When a friend of mine returned from his first trip to Japan, he couldn’t help but rave about the country. From the extraordinary food to the rich history to the hospitable locals, there really weren’t any critiques. That was at least until he had arrived at Kinosaki, an onsen (hot spring) town about two and a half hours west of Kyoto. “I just could have used a heads up, you know?”
His shock was in reference to Japan’s onsen culture, where proper etiquette calls for guests to fully disrobe with nothing but a small towel for some semblance of privacy when using what is oftentimes a communal, gender-separated facility. Bathing stark naked with strangers certainly isn’t meant for the demure and can be quite jarring for the uninitiated. But having forewarned his fiancée about the custom when she asked me for recommendations on where to go, I thought the message was going to be passed along. At last, we had a good chuckle over the mishap and he would eventually come to love the tradition of relaxing in the healing, mineral-rich waters, especially once he learned about the private options at his hotel.
While hotels with private onsens are by no means new, many properties in recent years have chosen to add the option, catering not just to modest foreigners or tattooed individuals (ink is associated with the yakuza and often prohibited), but also a growing demand by locals who prefer an exclusive experience or couples on a romantic holiday. Whichever category you may fall into, we’ve rounded up some of the best hotels in Japan with private onsen baths for your next visit.
Courtesy of Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa