ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SHINJUKU
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station · 7 min walk (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- Hours
- Communal bath: 15:00–02:00, 06:00–10:00; front desk 24 hours (check-in 15:00, check-out 11:00)
- Admission
- Guests only (included in room rate; day-use bath-only admission not offered)
- Time needed
- 45–90 min (bathing and lounge)
- Best time to go
- Sunset through nightfall for unhindered views of illuminated West Shinjuku skyscrapers from the 18th-floor outdoor tub, or 06:00–07:30 to avoid elevator and changing-room queues
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SHINJUKU is a stylish, minimalist hotel that brings the traditional Japanese inn experience into the heart of Tokyo. Its standout feature is the rooftop open-air bath (onsen) filled with mineral-rich hot spring water transported directly from Hakone, offering a serene escape from the neon-lit city. Expect compact, beautifully designed tatami-style rooms, a tranquil atmosphere, and authentic seasonal dining.
What Japanese guides note
Although termed a ryokan, the facility is an 18-story tower hotel fronted by a sukiya-style gateway in a residential section of Shinjuku 5-chome. Changing rooms on the 18th floor do not supply towels, so visitors must carry the linen baskets provided in their guest quarters before boarding the elevator. Peak congestion in the communal baths occurs nightly between 21:00 and 23:00, making early morning or late afternoon the quietest bathing windows.
Details from local sources
- Only the 18th-floor outdoor bath uses alkaline simple spring water trucked in from Hakone Ashinoko Onsen Tsutsuji-no-Yu at Odakyu Hotel de Yama, while the indoor bath uses heated tap water. [source]
- Communal bath facilities are restricted to overnight hotel guests and do not accommodate drop-in day-use bathers. [source]
- Free ice candy popsicles are set out in the 18th-floor bath lounge exclusively during evening bathing operating hours. [source]
- Bathers with tattoos may only enter the communal baths if their body art is completely covered with hotel-designated seal patches purchased at reception. [source]
- The property pairs a traditional single-story sukiya-style gabled entrance building with an 18-story rear tower holding 193 guest rooms. [source]
- Room key cards are manufactured from bamboo, and each room adopts a shoe-free raised tatami platform format. [source]
- First-floor restaurant Kakatojo features a counter crafted from an eight-meter single piece of ginkgo timber looking out onto an enclosed courtyard garden. [source]
Insider Tip
Book a high-floor room to enjoy stunning views of the Shinjuku skyline while relaxing in your traditional yukata robe.
Frequently asked
Can non-staying visitors use the onsen for day bathing?
No. The 18th-floor communal baths and open-air bath are reserved strictly for registered hotel guests. Drop-in visitors cannot purchase bathing entry alone. However, the ground-floor restaurant Kakatojo accepts reservations and walk-ins from outside diners for lunch and dinner service.
Which of the baths contains genuine Hakone hot spring water?
Only the 18th-floor open-air bath is filled with tanker-transported alkaline simple spring water from Ashinoko Onsen Tsutsuji-no-Yu in Hakone. The indoor communal bath is filled with heated municipal water rather than natural hot spring water, as stated on hotel facility notices.
What is the policy regarding guests who have tattoos?
Visible tattoos are not allowed in the communal baths unless completely concealed. Guests must cover all markings with designated waterproof seal patches available at the front desk. Visitors whose tattoos exceed the size or number that patches can conceal cannot enter the public bath facilities.
Can guests wear yukata robes outside their rooms?
Yes. Guests are permitted to wear the provided yukata robes, tabi socks, and wooden clogs throughout the facility, including the elevator, 18th-floor bathhouse, and ground-floor restaurant. Bath towels are kept only inside guest rooms and must be carried upstairs using the provided room baskets.
How do visitors walk to the property from nearby train stations?
The hotel is a seven-minute walk from Exit 3 of Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, or an eight-minute walk from Exit C7 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station. Walking from the East Exit of main JR Shinjuku Station requires approximately 15 to 20 minutes along Yasukuni-dori.
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