether to rinse after bathing. The JNTO says washing off the hot spring water after the bath is a matter of personal choice. Follow any instructions posted at the facility, then dry yourself before returning to the changing area.

5. Bath manners inside the onsen

An onsen bath is a shared space, so quiet and considerate behaviour helps everyone use it comfortably. Speak softly in both the bath and changing room, and avoid splashing or swimming. These are basic points in the JNTO’s guide to onsen etiquette.

Keep your small towel out of the bath water. Set it beside the bath or place it on your head, and tie up long hair so that it does not enter the water. Wash your body at the washing station before bathing, rinse off soap thoroughly, and leave the stool and bucket clean for the next person.

Do not bring a phone into the bath, and do not take photographs. At Hakone Yuryo, cameras and mobile phones are not allowed in the changing rooms or baths, and swimsuits are not allowed in the baths; check the facility’s official English information for its rules. Posted instructions at each facility take priority, since a particular bath may have additional rules.

6. Tattoos, kids, and accessibility

Tattoos: Tattoo rules vary, so check the specific facility before you go. Some onsen refuse entry to people with tattoos, while some may allow small tattoos to be covered with stickers; whether stickers can be used is something to confirm with the facility. The JNTO covers this issue in its onsen guide and etiquette guide.

Hakone Yuryo says that it removed tattoo restrictions on April 1, 2025. Tenzan’s policy is different: a person with tattoos may visit alone, but a group of people with tattoos cannot use the bath. Tenzan also says that people with tattoos cannot use its gender-separated “Oku-no-yu” baths for guests using a rented sitting room; those baths are not private baths. Confirm the relevant details on the official Hakone Yuryo site, Tenzan English site and Tenzan FAQ.

Children: Ask the facility about its age rules before travelling with children. Hakone Yuryo does not allow people who wear diapers to bathe, and its pages differ in how they describe the admission rule for preschool children; in particular, ask the facility about a six-year-old who has not yet started elementary school. Tenzan lists a child admission price of ¥700 for children from age one through elementary-school age, but check its official page for the current rules before your visit.

Wheelchair access: At Hakone Yuryo, wheelchair users can reach the entrance to the large public baths, but wheelchairs cannot be used beyond that point. Some of its private rooms have universal design, so ask the facility directly about which room may suit your needs and what access is available. Details are on the Hakone Yuryo FAQ.

7. Staying safe and comfortable

Hot water can feel relaxing, but do not stay in if it feels too hot or you are uncomfortable. Get out and drink water rather than trying to match how long other bathers stay; the JNTO’s onsen advice recommends taking care not to overdo a hot bath. The information here does not set a universal safe bathing time, so pay attention to how you feel.

Avoid drinking alcohol before bathing. Plan to take a break if you need one, and do not treat an onsen visit as a test of endurance. If you have a concern about whether bathing is suitable for you, check with an appropriate health professional rather than relying on a general travel guide.

8. Mistakes first-timers make

• Getting into the bath before washing: Wash at the washing area and rinse off soap and shampoo before entering the shared water.
• Putting a towel in the bath: Keep it beside the bath or on your head; do not let it touch the water.
• Wearing a swimsuit: Typical onsen bathing is without clothing, and Hakone Yuryo specifically does not allow swimsuits.
• Bringing a phone into the bath: Leave it outside the bath area and do not take photographs.
• Assuming every facility has the same tattoo policy: Check the rules for the particular bath before you travel.
• Assuming towels and soap are always supplied: Check the amenities list. Tenzan asks visitors to bring a small towel or buy one for ¥200, while Hakone Yuryo sells its public-bath towels.
• Staying in water that feels too hot: Get out and drink water if you feel uncomfortable rather than forcing yourself to continue.

The JNTO’s onsen guide covers the core washing and bathing etiquette, while the facilities’ own pages explain local policies. Checking both kinds of information before you set out can prevent avoidable surprises, such as arriving without cash at Tenzan or expecting to use a swimsuit at Hakone Yuryo. A little preparation also makes it easier to focus on the bath rather than worrying about what to do next.

9. FAQ

Do I have to be naked?

At a typical onsen, yes: you undress in the changing room and enter the bath without clothing or a swimsuit. A small towel can help cover you while walking around, but it must stay out of the bath water. If you feel shy, consider a private bath or a guest room with its own bath; Hakone Yuryo offers private open-air rooms.

Do I need to bring soap and shampoo?

It depends on the facility, so check its amenities before you leave. Hakone Yuryo provides shampoo, conditioner and body soap, and Tenzan provides shampoo, rinse and soap. Smaller local baths may not provide these items, according to the JNTO’s bath-culture guide.

Can I go to an onsen with tattoos?

It depends on the facility. Hakone Yuryo has had no tattoo restrictions since April 1, 2025, while Tenzan allows a person with tattoos to visit alone but does not allow a group of people with tattoos to use the bath. Tenzan’s “Oku-no-yu” baths for guests using a rented sitting room are also unavailable to people with tattoos; check the Tenzan FAQ for the facility’s wording.

Do I need to book?

Booking rules vary by facility and by type of bath. Tenzan does not accept bookings, while Hakone Yuryo accepts online bookings for its private baths from one month before the visit date until 15:00 on the day before; later reservations or changes should be made by phone. Check the Hakone Yuryo private-bath page before making plans.

Can couples bathe together?

Most public baths are separated by gender, so couples generally use separate bathing areas. Tenzan has no private baths, while Hakone Yuryo has private rooms that can be booked for up to two people in the “Ichi-no-maki” type. The listed price for that type is per room for 120 minutes, and use of Hakone Yuryo’s public baths costs extra.

Should I shower after the onsen?

Whether to rinse off the hot spring water afterward is a matter of personal choice, according to the JNTO. Follow any instructions posted at the facility, then dry yourself before returning to the changing room. If you are unsure what a particular bath requests, check its signs or ask staff.

Can I use a swimsuit?

At a typical onsen, bathing is without a swimsuit. Hakone Yuryo specifically prohibits swimsuits in its baths, so do not pack one expecting to wear it there. If you are considering a different bathing facility, check its own rules instead of assuming that all places have identical policies.

What if I am not sure about a child’s age eligibility?

Check directly with the facility before making the trip, especially if the child is close to an age boundary. Hakone Yuryo’s English pages do not describe the preschool-age rule consistently, and the status of a six-year-old who has not started elementary school needs confirmation. Its listed child price is ¥1,000 for ages 6–12, but the price alone does not resolve that eligibility question.