15 Best Ryokan with Private Onsen in and Around Tokyo 2024

Are you looking for a private onsen in Tokyo and/or in the Tokyo area?

In this article, we will be introducing a series of 15 ryokan and hotels that include options for a private onsen.

If you are looking to prioritize convenience, we recommend that you choose a ryokan or hotel that is located in Tokyo. With many options for public transportation like bullet trains or planes, it will be easy to visit other locations if you want to explore other parts of the country.

On the other hand, if you want to have the traditional onsen experience and immerse yourself in nature, we recommend that you reserve a ryokan located in the prefectures surrounding Tokyo. Most of the time, you will be able to get to these locations with a 1 to 3-hour train from Tokyo, making it easy to go on day trips as well.

Let’s get started!

This article was updated on March 5, 2024.

Table of contents

• 3 best ryokan with a private onsen in Tokyo
  1. cyashitsu ryokan asaksa
  2. Onsen Ryokan YUEN BETTEI DAITA
  3. PROSTYLE RYOKAN Asakusa Tokyo
• 3 best hotels with a private onsen in Tokyo
  1. Stay SAKURA HOTEL ASAKUSA YOKOZUNA
  2. CENTURION HOTEL UENO
  3. Tokyo Yugawara Onsen Manyo-no-Yu Machida
• 9 best ryokan with a private onsen near Tokyo
• 3 best ryokan with a private onsen in Hakone, Kanagawa
  1. Kinnotake Tonosawa
  2. Ryokan Hakone Ginyu
  3. Gora Kadan
• 3 best ryokan with a private onsen in Kusatsu, Gunma
  1. Ryokan Tokinoniwa
  2. Kusatsu Naraya
  3. Hotel Onsen Boun
• 3 best ryokan with a private onsen in Fuji Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi
  1. Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Konansou
  2. Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsenkyo Wakakusa no yado Maruei
  3. Ubuya
• Conclusion

3 best ryokan with a private onsen in Tokyo

Did you know that finding a ryokan with a private onsen in Tokyo is actually quite difficult? Because Tokyo is such a large metropolitan area of Japan, it is hard to even find ryokan to begin with, much less those with options for a private onsen.

Although there is only a small pool to select from, we have researched the ryokan with private onsen in Tokyo and picked out three of the best to introduce to you today.

Map of our top 3 ryokan

1. cyashitsu ryokan asakusa (茶室ryokan Asakusa)

If you want to learn more about Japan’s architectural aesthetic or the tea ceremony, we recommend that you try staying at cyashitsu ryokan asakusa. This ryokan emphasizes the old Japanese style of architecture, which integrates shadows and uses minimal space; as a result, many rooms have a style that is very simple and subdued.

Despite its minimalistic nature, there are many things to do in and around the ryokan. Upon entering, you can soak your feet in warm water (which was a custom during the Edo period), or take a stroll through the moss garden near the entrance.

There are no private onsen attached to any of the rooms, but there is a private onsen you can rent out for 45 minutes at a time.

The private onsen (pictured above) is located on the top floor where you can enjoy a view of Tokyo Skytree. Because ryokan are few and far between in Tokyo to begin with, it is not every day that you will be able to see a metropolitan symbol from the bath. There are plants as decorations surrounding the private onsen, so you will be able to enjoy the city life with a touch of green.

2. YUEN BETTEI DAITA (由縁別邸 東京代田)

Located a quick walk from Shimokitazawa Station, Onsen Ryokan YUEN BETTEI DAITA is a ryokan that prides itself in its closeness to the city while at the same time being the perfect escape from the busy metropolitan life.

With two high-quality restaurants on the premises and many options for restaurants in the Shimokitazawa area, you can enjoy walking around and trying all different types of food. Finding things to drink or snack on at night will not be a problem either, as there are supermarkets and convenience stores located nearby.

Although the onsen is not available for rent, you can rent a room that includes an outdoor bath (pictured above). This circular wooden bath allows you to soak while enjoying the view of a Japanese garden. While in this bath, it will be hard to believe that you are spending time in the city. You will enjoy spending time here with loved ones in the beauty of nature.

In the public onsen of YUEN BETTEI DAITA, the hot spring water is taken straight from the famous onsen town of Hakone in Kanagawa prefecture. Compared to regular bath water, hot spring water is known to make your skin feel soft and rejuvenated. You should definitely consider giving it a try if you are planning on checking out the public onsen.

3. PROSTYLE RYOKAN Asakusa Tokyo (プロスタイル旅館東京浅草)

PROSTYLE RYOKAN Asakusa Tokyo is a ryokan that attempts to deliver the traditions of Japanese lifestyle and hospitality without having to leave the heart of the city. The rooms are all of Japanese taste, with tatami flooring, but low-to-the-ground beds so you will not be sleeping entirely on the floor.

There are many tourist spots located close to the hotel in the Asakusa area. You can visit temples and try all kinds of Japanese street foods, or even try on a yukata and walk around town.

There is no public onsen at PROSTYLE RYOKAN Asakusa Tokyo, but you will be able to rent a room with a shower and a private outdoor bath (pictured above). The terrace is decorated to look like a Japanese garden and you will be able to see Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River.

The private onsen is comfortable and a treat that is hard to find in the heart of the city. Although it is the perfect size for one person to stretch out and enjoy themselves, it may be difficult for multiple people to enjoy the bath at once. If you are traveling by yourself or planning on bathing alone, this ryokan is a good choice.

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3 best hotels with a private onsen in Tokyo

Although the word “ryokan” refers to a traditional Japanese inn, we have also selected a selection of Japanese design-influenced hotels with private onsen to recommend.

Map of our top 3 hotels

1. Stay SAKURA HOTEL ASAKUSA YOKOZUNA (Stay SAKURA Tokyo 浅草 横綱 Hotel)

Stay SAKURA HOTEL ASAKUSA YOKOZUNA was designed based on the concept of sumo wrestling. You will be able to spot the building immediately with its unique purple exterior and sumo-themed decorations.

The unique design of this hotel does not stop at the exterior. Inside, you can find designs and furniture that you would think of when you imagine “Japan.” With the aesthetic of the decorations, you may feel like you are in traditional Japan while not even having left modern Tokyo.

There is no public onsen available, but if you decide to rent out the deluxe suite, you can find a private outdoor bath connected to your room (pictured above). From the bath, you can see a view of Tokyo Skytree, which is located nearby.

The deluxe suite is quite large and pricy so it may not be worth reserving for some. However, this makes Stay SAKURA HOTEL ASAKUSA YOKOZUNA a good choice for those traveling as a large group, and the outdoor bath may be an element that is hard to pass up.

2. CENTURION HOTEL UENO (センチュリオンホテル上野)

Although one of the more budget options on our list, CENTURION HOTEL UENO feels like a luxury hotel while being very affordable. When you book a flight or train ticket, you have multiple options for hotel packages.

Note that the rooms that include the private onsen do not come with breakfast like you would find in other ryokan. However, because this hotel is located in a convenient area of Tokyo, you will be able to access the rest of the city with ease. Ueno has many places to shop and eat food, so you will have plenty of options to explore.

The rooms at CENTURION HOTEL UENO are Westernized, so you may feel a bit more at ease compared to other ryokans that feature tatami floors and futons for beds. The rooms with a private onsen (pictured above) are equipped with a regular bath as well. The private onsen is large and perfect for couples or families traveling together.

It is hard to find a private onsen with a in other lodges that are not traditional ryokan, so if you could do without the complete ryokan experience, we recommend that you try out this hotel for a high-quality stay for reasonable prices.

3. Tokyo Yugawara Onsen Manyo-no-Yu Machida (湯河原温泉 万葉の湯 町田館)

Located closer to Kanagawa Prefecture to the south of Tokyo, Tokyo Yugawara Onsen Manyo-no-Yu Machida is a hotel that boasts a large public bath, which is difficult to find in the city.

There are multiple options for room sizes and styles, so you can reserve a smaller and Western-style room or a more spacious suite with tatami flooring and Japanese-style decorations.

Manyo-no-Yu Machida offers not only rooms with private onsen but also three baths located outside of the guest rooms (pictured above) that are available to rent.

There are two types of rooms with private onsen, one suitable for two people and another for four. Note that children cannot use the room for two, so you will have to reserve the larger room or use the rentable private onsen.

The rentable onsen flows with fresh hot spring water and is a place where families can relax and enjoy a bath together. Note that it will cost you 2,750 JPY for each hour that you want to use the bath.

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

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9 best ryokan with private onsen near Tokyo

If you have between 1 and 3 hours to spare, you might want to explore some of the more popular onsen towns that dot the map outside of Tokyo. We recommend places such as Hakone, Kusatsu, and Kawaguchiko.

Next, we will be introducing three ryokan with private onsen in each of these areas.

If you have a specific location you are interested in, click to jump to the section.

• Hakone, Kanagawa
• Kusatsu, Gunma
• Fuji Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi

3 best ryokan with private onsen in Hakone, Kanagawa

1. Kinnotake Tonosawa (金乃竹　塔の澤)

With an onsen with multiple health benefits, traditional Japanese cuisine, and Japanese-style rooms, Kinnotake Tonosawa is the definition of a luxury ryokan.

A plus to this ryokan is that the public onsen is open from 3 pm to 9 am the following morning, so you can take a bath even late at night.

Kinnotake Tonosawa offers high-quality spa treatments in “The Moon Spa” where you can relax and rejuvenate your body with several different courses. You might enjoy a facial, aroma-involved massage, or a completely personalized experience skin and body treatment.

There is a private onsen (pictured above) in your room that uses the same hot spring water as the public bath, so you can expect a pleasant experience whether you decide to visit the public bath or use the bath in your own room.

Unlike many other private onsen, this one uses water directly from the hot spring. Keep in mind that the temperature is kept at 40 degrees Celcius, which may be a bit hot for some. It has beauty and health benefits such as stress relief.

*All buildings are closed
February 28 and 29, 2024 and March 1, 2024

*Some guest rooms will be closed (All rooms on the 4th floor club floor)
March 1 – June 30, 2024

*Closure of public baths
The public baths have been closed since August 29, 2023.

2. Ryokan Hakone Ginyu (箱根吟遊)

Hakone Ginyu is a ryokan located along the valley of the Hakone Mountain Range, at an elevation of 420 meters above sea level. All 20 types of rooms have private onsen attached, so you are guaranteed to enjoy the privacy of a private onsen no matter which room you choose to stay in.

From the private onsen, you can see the peaks of the mountains at a distance, making for beautiful scenery. With the chance to relax in the heart of nature at Hakone Ginyu, you will hardly be able to believe you are so close to Tokyo.

Hakone Ginyu offers many amenities to its guests, including free green tea and Japanese snacks. You can also rent a yukata for free, giving you a taste of Japanese culture without having to do much.

For dinner, you can enjoy traditional Japanese food (called “kaiseki”) cooked with ingredients fresh from Kanagawa Prefecture. If you are of the legal drinking age, you can also try all different types of Japanese sake.

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

3. Gora Kadan (強羅花壇)

Located a quick 4-minute walk from Gora station in Hakone, Gora Kadan is a large ryokan with a very strong reputation in Japan. It belongs to a group called Relais & Châteaux, which includes about 500 members of luxury hotels and restaurants, all held to a high standard.

Gora Kadan offers 22 types of rooms, from larger and more extravagant suites to smaller and more intimate Japanese-style rooms. You are guaranteed to find one that fits your needs.

Besides the standard Japanese-style rooms, nearly all of the suites in Gora Kadan come with a private onsen (pictured above), some inside and some outside. All the baths have a nice view of either a Japanese garden or the scenery of Hakone, so you can bathe in the comfort of nature. The public onsen uses three different types of hot spring water, all of which have different healing effects on the skin and body.

Gora Kadan is also available for those who are just planning on taking a day trip. There is a package that allows you to rent out a private onsen for your day trip and can accommodate up to three people. This package would be perfect for those who do not want to spend too much time away from Tokyo but still want a taste of the outdoors.

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3 best ryokan with private onsen in Kusatsu, Gunma

1. Ryokan Tokinoniwa (湯宿　季の庭)

Ryokan Tokinoniwa is a ryokan located a small distance from the center of the town. This lodge emphasizes a few aspects including the food, which changes monthly and uses fresh Japanese-grown ingredients.

The ryokan has six different facilities: a bar where you can try different kinds of Japanese sake, a resting area next to a Japanese garden, an area to choose a yukata and try it on, a shop to buy souvenirs, and an area to grab extra pillows and sheets for your room.

The premises of Ryokan Tokinoniwa is very large, and you can find three separate public onsen (the second picture shown above) to walk around to and enjoy. All rooms also include a private onsen (the first picture shown above) for those who would prefer to bathe in private.

Although the private onsen perhaps does not have as nice of a view compared to other ryokan, the bath is spacious and is large enough for two people to sit next to each other.

2. Kusatsu Naraya (草津温泉　奈良屋)

Next to the “Yubatake,” the staple of Kusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu Naraya is a ryokan that was established in 1877. The ideals of the onsen include creating a homely space that all visitors can feel comfortable returning to.

The interior of Kusatsu Naraya is filled with Japanese architecture and decoration, the flooring is all tatami. There are multiple types of rooms to choose from, all very spacious. This ryokan may be a good choice for those who are traveling as a group.

The source of the hot spring is one of the oldest in Kusatsu. It is adjusted according to the weather outside, so anyone entering the hot spring will have a pleasant experience. There are no private onsen attached to the suites, but you have many options to rent out a private onsen outside of the rooms (pictured above) for a separate price.

Some visitors wrote in reviews that they reserved the private onsen as a family, so you can expect that it will be spacious. Keep in mind you can only rent the onsen for 45 minutes at a time, so you will need to plan accordingly.

3. Hotel Onsen Boun (草津温泉　望雲)

Established in 1599, Hotel Onsen Boun aims to provide its visitors with VIP service from the moment they step through the door. A unique aspect of this ryokan is the emphasis on flowers in both exterior and interior design. There are many flower displays throughout the ryokan and outdoors. If you visit at different times of the year, you can truly experience the four seasons of Japan. In the winter, the plants are covered with snow, making for beautiful scenery.

If you are visiting Hotel Onsen Boun on a special occasion, there is an option to reserve a cake or flower arrangements. It is recommended that you reserve these in advance.

It should be noted that only the most expensive rooms at Hotel Onsen Buon have private onsen (pictured above). However, this private onsen uses hot spring water, which will give you the same experience as an onsen in the comfort of your room.

If the private onsen is not a must for you, there is also a large public onsen available at the lodge. The public onsen has three different baths, one of which features hot spring water from a different location, so it may be worth checking out even if you are renting a room with a private onsen. Some have slightly different operating times, so make sure to check the website before visiting.

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3 best ryokan with private onsen in Fuji Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi

1. Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Konansou (富士河口湖温泉　湖南荘)

Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen Hotel Konansou is a ryokan that has a clean atmosphere while emphasizing the traditional Japanese feel.

Many ryokans allow you to eat in your rooms, but Konansou also offers the option to eat outside in its restaurant. The restaurant’s seats act as private rooms, so you can eat your food without any distractions.

There are a grand total of 12 types of rooms that you can choose from, and 7 out of 12 include a private onsen (pictured above) in your room. Some of the baths are constructed differently, so it is recommended that you check out the website to get a better look. With so many options, it is easy to choose based on your budget and the number of people you are traveling with.

A selling point of Konansou is the spaciousness of the public bath and the large number of amenities. The women’s bath has a powder room, and items such as baby powder and baby oil are provided. From the “Ashiyu,” or an onsen specifically designed for you to dip your feet into, you can look out on an extraordinary view of Mt. Fuji.

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

2. Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsenkyo Wakakusa no yado Maruei (若草の宿　丸栄)

Wakakusa no yado Maruei is a ryokan that sits right on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi. The food, cleanliness, bath, and hospitality are of such high quality that some reviews have even said that this ryokan gets, “full points in all aspects.”

One aspect that you might not think of when choosing a ryokan or hotel is check-in and check-out times. Wakakusa no Yado Maruei has a check-in time of 2 pm in the afternoon and a check-out time of 11 am. This makes it easy to arrive early and take a little bit more time to get ready in the morning.

A good number of the rooms at Wakakusa no yado Maruei have private onsen. Depending on the price, you can choose a room with a private onsen inside or outside (the first picture shown above). Keep in mind that these baths do not have hot spring water, so you may not get the same effect. You will, however, be able to enjoy a nice view of Mt. Fuji.

If you are interested in the effects of a real onsen but still want privacy while you bathe (or want to enter the bath with only specific family and friends), a wooden bath is available for rent (the second picture shown above). You will need to pay a separate fee of 1,650 JPY for 30 minutes. A maximum of four people can enter the bath at once.

3. Ubuya (うぶや)

Ubuya places emphasis on special occasions. This ryokan encourages visitors to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and important events with the hospitality of their staff.

If you try adventuring out of your room, you will also find that there are other activities to do in the ryokan with your friends and family such as a souvenir shop or ping pong.

Many of the rooms at Ubuya feature a private onsen in your room (pictured above), so you will have many options to choose from. These outdoor baths are more western-style compared to other ryokan and bear resemblance to small pools on the balcony.

As for the public onsen, Ubuya boasts gorgeous views of Mt. Fuji that can be seen from the bath, the rooms, and the lounge area. The onsen also features what is called a “Neyu,” where you can lie down in the bath and prop your head up, allowing for a relaxing experience.

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Conclusion

What did you think?

We recommend you look into each ryokan and decide what you want to prioritize for your trip. Lodges that are closer to Tokyo will give you a chance to explore all that the city has to offer; you will certainly not be bored close to Tokyo.

On the other hand, ryokan that are slightly further off can give you a chance to immerse yourself in nature and truly feel Japan’s traditions firsthand.

Whichever route you decide, we hope that this article has given you some new ideas for ryokan to help you enjoy your trip to Japan to the fullest.

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