Onsen in Kyoto
14 hot springs, 2 of which will take you with a tattoo, and 7 where you can bathe without staying the night.
Onsen towns in Kyoto
Narrow it down
Tattoos are fine here
Ryokan you can visit just for the bath
No overnight stay required.
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Kurama Onsen
くらま温泉
Visited · No.5Tattoos OK (day visit)Tattoos OK (overnight)Day visits without staying
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SPA & HOTEL Suisyun Matsui-Yamate
水春 松井山手
Visited · No.10Tattoos not allowed (day visit)Tattoos not allowed (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Keizankaku
おもてなしの宿 渓山閣
Tattoos not allowed (day visit)Tattoos not allowed (overnight)Day visits without staying
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Sumiya Kihoan
京都 湯の花温泉 すみや亀峰菴
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Syoenso Hozugawatei
湯の花温泉 松園荘 保津川亭
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Kyoto Keburikawa
里山の休日 京都・烟河
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Kumihama Onsen Yumotokan
久美浜温泉 湯元館
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Day visits without staying
Ranked by what you are after
We score every onsen the same way — the view from the water, the water itself, comfort, how far it sits from a town, and how easy it is to reach — then weight those differently depending on what you want.
Best for the view
What you can see from the water.
Best water
For people who care what is actually in the bath.
Easiest to reach
Get there and back without renting a car.
Every onsen we have checked in Kyoto
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Kurama Onsen
くらま温泉
Visited · No.5Tattoos OK (day visit)Tattoos OK (overnight)Day visits without staying
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SPA & HOTEL Suisyun Matsui-Yamate
水春 松井山手
Visited · No.10Tattoos not allowed (day visit)Tattoos not allowed (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
Photo
Keizankaku
おもてなしの宿 渓山閣
Tattoos not allowed (day visit)Tattoos not allowed (overnight)Day visits without staying
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Sumiya Kihoan
京都 湯の花温泉 すみや亀峰菴
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Syoenso Hozugawatei
湯の花温泉 松園荘 保津川亭
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Kyoto Yunohana Resort Suisen
京YUNOHANA RESORT 翠泉
Policy not published (overnight)Private bath
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Kyoto Keburikawa
里山の休日 京都・烟河
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Private bathDay visits without staying
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Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Fufu no Yu
京都嵐山温泉 湯浴み処 風風の湯
Tattoos not allowed (day visit)
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Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
京都 嵐山温泉 花伝抄
OK in a private bath (overnight)Private bath
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Arashiyama Benkei
嵐山温泉 嵐山辨慶
Temporarily closedPrivate bath
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Sagano Onsen Tenzan no Yu
さがの温泉 天山の湯
Tattoos not allowed (day visit)
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Mibu Onsen Hanano-yu
壬生温泉 はなの湯
Tattoos not allowed (day visit)
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Kumihama Onsen Yumotokan
久美浜温泉 湯元館
Policy not published (day visit)Policy not published (overnight)Day visits without staying
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Shotenkyo
久美の浜温泉郷 小天橋
Policy not published (overnight)Private bath