Funaoka Onsen
Funaoka Onsen is the place we recommend most when guests ask how to spend a quiet evening in Nishijin. About three minutes on foot from the hostel and every cottage, it is a long-loved neighbourhood sento — a public bathhouse — in buildings registered as Tangible Cultural Properties, and it welcomes guests with tattoos.
- Hours
- Mon, Wed–Sat 15:00–23:30
Sun 8:00–23:30 (morning bath) - Closed
- Tuesdays
- Entry
- ¥550 for adults, sauna included
- Towels
- Bring your own — guests staying with us can take the towels from their room. Small towels are also sold at the entrance.
- Tattoos
- Welcome
- From our rooms
- About 3 minutes on foot from the hostel and every cottage
- Address
- 82-1 Murasakino Minamifunaoka-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
京都府京都市北区紫野南舟岡町82-1
Hours and prices as of October 2026. They can change, so please check before you go.
What’s inside
Funaoka Onsen is a sento, not a resort: a neighbourhood bath where locals come after work, with more kinds of bath than most. The men’s and women’s sides swap every day, so a second visit can feel like a different bathhouse.
- Main baths — a shallow and a deep tub, the everyday heart of the place.
- Electric bath — said to be the first electric bath in Japan. A gentle tingle; ease in slowly.
- Outdoor rock bath — set with Kibune stone, with a small koi pond on one side.
- Hinoki bath — a cypress-wood tub with a soft, woody scent.
- Herbal bath — water steeped with traditional medicinal herbs.
- Jet and bubble baths — for tired legs after a day of walking.
- Cold bath — running groundwater; the depth and temperature change from day to day.
- Sauna — a roomy far-infrared gas sauna for about 20 people, with a TV.
Take a moment in the changing room on your way out: majolica tiles and carved wooden panels, including a Kurama Tengu, make it feel like a small museum of old Kyoto.
First time at a Japanese public bath
- Leave your shoes in a shoe locker at the entrance.
- Pay at the front desk — ¥550, sauna included.
- Undress in the changing room and leave your things in a locker.
- Wash thoroughly at a shower station before you get into any bath.
- Keep your towel out of the water — on your head or at the side of the tub.
- Dry off a little before you go back into the changing room.
That’s all there is to it. Please follow the posted rules and the staff’s instructions — and take your time.
The walk from the Hostel or Cottage
Funaoka Onsen is about three minutes on foot from the hostel and from every cottage, through quiet residential streets. Our largest cottage, Fune, is just steps away. The walk is part of the pleasure: after dark the neighbourhood slows down, with fewer people out and the sound of daily life behind closed doors.
Bring the towel from your room, go for a slow soak, and walk home warm. Afterwards, the hill behind the bath is worth a morning visit: Funaokayama and Kenkun Shrine.
Questions about Funaoka Onsen
Is Funaoka Onsen tattoo-friendly?
Yes. Guests with tattoos are welcome at Funaoka Onsen. Please follow the posted rules and the staff’s instructions.
What are Funaoka Onsen’s opening hours?
Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 15:00–23:30, and Sunday 8:00–23:30 with a morning bath. Closed on Tuesdays. Hours can change, so check before you go.
How much does it cost, and is the sauna extra?
Entry is ¥550 for adults, and the sauna is included.
Do I need to bring a towel?
Yes, bring your own. If you’re staying with us, you can take the towels from your room. Small towels are also sold at the entrance.
How far is it from Expo Hostel & Cottage?
About 3 minutes on foot from the hostel and from every cottage.