15 Best Private Onsen in Kyoto | Luxury Ryokan with Amazing Views

Kyoto is the area in Japan that many people think of when they imagine Japanese culture and traditions. If you are looking to travel to Kyoto, you will experience all of this through the cityscapes, shops, and restaurants. However, we also think that staying at a ryokan is an indispensable experience.

Bathing in an onsen is a part of Japanese culture that has been alive for thousands of years, but some of us may be hesitant to enter the bath with strangers. Some of us also may have tattoos that prevent us from entering public baths in Japan.

These problems can be solved with a private onsen, a bath that can be rented out, or one that is attached to your room when you make your reservation.

In this article, we will be introducing 15 best ryokan that you can visit in Kyoto with a private onsen. We have included many different lodges with unique aspects to each one so you will have many options to choose from.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

1. Arashiyama Benkei
2. Yunohana Resort Suisen
3. Kyoto Arashiyama TOGETSUTEI
4. Sumiya Kihoan
5. Syoenso Hozugawatei
6. Hanaikada Arashiyama
7. Kashoen Hanare Fuka Hotel
8. Amayadori No Yado Ujo Soan Hotel
9. Aburaya Annex Nagomitei
10. Kyoto Hot Spring Hatoya Zuihokaku Hotel
11. Momiji-ya
12. Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo
13. Suiran Hotel Kyoto
14. Nazuna
15. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu
16. Conclusion

Google Map

1. Arashiyama Benkei (嵐山辨慶)

Arashiyama Benkei is a ryokan located in the center of Arashiyama, which is a popular tourist spot in Kyoto.

At this ryokan, you can rent out an open-air bath for 60 minutes at a time. There are three rentable, open-air baths available: a smaller one for couples or those looking to bathe alone, and two larger baths made for families (pictured above).

Located close to the bath is Kyoto’s biggest river, called the Katsura River; it will be relaxing to sit in the bath and listen to the sounds of the flowing water.

Arashiyama Benkei does not have an open-air bath attached to the guest suites, but they do have beautiful wooden baths in the higher-class rooms (pictured above).

Founded in 1969, Arashiyama Benkei is a ryokan located in Kyoto that holds the Japanese tradition of hospitality to a high standard. It is surrounded by nature and has a luxurious feel.

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2. Yunohana Resort Suisen (湯の花温泉　京YUNOHANA RESORT 翠泉)

Yunohana Resort Suisen is located in a quieter part of Kyoto, meaning it is quiet and separate from the bustling parts of the city. With 7 types of Japanese-style guest suites to choose from (5 of which include private onsen, pictured above) Yunohana Resort Suisen leaves room for many options.

In addition to the private onsen, there is also an onsen that is available for rent (pictured above). Unlike many other private onsen, the rentable private onsen is made of stone. It will cost you 3,500 JPY for 50 minutes.

Yunohana Resort Onsen is a ryokan with a calm atmosphere, making it perfect for couples or families with older children. Customer reviews claim they were able to have a very relaxing stay and have especially high praise for the food.

A tradition of most ryokan is the staff who come to serve you dinner and pour your drinks in your room. However, at Yunohana Resort Suisen, the staff will not enter your room when you are present. You will come home to the futon prepared for you, and dining is done in a separate area.

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3. Kyoto Arashiyama TOGETSUTEI (京都　嵐山温泉　渡月亭)

Kyoto Arashiyama TOGETSUTEI is a ryokan located in the perfect area for exploring the nature-centered sightseeing spots that Kyoto has to offer. There are multiple options for private onsen at this lodge. The private onsen located in the guestrooms have two types; you can reserve a full outdoor bath (pictured above) or a half outdoor bath.

The bath in the public onsen that is available for reservation (pictured above) is made of tile and can be rented out for 45 or 105 minutes at a time. 45 minutes will cost you 2,750 JPY and 150 minutes will cost you 5,500 JPY. This bath is large and can fit up to four people at a time.

Typical of old-fashioned ryokan, Kyoto Arashiyama TOGETSUTEI features a large banquet hall for eating. You will enjoy this if you are looking to experience traditional Japanese lodging.

togetsutei sits close to Tougetsukyo, a famous bridge in Kyoto. If you are planning on visiting some of the touristy spots in Kyoto, you might consider booking a night in this ryokan.

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4. Sumiya Kihoan (京都亀岡 湯の花温泉 すみや亀峰菴)

Sumiya Kihoan is a ryokan that is focused on giving visitors the most unique and relaxing experience that they could get at a resort. In addition to a very aesthetically pleasing public onsen made of wood, a total of 6 rooms at this ryokan are attached to a private onsen (pictured above).

All the private onsen are over 100cm in size, making them big enough to move around freely or have multiple people sit inside at once. The water flowing in these baths is pure hot spring water, which is known to help hormone balance as well as have other health benefits.

With many amenities like an onsen for your feet (called an “ashiyu”, pictured above) to soak in while looking up at the starry sky or an outdoor lounge surrounded by nature, you can have a relaxing trip with your loved ones without having to even leave the ryokan.

For those who are looking to make a day trip, Sumiya Kihoan also offers day-trip packages starting from around 7,300 JPY. These will give you a chance to eat lunch as well as try out the onsen.

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5. Syoenso Hozugawatei (松園荘 保津川亭)

Deep in the forests of Kyoto prefecture, Syoenso Hozugawatei is located to the west of the main city. The public onsen at this ryokan is worth checking out as it is expansive and also features a waterfall. The guest rooms also offer multiple options for private onsen (pictured above) with baths made of all different materials.

If you are looking for a different private onsen experience or are renting a room without a private onsen attached, Syoenso Hozugawatei offers a rentable bath for 5,000 JPY per 50 minutes.

With various types of rooms available, you can choose from more traditional Japanese-style rooms to more Western-style rooms with wooden floors and higher, hotel-like beds.

It should be noted that this ryokan is quite a distance away from the major sightseeing spots. Syoenso Hozugawatei is a good place to visit if you are going mainly for the purpose of relaxing at the ryokan.

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6. Hanaikada Arashiyama (嵐山温泉 旅館 彩四季の宿　花筏)

Hanaikada Arashiyama overlooks the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, well-visited by tourists and locals alike. This ryokan has three rooms with a private onsen available, two wooden and one made of stone. Most recently, a room with a private onsen was added in March of 2019 (pictured above).

The public onsen is also spacious at Hanaikada Arashiyama, with a bath on the top floor overlooking the rivers of Kyoto. There is also an option to rent an outdoor bath (pictured above) as well; it will cost you 1,650 JPY per group for 40 minutes.

With Togetsu Bridge, a popular tourist spot, located right outside the ryokan, Hanaikada provides great views of nature all around. If you are looking to explore Arashiyama in particular, this is one of the closest places that you could get.

For those who have been wanting to try on traditional Japanese clothes, this ryokan offers a plan that includes a kimono rental. You can choose from over 200 designers and brands. Simply walking around Arashiyama in a kimono might be an unforgettable experience.

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7. Kashoen Hanare Fuka Hotel (はなれ風香)

Unlike other ryokan that are easy to access from popular tourist locations, Kashoen Hanare Fuka Hotel is located at the northern tip of Kyoto. In terms of baths, many of the rooms have spacious baths that overlook the ocean.

A stone bath is available for rent (pictured above) for 1,320 JPY for a 45-minute time slot. The hot spring water is known to help with nerve and muscle pain and is overall beneficial to health, so we recommend that you make use of the bath while you are visiting.

The selling point of Kashoen Hanare Fuka Hotel is its location, but perhaps in a different way than other ryokan. A 10 minute walk away is the beach, where you can gaze out on a beautiful sunset during the evening.

It should be noted that because this ryokan is focused on providing a relaxing environment for its guests, children are not allowed to stay.

The location of Kashoen Hanare Fuka Hotel is also a bit harder to access from the city, so we recommend it for those who are looking for a quiet getaway in the countryside surrounded by nature.

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8. Amayadori No Yado Ujo Soan Hotel (あまやどりの宿　雨情草庵)

Located in the northern part of Kyoto, the weather in this area is easy to change and is known for being rainy, which is where Amayadori No Yado Ujo Soan Hotel takes its concept.

All the rooms in this ryokan include a private onsen (pictured above), so you can choose from any of the available rooms without having to worry about differences in amenities.

The public bath also should be noted, as it has two outdoor baths and two large indoor baths. The hot spring water has many health benefits including helping with blood circulation and muscle pains.

One of the best selling points of this ryokan are the rooms. They are all in separate buildings, giving you a luxury experience no matter which one you choose to stay in.

To call the largest room (pictured above) of Amayadori No Yado Ujo Soan Hotel just “a room” would be an understatement; you are looking at spending your time in what would be considered more like a house, equipped with a living room, a traditional Japanese sunken fireplace room, and a mist sauna.

While it is quite an investment, you may be interested in staying here for the experience you cannot get at any other ryokan.

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9. Aburaya Annex Nagomitei (油屋別館和亭)

Aburaya Annex Nagomitei is right next to the ocean, giving you a view of the Sea of Japan. All of the rooms have a private onsen attached (pictured above). Getting to bathe while looking out at the ocean is not something that you can experience every day.

Many of the rooms also include interesting structures that you would only find in old-fashioned Japanese houses including a sunken kotatsu (a hearth that is meant to warm your feet) and a sunken fireplace (pictured above).

Given that this ryokan is situated right on the water, you can expect to be eating fresh seafood. Both breakfast and dinner include crab, many types of fish, and fresh vegetables.

Leisure in the area includes fishing and boating as well, so if you are looking for an ocean getaway while getting to stay in a traditional Japanese lodge, this Aburaya Annex Nagomitei may be a perfect fit.

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10. Kyoto Hot Spring Hatoya Zuihokaku Hotel (京湯元 ハトヤ瑞鳳閣)

In contrast to a few of the other ryokan on this list that are located further away from the city, Kyoto Hot Spring Hatoya Zuihokaku Hotel’s location is the most convenient one on this list when it comes to transportation, Kyoto Station.

The rooms in this ryokan all have a warm, light, and wooden aesthetic. Keep in mind that only the higher-end suites have private onsen (pictured above), but they are very spacious and each room’s bath is unique in its construction. Additionally, this is the only lodge where you can experience fresh hot spring water in the Kyoto Station area.

Kyoto Hot Spring Hatoya Zuihokaku Hotel retains the feel of a traditional Japanese ryokan while occupying one of the most convenient locations in Kyoto. It is also very cost-effective, which is helpful if you are traveling on a bit of a tighter budget.

Being close to Kyoto station will allow you to travel both around the Kyoto area, and will give you easy access to sightseeing longer distances. We recommend this ryokan to anyone who is looking to travel to different prefectures or around Kyoto during their stay.

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11. Momiji-ya (もみぢ家)

We recommend Momiji-ya to anyone who is looking for a vacation in the heart of nature. From the bath of this ryokan, you will be able to witness a sprawling view of the forests and the river down below.

At Momiji-ya you will not be able to find a private onsen located in the guest suites, but there is a rentable bath (pictured above). The rental fee is 2,700 JPY for 45 minutes. The view from the bath is especially beautiful during the autumn season and the early evening when the sun is setting.

Momiji-ya is a ryokan that uses nature to its advantage. “Momiji,” or the autumn leaves give this ryokan its name, and you can assume that fall is the prime time to visit. Even during other seasons, however, there are sights to be seen such as cherry blossoms in the spring and snow in the winter.

Not only the views, but the seasonal foods at Momiji-ya deserve an honorable mention as well. Whereas many ryokan will not write their complete menu, you can see exactly what you can order, when you can order it. With an expansive menu of dishes and fresh ingredients, you are sure to find something delicious to eat.

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12. Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo (京料理とお庭の宿 八千代)

Accented with a restaurant that sits in the middle of a Japanese garden (pictured above), Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo is a ryokan that embraces the essence of traditional Japan. The rooms are spacious, five of them with private onsen.

Some of the baths (pictured above) are located half-outside and some inside, but all of them look out onto the Japanese garden, giving you a relaxing view in the privacy of your room. The baths are spacious and are perfect for enjoying by yourself or with loved ones.

One of the selling points of Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo is its location. Close to all the inner-city sightseeing spots, you will have easy access to the most famous shrines and temples of Kyoto such as Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji.

In the metropolitan areas of Kyoto, you can also find many popular shopping areas, where you can go souvenir shopping. Some of the most well-known souvenirs that represent Kyoto include Yatsuhashi and matcha. You will be able to find many shops where you can buy these, not to mention many other items such as Japanese clothing and household supplies.

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13. Suiran Hotel Kyoto (翠嵐 ラグジュアリーコレクションホテル 京都)

With spacious and clean rooms, Suiran Hotel Kyoto is everything that you would consider to be “luxury” in a lodge. Located by a river in the inner-city area of Kyoto, it is easy to access and is in a convenient place for sightseeing. The private onsens are filled with hot spring water, which is somewhat unusual for a hotel and private onsen.

There is no public bath at Suiran Hotel Kyoto, so if you want to experience an outdoor bath, you will have to rent a suite with a private onsen (pictured above) attached. This is a good way to experience the onsen culture without having to leave your room.

With most of the rooms being Western-style (flooring, beds, etc.) and lack of a public onsen, Suiran Hotel Kyoto would not fall into the “ryokan” category. Instead, this is a luxury hotel that includes some elements of a ryokan (notably the hot spring).

We recommend Suiran Hotel Kyoto to those who are not completely set on the idea of staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan but still want a high-quality experience in a lodge that incorporates Japanese elements.

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14. Nazuna (Nazuna 京都 二条城)

With rooms that all take the concept of tea, Nazuna is a high-class ryokan that was given the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka Award. All the guest suites have at least a half-open air bath, most with a fully outdoor bath (pictured above).

Depending on the room that you reserve, your private onsen will be made out of stone or wood, most in a circular shape. No matter which you choose, all of the baths are very spacious and look out onto a beautiful Japanese garden.

Location-wise, Nazuna is located fairly close to the city areas of Kyoto, with its closest landmark being Nijo-jo Castle. We recommend this ryokan to those who want good access to the city of Kyoto while still staying in a quiet area.

With rooms ranging from more Japanese to more Western, Nazuna is sure to have an environment that fits your needs. The concept of tea is taken to the next level; the staff will greet you with complimentary tea. Even the bath salts are tea-themed and the room is meant to smell the same way. This ryokan is true to its tradition and has high levels of hospitality.

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15. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu (ザ・ホテル青龍 京都清水)

With the exterior of a mansion and the amenities to back it up, The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu provides a luxury hotel experience to its visitors. Many rooms at this hotel are large enough to have their own balconies and all of them have a very spacious bath.

Unlike many other ryokan on this list, all of the baths attached to the hotel suites are indoors. There are also three options for rentable private baths (pictured above) for 6,000 JPY per 90 minutes. These baths can fit up to four people at a time, making them perfect for a family or if you are traveling with a group of friends.

An element of this lodge that will be appealing to some is that The Hotel Seiryu Kiyomizu is a hotel and not a ryokan. This means that the more Western atmosphere makes it easier for those who are not used to Japanese customs, and those who have tattoos will not need to worry at all.

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Conclusion

What did you think?

With Kyoto being the center of Japanese tradition, we know that it can be difficult to choose from all the different ryokan without knowing their specific features.

We hope that this article provided you with more insight into lodges that you were considering, or even new ideas for ryokan in locations that you maybe would not have thought of before.

Good luck with your trip to Kyoto!

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