Experience Tranquility at Tenzan Onsen: Hakone's Premier Tattoo-Friendly Hot Spring Retreat
Hakone, known as one of Japan's representative hot spring towns, is a popular destination among foreign tourists due to its abundant natural beauty and tourist attractions. Located close to Mt. Fuji, Hakone is renowned as one of Japan's most representative scenic areas where visitors can enjoy views of Hakone's nature combined with Mt. Fuji.
Hakone features a wide range of hot spring facilities and hotels across its territory, with hot spring quality that ranks among Japan's finest. Since hot springs offer various therapeutic benefits, many people gather in Hakone to heal both body and mind.
This time, we'll introduce the characteristics and attractions of the renowned spot "Tenzan Tojikyo," known as Hakone's specialized therapeutic hot spring village.
Table of Contents
-Tenzan Tojikyo: A Hot Spring Facility in Hakone's Okuyumoto
-A Hot Spring Enthusiast's Guide to Tenzan Tojikyo's Attractions by Facility
-3 Popular Hot Springs in Hakone That Tourists Can Enjoy Without Staying Overnight
Tenzan Tojikyo: A Hot Spring Facility in Hakone's Okuyumoto
Tenzan Tojikyo is a day-trip hot spring facility located in Hakone's Okuyumoto area. Surrounded by lush natural greenery, the hot springs use 100% natural spring water. There are two types of spring water quality available: Alkaline and Sodium hot springs that visitors can fully enjoy.
Located in a quiet mountain valley, Tenzan Tojikyo consists of four buildings in total, featuring three hot spring facilities and a ryokan exclusively for Toji (therapeutic bathing), making long-term stays possible. Since this facility is designed for individuals to spend time quietly, group visits are declined.
As this facility's purpose is to get away from daily hustle and bustle and relax both body and mind, it's recommended to visit alone and spend time leisurely if possible.
What is Toji?
Toji is Japan's unique therapeutic method where people stay at hot spring facilities and recover their physical and mental health while soaking in hot springs. While there are various approaches to Toji, the general practice involves selecting a hot spring facility with therapeutic benefits suitable for oneself and staying for about a week.
Most facilities that offer Toji are located in natural settings, where visitors can recover their physical and mental health by relaxing in quiet environments with fresh air. When using hot springs, to maximize their therapeutic benefits, treatment sometimes involves not only soaking in the hot springs but also directly drinking the spring water.
While Toji traditionally involves long-term stays, in recent years, short-term stays of 2-3 nights and day-trip usage have become common.
A Hot Spring Enthusiast's Guide to Tenzan Tojikyo's Attractions by Facility
Tenzan
Tenzan Onsen is the perfect facility for those who want to enjoy dining and napping while soaking in hot springs. As a hot spring facility where you can relax as your mood takes you, you can visit casually without advance reservations.
Tenzan features authentic hot springs with saunas, along with rest rooms and restaurant facilities. Here, we'll provide detailed explanations of Tenzan's facilities.
Authentic Hot Springs Consisting of Four Outdoor Baths and Indoor Baths
Source:Hakone Navi
The baths at Tenzan consist of authentic hot springs with four outdoor baths and indoor baths. There are two types of spring water quality: Chloride Spring, which is effective for stiff shoulders and sensitivity to cold, and Alkaline spring, which has skin-beautifying effects.
The indoor bath tubs are made of Hinoki wood coated with lacquer, allowing you to relax while feeling nature's warmth. The water is continuously flowing from the source and quite hot. I became addicted to the refreshing sensation felt when cooling down after getting out of the bath, which led me to frequently visit Tenzan Onsen.
The ability to feel Hakone's abundant nature is also an attractive point, so take your time and soak leisurely in the hot springs.
"Kamaburo" in the Men's Bath and "Kodakarado" in the Women's Bath
Tenzan has "Kamaburo" in the men's bath and "Kodakarado" in the women's bath respectively.
Kamaburo is a sauna using hot spring steam, with jars containing salt at the entrance. If you apply salt to your body before entering the sauna, it will cause profuse sweating and improve blood circulation, so give it a try.
Kodakarado in the women's bath is a hot spring using sodium. Deep in the hot spring is a large cave, and inside the cave becomes a misty sauna state filled with steam. This quiet and warm space is ideal for calming the mind, so spending time in meditation is recommended.
Rest Area "Zashikibotko" for Relaxing After Bathing
Source:Google Maps
Tenzan has a rest area called "Zashikibotko" where you can lie down and relax leisurely after bathing. Located by the riverside, this rest area is a room where you can relax listening to the sounds of the river, bird songs, the fragrance of trees, and the sound of swaying wood.
The room features not only spaces where you can lie down on tatami mats, but also areas where you can lie on mats with pillows and relax while feeling nature's breath. In the back, there's also a quiet reading room where you can concentrate on reading and spend time leisurely.
I always stop by here after bathing to heal my tired mind. When you visit Tenzan Onsen, please make sure to use this facility.
Restaurant "Yamaboshi" Serving Nourishing Cuisine
Source:Google Maps
To enjoy delicious cuisine while fully experiencing Toji, visit the restaurant "Yamaboshi," which serves nourishing cuisine. Nourishing cuisine means nutritious and deeply flavorful dishes.
The recommended dish is the highly nutritious eel dishes, which are effective for fatigue recovery, beauty, and health maintenance. There are also soft-shelled turtle dishes and healthy set meals centered around brown rice, making you feel healthier just by eating them.
Meals after getting out of the bath have exceptional deliciousness, so when using Tenzan Onsen, please make sure to visit this restaurant.
Experience the Fragrant Traditional Japanese Hot Spring "Cypress Bath" at "Ikkyu"
Source:Google Maps
Located along the river, Ikkyu allows you to fully enjoy the fragrant traditional Japanese hot spring experience in their Cypress Bath. The facility focuses solely on hot springs without restaurants or cafes, making it perfect for those who want to leisurely soak and fully enjoy Hakone's hot spring experience.
A Cypress Bath is a bathtub made using cypress wood materials. It's widely used in Japanese hot spring facilities and hotel large public baths, and because you can enjoy the hot springs while experiencing the fragrance of cypress, it has a more relaxing effect than other types of baths.
Below the hot spring, a quiet river flows, so you can heal your heart by listening to the babbling of the stream. It's also attractive that you can enjoy various seasonal scenery, such as Cherry Blossoms blooming in spring and mountains glowing with Autumn Leaves in fall.
Hagoromo
Hagoromo is a ryokan (traditional inn) standing by the riverside, designed for Toji (hot spring therapy). This facility is dedicated to Toji treatment, with a minimum stay requirement of 3 nights and 4 days. The rooms at Hagoromo, which was renovated from a building that used to be a corporate Sanatorium, offer a comfortable space where you can stay while listening to the babbling of the river.
The hot spring uses natural flowing spring water and is available 24 hours a day.
Simple and Tranquil Space That Blends with Nature
Source:Google Maps
Hagoromo's characteristic feature is that you can relax in a simple and tranquil space that seems to blend with nature. The rooms are simple without excessive decoration, and since they all face south, they have excellent sunlight.
Since the hot spring uses natural flowing spring water, you can slowly soak in the hot water to relieve daily stress. Next to the front desk, there's a Reading Room where you can read, so you can leisurely enjoy reading while listening to the babbling of the river.
The dinner and breakfast provided at Hagoromo are vegetable-centered Japanese cuisine, well-regarded for being health-friendly. I myself succeeded in improving my constitution by staying here, so if you want to take hot spring baths and live a healthy lifestyle, this is definitely a place you should visit.
Unlimited Use of Exclusive Hot Spring for Hagoromo Guests Plus Access to "Tenzan" and "Ikkyu"
Source:Google Maps
While Hagoromo has an exclusive hot spring for guests, during your stay you can also freely use the hot springs at Tenzan and Ikkyu. Since each facility has a different hot spring atmosphere, it's recommended to visit other hot springs freely at any time.
Since Hagoromo doesn't have dining establishments, when you get hungry during your stay, you can use the restaurant at Tenzan. Tenzan also has a body care room, so if you want to relieve muscle tension and stiffness, try using it.
By staying at Hagoromo, you can use all the facilities at Tenzan, making it optimal for fully enjoying Toji.
Using the 7 Private Rooms (Hanare-gumo) Allows You to Enjoy the Hot Springs More Leisurely
Behind the main building of Tenzan Onsen, there is a building called Hanare-gumo with 7 private rooms, which is popular among visitors as a facility where you can enjoy the hot springs more leisurely. The bath has a simple design integrated with the changing room and no washing area, allowing you to relax while slowly viewing the bamboo grove right in front of the hot spring.
After getting out of the bath, let's enjoy nourishing food. You can taste various dishes including shabu-shabu cuisine made with hot spring water.
Additionally, you can enter Ikkyu by paying an additional fee. Let's slowly heal your heart while viewing the great nature of Hakone.
Access to Tenzan Onsen (Tenzan Toji-kyo)
Address: 208 Yumoto Chaya, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access: Take the Hakone Kyukaidō Line bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway, get off at Oku-Yumoto Entrance bus stop, and walk for 4 minutes
Official website: https://tenzan.jp/
3 Popular Hot Springs in Hakone That Tourists Can Enjoy Without Staying Overnight
From here, we will introduce 3 hot springs popular with tourists that you can enjoy in Hakone without staying overnight. All of these are wonderful hot springs where you can spend time comfortably, so please use them as a reference for your Hakone sightseeing.
Hakone Yumoto Onsen Tenseien
Source:Hakone Navi
Tenseien, located in the Yumoto District, is a day-trip hot spring facility surrounded by nature. The highlight is the 17-meter-long sky open-air bath, where you can enjoy Hakone's four seasons while soaking in the hot spring, with fresh greenery in summer and autumn foliage in fall.
After relaxing in the hot spring, try visiting Tamadare Falls, known as a power spot, and Tamasudare Shrine, effective for matchmaking. Since it's a facility where you can relax leisurely, it's recommended if you want to enjoy Hakone on a day trip.
<Information>
Address: 682 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-19:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone number: 0460-83-8511
Official website: https://www.tenseien.co.jp/
Hakone Yuryo
Source: Official website
Hakone Yuryo is a day-trip hot spring facility surrounded by rich nature. There are spacious indoor baths and open-air baths where you can relax while feeling the beauty of the forest, allowing you to spend time leisurely while stretching your arms and legs.
In the sauna, you can also experience Loyly Sauna, so you can sweat a lot while feeling the aroma scent. There are also private open-air baths and a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious fish dishes, making it a recommended facility for those seeking peace of mind and body.
Free buses operate from the nearest station, making access convenient.
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Address: 4 Tonosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: Weekdays 10:00-20:00 / Saturdays and holidays 10:00-21:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone number: 0460-85-8541
Official website: https://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/
Hakone-Kowakien Yunessun
Source: Official website
Hakone-Kowakien Yunessun is a representative amusement park of Hakone with heated pools where you can play in swimwear, hot springs, camping facilities, and more.
There are areas where you enter in swimwear and areas where you enter naked. The swimwear area is mixed bathing where you can enjoy various activities.
On the other hand, the naked hot spring is a place where you can relax while feeling the air of great nature, recommended for those who want to slowly relax in Hakone's hot springs. Although it's a facility to enjoy with groups, I also often stay and enjoy it alone, so there's no problem visiting alone.
I always enjoy various activities in the swimwear area first, then relax alone slowly in the naked hot spring.
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Address: 1297 Ninohira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: Swimwear area - Weekdays 10:00-18:00, Weekends and holidays 9:00-19:00 / Hot spring area 11:00-20:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone number: 0460-82-4126
Official website: https://www.yunessun.com/
