After a long day on your feet wandering down every charming street in Kyoto, there’s nothing better than sinking into a hot bath at an onsen and unwinding. But for many travelers, there’s one decidedly non-serene hurdle between them and the full traditional experience: the public onsen.
Yes, they’re beloved. Yes, they’re culturally significant. And yes, if you’re not used to communal bathing, the whole “let’s get naked with strangers” moment can feel more awkward than relaxing.
Fortunately, private onsens exist. At Kyoto’s top luxury ryokans, you can soak in natural hot spring water in total privacy, admiring views of gardens, mountains, or rivers instead of attempting to avoid eye contact with the naked stranger in front of you.
But here is the trap most tourists fall into: Most “private onsens” in Kyoto are just bathtubs filled with heated tap water.
Because Kyoto is not a volcanic hotbed like Hakone or Beppu, genuine thermal water is rare in the city center. Many luxury hotels use the word “onsen” loosely to describe a nice soaking tub. But if you want the real deal—natural, mineral-rich thermal water pumped from the earth—you have to know exactly where to look.
These are the luxury ryokans and hotels in Kyoto with actual private onsens.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Suiran is located right on the Hozu River, and the arrival alone sets the tone. You don’t just take a taxi here; you can book a complimentary rickshaw pick-up from Arashiyama station. The property feels exclusive, hidden behind black wooden gates that separate you from the Arashiyama tourist crush.
While the rooms are stunning, the highlight is the “Champagne Delight” hour at Café Hassui. Between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, guests get free-flowing champagne on a riverside terrace.
You need to book a “Yuzunoha” or “Shirosumire” room to get the private onsen. The tubs are often made of cedar or stone and are fed by the Arashiyama Onsen source.
Fufu Kyoto
Fufu is a brand obsessed with privacy, and their Kyoto location (near Nanzenji temple) is a masterclass in modern ryokan design. The entire property smells intoxicatingly of Hinoki wood (just like the Le Labo scent) and moss. Unlike older ryokans that can feel drafty, Fufu is warm and cozy with heated floors, thick glass, and total soundproofing.
The concierge here is next-level. They have a small “bar” area in the lobby where a concierge sits you down with tea and helps you plan your day. Also, the breakfast isn’t just room service; it’s a multi-tiered bento box event delivered to your room that looks too pretty to eat (but you will, especially the dashimaki egg).
Every single room here has a private indoor natural hot spring bath. The water is sourced from the Osaka area and trucked in, but it’s the real deal—mineral-heavy and temperature-controlled.
Arashiyama Benkei
Located just steps from the Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama Benkei is a traditional ryokan in every sense. You are sleeping on tatami mats, you are wearing a yukata to dinner, and the service is incredibly attentive.
The kaiseki dinner here is serious business, so save plenty of stomach space for it. But the real magic happens at night. If you stay in a ground-floor room, you can slide open the paper screens to a private moss garden that is illuminated at night.
The baths here are filled with Arashiyama Onsen water, which is slightly alkaline. It feels slippery, or viscous on the skin, which Japanese bathers prize because it exfoliates and softens the skin. You step out feeling like you’ve just been moisturized.
Editor’s Note: This property is currently closed for renovations.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Banyan Tree is the best new private onsen property in Kyoto. Perched on a hill near the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple, it feels removed from the city. The architecture is dramatic, with dark wood, sharp angles, and a private bamboo forest that rivals the famous one in Arashiyama (but without the 10,000 tourists).
The hotel has an actual Noh stage on property, where you can watch traditional performances in the evening.
Be sure to book an Onsen Retreat room to get a private soaking space. The baths at Banyan Tree are large, wooden soaking tubs filled with natural spring water. Because the hotel is new, everything is pristine. Opening the window next to the tub to let in the cool Higashiyama mountain air while floating in 40-degree mineral water is the ultimate Kyoto luxury.
