Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari – A Beginner’s Guide To This Amazing Onsen Theme Park in Tokyo

Visiting Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Tokyo was a fun experience for the wife and me. Walking around this large onsen complex, it felt a little like we had been transported to the streets of historic Japan.

Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari (お台場大江戸温泉物語)

Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a famous onsen theme park in Odaiba, Tokyo that is designed to simulate the Edo period of Japan 400 years ago.

It is home to a large onsen, a spa centre, Japanese eateries, an arcade, a tranquil garden, a capsule hotel, relaxation rooms, and more.

The complex opened in 2003 and is one of the largest onsen theme parks in Japan. It opens daily from 11am to 9am, with the last entry at 7am.

Do take note that people with tattoos are not allowed in the complex. I have two tattoos on my shoulders but they were covered by my yukata most of the time.

There was no way to hide my tattoos inside the onsen, but the few young locals around did not seem to mind. However, I have heard that elderly Japanese folks are more bothered and may complain to the staff.

If you get caught, you will be asked to leave without a refund, so it is a risk you have to take.

Registration at Front Desk

The wife and I reached Oedo Onsen Monogatari bleary-eyed at around 6am on a Saturday. Our plan was to take quick dip in the onsen before starting our day.

I was about to walk to the front desk when a slightly-agitated staff gestured to me that I needed to remove my shoes first before stepping into the complex.

Shoe lockers

And so we placed our shoes in mini lockers near the entrance before walking barefooted to the front desk. We were each given a RFID wristband which functioned as both the key for our lockers and an e-wallet for all our spendings. The final bill was settled during check out.

Yukata counter

After that, we proceeded to the adjacent counter to choose our yukata, because it is compulsory for all guests to change into these traditional Japanese garments. There are four designs for males and five designs for females.

I chose a design that had a tough-looking samurai and paired it with a black obi (Japanese sash). The wife went with a pretty floral design and paired it with a red sash.

Changing Room

Instructions on how to wear Yukata – click to enlarge

Yukatas and obis in hand, the wife and I went into the respective gender-separated changing rooms.

The changing room was large, clean, and lined with private dressing tables that each had their own set of hairdryer and toiletries.

I used the number on my wristband to locate my locker and placed my belongings inside. After that, I followed the instructions on a poster on how to wear my yukata.

Once I was done, I went out into the main hall through a door at the back of the changing room.

Main Hall

Not many people around at 7am

Souvenir shop

The main hall is designed to look like a Edo-period Japanese carnival with street food stalls, restaurants, souvenir shops, traditional games booths, and yukata-clad guests wandering around.

It is beautifully decorated with lanterns, pavilions, faux bridges, cherry blossom trees, and many other quaint Japanese structures and furnishings.

We took plenty of selfies here of course.

Unfortunately, the food stalls and traditional games booths were closed when we visited at 7am. I believe they only open from 11am onwards.

During opening hours, the food stalls sell delicious treats like udon, takoyaki, ramen, yakitori, sushi, etc. There is also a fancy Japanese restaurant that offers private rooms, but it is quite expensive. There is beer on sale too.

Arcade and Games Area

To kill time, we visited the arcade which had several game booths and claw machines. As you can tell we had some fun posing with the taiko drums.

During normal hours, there are several game booths offering traditional carnival games like Shuriken Throwing (daggers throwing), Ninja arrows, Tama-Korogashi (ball rolling), Katanuki (ball scooping), and more.

Relaxation Room

We went to the second floor and found a large room lined with rows of plush reclining sofas, each equipped with a private television set.

We laid on these comfy sofas to catch some shuteye, which was not difficult to do in this tranquil room where the lights are constantly dimmed.

There were some other guests sleeping in the room and a few of them were even snoring very loudly – yes these sofas are really comfortable!

This large relaxation room is available daily from 11am till 8am the next day.

According to the official website, there is also a large tatami room where you can hang out with your family and friends over food. However, I did not manage to find this room.

Onsen

Onsen opening hours

The onsen offers a variety of hot spring baths, supplied by thermal waters pumped up from 1400 metres in the ground.

These include the Big Common Bath, Open-air bath, Ashi-Yu (Foot Bath), Kinuno-Yu (Silk Bubble Bath) and Barrel Bath (ladies section only).

First, I entered the onsen changing room and chose a locker to store all my belongings (yukata, underwear, handphone, camera, wristband). Note that you need to be completely naked.

After that, I sat at a shower booth and bathed myself with the complimentary shampoo and shower gel.

Finally, I entered the actual onsen. It felt good to soak in the hot baths and I felt really relaxed afterwards. I spent about one hour in the onsen before it closed at 8am.

There were many water dispensers available for me to rehydrate, which is really important because you lose a lot of water through sweating.

Outdoor River Foot Reflexology

One of the highlights of the onsen theme park is the beautiful Japanese garden. It is home to a stream which has a free foot reflexology path.

Unfortunately, the garden was closed to guests when we visited at 7am. It opens daily from 11am to 12am. I was quite disappointed because I had been looking forward to check it out.

Spa Centre

The Spa Centre offers a variety of treatments like lymphatic massage, full body massage, Akasuri (skin exfoliation), Head Spa, and even Fish Pedicure Therapy. It was also closed when we visited at 7am. It opens daily from 11am till 3am. Click here to see the full price list (the webpage is in Japanese only, you will need to manually translate it into English).

Overnight Accommodations

Kurofune Cabin (capsule hotel)
It is possible to book private rooms in the onsen theme park. The most affordable option is the Kurofune Cabin which offers capsule-style rooms for between JPY4,200 and JPY5,400 per night. The check-in time is 5pm, and you will need to leave by 9am the next day. Only men can book these rooms.

Hotel Iseya
For the ladies or men who are willing to spend more, Hotel Iseya offers seven types of stylish Japanese-style and Western-style rooms ranging in prices from JPY18,000 to JPY36,000. Click here for more details.

Relaxation Room
If you don’t mind a lack of privacy, you can sleep in the large relaxation room which has many comfy reclining sofas. You will need to pay a surcharge of JPY2,160 once you stay past 2am, but this is the cheapest overnight option. It opens daily from 11am till 8am the next day.

Vending Machines

We saw several vending machines selling beverages, alcohol, and instant meals. These will be useful if the food stalls are closed and you’re feeling hungry.

Check Out

After we were done, we went to the front desk, handed in our “Check out pass”, and settled our bill.

Pricing

Weekend price

The onsen theme park opens daily from 11am till 9am the next day (last entry 7am), and entry prices vary based on the day and time you visit. If you stay past 2am in the complex, there will be an additional charge of JPY2,160.

Yes it’s a little confusing, so I have created a breakdown of the official prices for your reference below (accurate as of 27 October 2019).

To save money, you should buy the ticket online because it only costs JPY1,500, which is almost a 50% discount off the official price.

Weekday Price

Entry Time	Adult (13 and above)	Child (4 to 12)	Child (below 4)
11am to 6pm	JPY 2,720	JPY 1,058	Free
6pm to 2am	JPY 2,180	JPY 1,058
2am to 5am, OR staying past 2am	Surcharge of JPY 2,160	Surcharge of JPY 2,160
5am to 7am	JPY 1,554	JPY 1,554

Weekend Price

Entry Time	Adult (13 and above)	Child (4 to 12)	Child (below 4)
11am to 6pm	JPY 2,936	JPY 1,058	Free
6pm to 2am	JPY 2,396	JPY 1,058
2am to 5am, OR staying past 2am	Surcharge of JPY 2,160	Surcharge of JPY 2,160
5am to 7am	JPY 1,554	JPY 1,554

Holiday Price

Entry Time	Adult (13 and above)	Child (4 to 12)	Child (below 4)
11am to 6pm	JPY 3,044	JPY 1,058	Free
6pm to 2am	JPY 2,504	JPY 1,058
2am to 5am, OR staying past 2am	Surcharge of JPY 2,160	Surcharge of JPY 2,160
5am to 7am	JPY 1,554	JPY 1,554

Useful Tips To Save Money

It is quite expensive to visit Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari, therefore I have come up with a few ways to help you save money.

Tip 1. Buy your tickets on Klook for the best discount
You only need to pay JPY1,500 (Adult Price) or JPY 800(Child Price) if you buy the tickets through Klook. This is a huge discount of almost 50% compared to the usual prices (see previous section).

Tip 2. Go between 5am and 7am
This tip is applicable only if the Klook ticket is NOT available. If you go during this timing, you only need to pay JPY1,554. This is because many of the amenities (food stalls, spa centre, outdoor garden) will be unavailable. And you can only stay until 9am when the complex closes.

Tip 3. Go between 6pm and 2am
This tip is applicable only if the Klook ticket is NOT available. Guests going between 6pm and 2am pay about 20% less, but note that if you stay pass 2am there will be a surcharge of JPY 2,160.

How to Go Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari

Statue of Liberty replicate at Odaiba Seaside Park

Rainbow bridge

Beautiful views during the train ride

By Train
It’s quite easy to get to the onsen theme park by train. You just need to take the metro to Telecom Center station (Yurikamome Line) and walk 5 minutes to the station.

For us, we took the Oedo Line from Shinjuku Station to Shiodome Station, then changed to the Yurikamome Line and took it to Telecom Center Station. The entire journey took around 45 minutes.

My favourite part of the train ride was the Yurikamome Line, which offered wonderful views of the rainbow bridge, modern skyscrapers, Tokyo Bay, and the beautiful sunrise over the city skyline (see pictures above).

By Free Shuttle Bus
Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari provides free shuttle buses from many locations, including Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station. Click here for more details.

How To Buy Tickets

Method 1: You can save money by buying your ticket online. You will be able to use the ticket immediately.

Method 2: You can buy your ticket directly at the counter during your visit.

Map (Click to enlarge)

Conclusion

On the whole we had a pleasant experience at Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Tokyo. We reached the complex at 6am on a Saturday and enjoyed the onsen for about one hour. Therefore, we started our day feeling refreshed, but got a little sleepy towards the end of the day!

Many of the amenities were unavailable during the time we went, such as the spa centre, river foot spa and eateries. On the upside, the entire complex was very peaceful. I only saw a handful of dazed-looking guests who looked like they had spent the entire night here. Therefore, we got to take many pretty photos without people getting into our shot. I also got to enjoy more privacy in the onsen. This is in contrast to peak hours when the onsen theme park gets super crowded.

After you are done, you can check out the many family-friendly attractions in the surrounding area like Joypolis, Legoland, Trick Art Museum, and the life-sized Gundam statue outside Diver City mall. The nearby Odaiba Seaside Park is home to a replicate Statue of liberty and also offers great views of the Rainbow Bridge.

Remember to buy your tickets from Klook for the best discounts.

Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari
Directions: 5-minute walk from Telecom Center Station
Address: 2 Chome-6-3 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Website: https://daiba.ooedoonsen.jp/en
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 9am (the next day). Last entry at 7am.*
*Closed once a month after 11pm for maintenance

This article is part of our super awesome Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide For First Timers. Everything you need to know about Tokyo is just a click away!