Goko-yu

This is the best bathing/relaxation experience I have EVER had! Staff were so nice and polite, and the woman at the counter explained everything to me. Tattoos are allowed here, so if you want to try a traditional Onsen, this is the place to be. Baths were nice and hot, and there were two saunas, in which one was very hot, and one was a bit more cool. So, you can choose what is more suitable for you. What I also found crazy is that you can watch TV in the sauna (maybe that is normal in Asia, but to me that is crazy). This place also has a restaurant inside, and I really enjoyed the food. Last but not least, entrance is very affordable, only 500 yen. Overall, this place is amazing and I would recommend anyone to go here, whether you are a tourist, local, or have tattoos!

This was the first public bath I've been to so I was a bit unsure what to expect. I found this one online while looking for a tattoo friendly option. When you enter the building there's a vending machine to buy tickets from. As well as the main bathing ticket, you can rent towels (either big or small) and also buy soap and shampoo etc. You have to take your shoes off when you go in and there's lockers in the entranceway to put them in. Take the ticket to the counter and collect any extra bits and then you go through into the changing room. There's lockers to put your belongings. Then from there you have to be naked. When you go into the bathing area there are showers lining the walls of the room, they're low down so there are stools to sit on. Wash yourself thoroughly with soap etc and then you can enter the baths. There's a few different types with different scents and temperatures and there's also an electric bath. There is also an upstairs with a sauna and a cold bath. After you've bathed you can wash again or just rinse off and then go get changed. There's also a cafe just behind the main reception counter. I had a great experience here and ended up coming 3 times during my trip, would definitely recommend!

Besides our private onsen at a ryoken, this was our top sento experience. Two stories of baths, including onsen water (hard to find in kyoto), scented green baths, saunas, and a lava rock bath on the 2nd floor. Tattoos welcome was great! And everyone was so nice and helpful. Ice cream on site after a hot dip was perfect.

The two young girls at the counter appeared somewhat reluctant to help me since I didn’t know you put your coins in first, THEN select what you want, and then it will give you your change (i think she had to turn the lever at the top too). After, the girl just gestured with her hand to go in. Luckily i had done this a couple times before. So heres my interpretation of what to do. It looks like you have small lockers on one side for umbrellas and on the opposite side is for the shoes. You go behind the curtain (left side), grab a basket, get naked but take with you your soap/shampoo/conditioner AND hair tie. Put your basket of clothes + bag in a locker and take the key along with your supplies. First you take a very thorough shower and scrub everything! Get real clean because they are watching you and quietly judging! Now PUT YOUR HAIR UP, and enjoy. The milky one is a mineral bath, while the dark one is a medicinal/herbal bath. In the middle you have one hot bubbling one, the two on either side are medium hot, and across is the electric bath. It appears even the locals don’t know how to use it. From what Ive figured out, you have to see where the plates on either side are. Slide in right in the middle, this is the safe zone! Now, I keep my arms out of the water cuz the current is too strong and buzzes my arms. so place your bottom half in and gently work your legs towards the plates, making sure that your sore muscles face the plates so the current can contract those muscles. Even one inch from the middle and it will contract (cramp/flex) your muscle. Have fun playing with it, carefully moving towards it just the slightest. I discovered i have nerve damage jn my left hip from a fall as a teen because i couldn’t feel any muscle contraction or even nerve aggravation. Upstairs is the sauna, cold bath, and another more relaxing bathing area with chairs if you need a break. Theres also a special rock room but it says you need a reservation and robe for that. Wish I knew more about that one.

A great local public bathhouse, accepting of Westerners. Admission fee (510 yen), you can rent towels (140 yen) and hand towels and soap (recommend) and shampoo (40 yen). There is a locker area when you walk in at the entrance, just for your shoes, then an actual 2nd locker area for your clothes, items etc when you get into the changing areas. A rest area with kitchen for drinks and other refreshments when you come out. We loved it.

Not too busy when we went 8pm on a Thurs. Lots of lockers, plenty of variety of baths, upstairs saunas and pools are fantastic. Great value, nice chair area to relax afterwards. Friendly staff.

If you’re looking for an authentic city Onsen, Goko-Yu is unbelievable. We visited 6 onsen across Japan. This was our favourite. Approx 700 yen per person, tattoo friendly, tons of different baths

The electric bath is worth visiting, I felt energized for the rest of the week! The receptionist is English-friendly but is a bit cold so it’s best to start with the sauna afterwards.

Great public bath. They are foreigner and tattoo friendly. Pay at the entrance at a kiosk, take off your shoes before entering, and hand your tickets to the nice person at the counter who was also able to guide me in English. Great way to relax after walking around. Read all the rules and make sure you shower and clean yourself before using the facilities