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If you’re visiting Japan and wondering which sauna to try first, Koganeyu in Kinshicho, Tokyo is almost universally recommended. It’s a 90-year-old traditional public bathhouse (sento) fully renovated in 2020 by architect Jo Nagasaka, tattoo-friendly, open until past midnight, and just a 6-minute walk from JR Kinshicho Station. This guide walks you through everything you need to know before your first visit: prices, hours, access, etiquette, and what the sauna experience is actually like.
- Why Koganeyu is the Best First Sauna for Foreign Visitors
- Location & How to Get There
- Prices & Operating Hours (2026)
- How to Enter Koganeyu: Step-by-Step for First-Timers
- Inside the Bathhouse: What to Expect
- Kogane Kitchen (2F Café)
- Essential Tips for Foreign Visitors
- Where to Stay Near Koganeyu
- Essential Sauna Gear
- What to Read Next
- Final Word
Why Koganeyu is the Best First Sauna for Foreign Visitors
Of the 150+ saunas and public bathhouses across Tokyo, Koganeyu consistently ranks in the top 5 in almost every Japanese sauna publication. Here’s what makes it uniquely suited to international visitors:
- Tattoo-friendly – one of the very few traditional bathhouses in Tokyo that welcomes guests with tattoos, making it a rare and valuable option for many foreign sauna lovers.
- English-friendly signage and staff – ticket machines have English instructions, and the staff will help even if you don’t speak Japanese.
- Open until past midnight – perfect after a day of sightseeing.
- Just 6 minutes from a major JR line – Kinshicho is one stop from Akihabara and three from Tokyo Station.
- Historic and architectural significance – founded in 1932 and renovated by Jo Nagasaka, the space itself is worth the visit.
If you’re still learning the core concept of Japanese sauna culture, we recommend reading our guide first: The Most Important Word to Understand Japan’s Sauna Culture: “Totonou”.
Location & How to Get There
Koganeyu is a 6-minute walk from both JR Kinshicho Station (Sobu Line) and Kinshicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. During your walk, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Tokyo Skytree in the distance.
Kinshicho itself has transformed significantly in the last decade. Once known mainly for its bars and nightlife, it has been redeveloped into a welcoming, family-friendly neighborhood with large shopping complexes, parks, and cafés. It’s a safe, convenient base for exploring eastern Tokyo.
Address: 3-26-12 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0022
Nearest stations: JR Kinshicho Station (Sobu Line) / Kinshicho Station (Hanzomon Line)
Walking time: ~6 minutes
Prices & Operating Hours (2026)
Admission is paid at a ticket vending machine just inside the entrance. Bring cash, as most sento still prefer cash. English instructions are available on the machine.
Admission & Sauna Fees
| Option | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bath only – Adult | ¥500 | 1 hr 20 min |
| Bath only – Middle school | ¥400 | 1 hr 20 min |
| Bath only – Elementary school | ¥200 | 1 hr 20 min |
| Bath only – Infants | ¥100 (optional) | – |
| Sauna add-on (Weekday, Female) | +¥300 | 2 hrs |
| Sauna add-on (Weekday, Male) | +¥500 | 2 hrs |
| Sauna add-on (Weekend, Female) | +¥350 | 2 hrs |
| Sauna add-on (Weekend, Male) | +¥550 | 2 hrs |
| Rental towel set | +¥200 | – |
| Full sauna set (recommended) | ¥1,200 | Includes bath, sauna, rental towel |
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays, Sundays, Holidays | 6:00 – 9:00 / 11:00 – 24:30 |
| Saturdays | 6:00 – 9:00 / 15:00 – 24:30 |
| Closed | 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month |
Best time to visit: Weekday afternoons are the calmest. Evenings and weekends get very crowded. Starting your morning with a 6 AM sauna before sightseeing is a power-move we highly recommend.
Prices and hours last verified: April 2026. Please check the official Koganeyu website before your visit.
How to Enter Koganeyu: Step-by-Step for First-Timers
Japanese public bathhouses have their own rhythm. Here’s exactly what happens from the moment you walk under the noren (fabric curtain) at the entrance.
- Check if you can enter right away. Koganeyu is extremely popular and can reach capacity. Before buying your ticket, ask the staff “Can I enter now?” If it’s full, they’ll take your name and tell you a return time.
- Purchase your ticket at the vending machine on your right. If you want the sauna, buy the full sauna set (¥1,200). Cash only is safest.
- Remove your shoes and store them in the traditional wooden shoe box. Take out the wooden tag.
- Hand the ticket and wooden tag to the staff. You’ll receive a locker key, and – if you bought the sauna set – a wristband that identifies you as a sauna user.
- Undress in the locker room and grab only a small towel and a water bottle to take into the bath area.
If you have to wait, the second-floor café Kogane Kitchen is the perfect spot to sip tea until your slot opens up.
Inside the Bathhouse: What to Expect
The Four Baths
Before heading to the sauna, always wash yourself thoroughly at the fixed showers. Then explore the traditional bath area, which features four baths:
- Atsuyu (あつ湯) – a very hot bath, traditional Japanese style.
- Yakutou (薬湯) – a medicinal herbal bath. Start here for a gentle warm-up.
- Tansansen (炭酸泉) – a carbonated bath. Save this for after your sauna cycles. The lukewarm carbonated water is blissful once your body is already warmed.
- Mizuburo (水風呂) – the cold bath. The star of any Japanese sauna experience.
The Sauna: Architecture as Experience
Walking into Koganeyu’s sauna room is a moment. While the bath area retains the nostalgic warmth of a classic sento, the sauna is enveloped in a concrete skeleton, with walls covered in maifanite stones – a design signature of architect Jo Nagasaka.
Capacity is around 10 people. If it’s full, wait politely outside the door. Sauna mats are stacked at the entrance – take one in with you for hygiene.
The sauna stove features an automatic loyly system, releasing bursts of steam at set intervals. The humidity hit is refreshing rather than harsh – ideal for newer sauna-goers.
The Cold Bath (Mizuburo)
Koganeyu’s cold bath has a striking, almost glacial blue tint. Before entering, rinse off all sweat – this is both etiquette and required by Japanese public bath law. Spend 1-2 minutes submerged to your shoulders.
The Outdoor Relaxation Area
Hidden down a small alley outside the main bath is Koganeyu’s outdoor relaxation space. Having an outdoor area in central Tokyo is rare and luxurious. Lie back, feel the breeze, hear the city go by – this is where the totonou state sets in.
After several sauna – cold bath – outdoor rest cycles, drop back into the tansansen (carbonated bath). The warm, effervescent water feels like your body is melting into the tub – pure bliss.
Kogane Kitchen (2F Café)
On the second floor, Kogane Kitchen serves craft beer, Japanese meals, and snacks. It’s a perfect pre-waiting lounge, and an even better post-sauna hangout. Note: no alcohol before the sauna – Japanese bathhouses are strict on this for safety reasons. Save the beer for after.
For a more in-depth look at what to eat after your sauna session, see our companion guide: After Sauna Meal at Koganeyu.
Essential Tips for Foreign Visitors
- Tattoos are welcome at Koganeyu – a rare exception in Japan.
- Bring cash. Ticket machines typically do not accept credit cards.
- No alcohol before the sauna. Seriously. Staff will turn you away.
- No phones inside the bath area. Photos of yourself or others are not permitted.
- Hydrate. Bring a water bottle into the bath area – you’ll need it.
- Arrive with time to spare. If it’s full, you’ll need to wait – plan 2.5-3 hours total.
Where to Stay Near Koganeyu
Kinshicho is a quiet, well-connected neighborhood with surprisingly affordable hotels – perfect for building a “Tokyo sauna trip” around. The best options are all within 10 minutes walk of Koganeyu, and many have their own bathing facilities or are a short walk from multiple other excellent saunas.
Recommended for sauna travelers:
- Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo – upscale, 3 minutes from Koganeyu, with views of Tokyo Skytree.
- LOTTE CITY HOTEL Kinshicho – modern business hotel, connected to JR Kinshicho Station.
- Browse all hotels in Kinshicho on Booking.com →
We may earn a small commission if you book through these links – at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog.
Essential Sauna Gear
A sauna hat keeps your hair and head protected from extreme heat, letting you stay in the sauna longer comfortably. It’s the single most useful piece of gear for a serious sauna visitor:
- 100% Wool Sauna Hat (unisex, universal fit) – the classic choice.
- Imabari Japanese sauna towel – Japanese towel tradition at its finest.
What to Read Next
- The Most Important Word to Understand Japan’s Sauna Culture: “Totonou”
- After Sauna Meal at Koganeyu
- Adventures in Koganeyu: A Personal Account of Heat and Serenity
- Shibuya Saunas – WOODS (Shibuya, Tokyo)
- SAUNA TOKYO (Akasaka, Tokyo)
- Kotobuki Yu (Higashi Ueno, Tokyo)
- 黄金湯訪問記 (Japanese version)
Final Word
Koganeyu is not just a sauna – it’s a distilled version of what makes Japanese sauna culture special. Traditional craftsmanship, contemporary architecture, warm community, and that uniquely Japanese pursuit of totonou. For first-time visitors from abroad, there is no better introduction.
If you’re planning a Tokyo sauna trip, start with Koganeyu. The rest of the city will make more sense once you’ve been.
The best thing to do in Japan is sauna.
