Kyoto Takenosato Onsen Manyo-no-Yu offers a welcome change of pace from temple steps and city streets: a long, warm soak in two types of natural hot spring water, followed by time to eat, rest or change into a yukata. The facility is open around the clock, so you can plan a quick bath or make a slower stop of it.
I like the choice of indoor and outdoor baths, plus a sauna, and the fact that the admission package includes a locker, towel and in-house garment. The shuttle connections from JR Katsuragawa and Hankyu Rakusaiguchi stations also make the trip easier than its outlying Rakusai location might suggest.
The trade-off is distance: this is not a quick walk from central Kyoto Station, despite the convenient shuttle links. You should also know that bathing is gender-separated and nude, and people with tattoos are not allowed to enter.
Key points
- Two spring types: Try sodium bicarbonate and simple spring water, both promoted as beauty baths.
- Outdoor bathing: The open-air baths, sauna and a 110-centimeter-deep warm bath add variety to the soak.
- Yukata included: Choose an in-house garment and wear it in the shared areas; you can change styles as often as you like.
- Open all day and night: The 24-hour schedule suits early starts, late arrivals and long rests between baths.
- Free station shuttles: Connect from JR Katsuragawa and Hankyu Rakusaiguchi stations.
- Check the bathing rules: The baths are gender-separated and nude, and tattoos are not permitted.
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- Key points
- A hot spring break in Kyoto’s Rakusai district
- Getting there from Kyoto
- What happens when you arrive
- Two spring waters and several ways to soak
- Yukata, meals and a slower afternoon
- Timing your visit and choosing a ticket
- Who should go, and who should skip it
- Is the Manyo-no-Yu ticket worth booking?
- FAQ
- Where is Kyoto Takenosato Onsen Manyo-no-Yu?
- How can I get to the onsen?
- How much does admission cost?
- What is included with admission?
- Are the baths open 24 hours?
- Are the baths mixed-gender?
- Can people with tattoos enter?
- Can children visit?
- Are meals and massage included?
- Is there an extra tax or late-night charge?
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A hot spring break in Kyoto’s Rakusai district
Manyo-no-Yu is a bathing facility in Rakusai, on Kyoto’s western side near the Arashiyama and Sagano areas. Its main appeal is simple: you can enjoy two kinds of hot spring water without making an overnight stay at a traditional inn.
The sodium bicarbonate spring and simple spring are both described as smooth, skin-friendly waters. That beauty-bath reputation is part of the draw, but the practical pleasure is more basic. You can warm up, move between different baths and give your legs a rest after a day of walking.
This is not a guided tour with a set route or a guide explaining each stop. You arrive, check in and use the facility at your own pace. That freedom works well if you want a low-key break, though first-time onsen users may need to prepare themselves for the bathing customs.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Kyoto
Getting there from Kyoto
The facility’s address is 2-4 Oharano Higashisakaidani-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto. Free shuttle buses connect it with JR Katsuragawa Station and Hankyu Rakusaiguchi Station, which are the most useful details to check when planning your route.
The onsen is outside the central Kyoto sightseeing zone, so allow for the extra trip rather than treating it as a stop between nearby attractions. One person reported taking a taxi from a train station for about ¥1,200, but that fare is only a single example, not a set price. The shuttle is the sensible first option if its schedule fits your plans.
The setting makes this a better choice when you want to spend time at the bathhouse itself, or when you are already exploring western Kyoto. If your day is packed with central Kyoto sights, the travel time may outweigh the appeal of a soak.
What happens when you arrive
Admission includes entry, a locker, bath fee, an in-house garment and a towel. The QR voucher can be scanned at entry, which makes arrival straightforward, and one person specifically found it easy to enter this way.
Once inside, you can change and head to the bathing area. The baths are divided by gender, and bathing is nude, not in a swimsuit. If this is your first Japanese onsen, it is worth knowing that before you arrive so the changing-room routine does not come as a surprise.
The supplied towel is useful, but it may not be the large bath towel you prefer. A visitor wished for a bigger towel and flip-flops, so pack with your own comfort in mind and do not assume those extras are included. The listed package includes a towel, but does not list flip-flops.
Two spring waters and several ways to soak
The main reason to come is the bathing. You can choose between sodium bicarbonate spring water and simple spring water, then move among indoor and outdoor baths. The mix gives the visit more variety than a single pool, while keeping the focus on a relaxed, self-paced soak.
The open-air bath is a particular draw. It gives you a change of setting from the indoor pools, and the facility also has a sauna and a warm bath reported to be 110 centimeters deep. That deep bath is worth noting if you are not comfortable in water where you cannot stand securely; use your judgment and choose a shallower option if needed.
The hot spring water is often described as smooth, with a silky feel on the skin. Treat claims about skin benefits as part of the onsen’s appeal, not a guaranteed result. The lasting value is the chance to rest in hot water, especially after a day of sightseeing.
Cleanliness is worth keeping in perspective. The facility is often described as clean and comfortable, though one person spotted used bandages near a pool. That isolated complaint is a reminder to keep expectations sensible in a shared bathing space, rather than a reason to expect spotless perfection at every moment.
Yukata, meals and a slower afternoon
After bathing, you can change into one of the available yukata styles. There is a selection for men and women, and you can change garments as often as you like. Wearing one in the shared areas helps make the visit feel more like a stay at an inn than a quick public-pool stop.
If you have never tied a yukata belt, you may appreciate a little help. One first-time onsen user wished for a tutorial on tying it, particularly for moving around the mixed-gender common areas. No formal instruction is promised, so ask staff if you need assistance rather than assuming you will be shown.
The restaurant serves meals and drinks, with a varied menu and prices described as reasonable. That matters if you plan to stay for several hours: you can eat on-site instead of ending the visit early to find dinner. Food, drinks, massage and other relaxation services are additional purchases, not part of the basic admission.
There is also a space for napping, and the facility offers bedrock bathing and massage services. These extras make a longer visit possible, but they can add to the cost. If your aim is simply to bathe, the standard ticket covers the core experience; if you want a full day of resting and treatments, budget for add-ons.
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Timing your visit and choosing a ticket
Manyo-no-Yu is listed as open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. That is useful for odd travel schedules and late-night bathing, but it does not mean every ticket includes every overnight charge. The basic admission starts at US$17.25, while an admission ticket with a late-night surcharge starts at US$29.89.
A ¥100 hot spring tax is not included, and a late-night surcharge applies after 3:00 AM. Check the package you select and your expected arrival time before booking, since the base price alone may not reflect the full amount you pay.
At the starting price, the ticket is reasonable if you plan to use the baths, towel, locker and garment. It becomes better value the longer you stay, especially if you take time for the outdoor baths, sauna, meal or a rest. On the other hand, if you only want a short soak and have to make a special trip from central Kyoto, transport and time are part of the real cost.
The 24-hour opening also makes it an option for backpackers who need a place to bathe and rest at unusual hours. Keep in mind that extra services and the late-night surcharge are separate, and a bedrock bath, massage or meal can shift the total well above the entry price.
Who should go, and who should skip it
I would point first-time onsen visitors toward Manyo-no-Yu if they want a comfortable facility with several bath options and a place to eat afterward. The staff have been described as welcoming, and the range of facilities makes it easier to settle in even if you do not speak Japanese.
It also suits people who enjoy local bathing facilities more than polished sightseeing attractions. The place is described as quiet and mostly used by local people, which can make it feel like a genuine break from Kyoto’s busiest sightseeing spots. English-language entertainment is not guaranteed; the relaxation area’s books, for example, may be mostly Japanese.
Families can bring children, but anyone aged 0 to 17 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children aged 0 to 2 enter free. The nude, gender-separated bathing setup may not suit every family member, so discuss that in advance.
Skip it if you have a tattoo, since people with tattoos are not allowed to enter. It is also a poor fit if you are uncomfortable bathing nude, want a guided cultural lesson, or need a location close to central Kyoto. Those are not small details, and they can determine whether the outing feels relaxing or inconvenient.
Is the Manyo-no-Yu ticket worth booking?
Book it if you want several hours of hot spring bathing, the option to relax in a yukata, and a restaurant and rest area under one roof. The outdoor baths, sauna, choice of spring waters and round-the-clock opening give the facility more staying power than a simple stop-in bath.
Think twice if you are short on time, staying far from the shuttle route, or uncomfortable with nude bathing. Check the tattoo rule, the late-night charge and the ¥100 tax before you set out. For a traveler who wants a relaxed, local-style bathing break and does not mind the trip to Rakusai, the basic ticket is a practical way to enjoy an onsen without booking an overnight stay.
Kyoto Bamboo Village Onsen Manyo-no-Yu Admission Ticket
“The outdoor hot spring baths were wonderful, the sauna was great, the 110 cm deep warm bath was also nice, and I really liked that it uses natural…”
FAQ
Where is Kyoto Takenosato Onsen Manyo-no-Yu?
It is in Rakusai, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto. The address is 2-4 Oharano Higashisakaidani-cho, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 610-1143.
How can I get to the onsen?
A free shuttle bus runs from JR Katsuragawa Station and Hankyu Rakusaiguchi Station.
How much does admission cost?
The admission ticket starts at US$17.25. A ticket with a late-night surcharge starts at US$29.89.
What is included with admission?
The ticket includes admission, a locker, bath fee, an in-house garment and a towel.
Are the baths open 24 hours?
The facility is listed as open from 00:00 to 23:59, Monday through Sunday.
Are the baths mixed-gender?
No. The bathing facility is gender-separated, and bathing is nude.
Can people with tattoos enter?
No. People with tattoos are not allowed to enter.
Can children visit?
Children aged 0 to 2 enter free. Children aged 0 to 17 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Are meals and massage included?
No. Meals, drinks, massage and other relaxation services are available for additional charges.
Is there an extra tax or late-night charge?
A ¥100 hot spring tax is not included. A late-night surcharge applies after 3:00 AM.
