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Osaka's Solaniwa Onsen Theme Park Takes Bathing To The Next Level

Osaka's Solaniwa Onsen Theme Park Takes Bathing To The Next Level

Last updated: 11 December 2020

Enjoying a soak in an onsen hot spring is a quintessential Japanese travel experience. Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower provides an exceptional opportunity to immerse yourself in diverse hot springs while enjoying a range of entertaining shows.

Conveniently situated just 8 minutes from JR Osaka Station, this onsen also offers a complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Japan, making it ideal for Osaka tourists. Slip into a yukata and let your worries melt away!

Table of Contents
  1. Solaniwa Onsen: Kansai's largest hot spring theme park
  2. Costume rentals and photoshoots: Even more fun!
  3. A fulfilling experience and you’ll need more than a day

Solaniwa Onsen: Kansai's largest hot spring theme park

Solaniwa Onsen: Kansai's largest hot spring theme park

The open-air hot spring opened in February 2019 and really brings the old ways of relaxation in the Azuchi-Momoyama period into the modern world. Walk into the traditional Japanese townscape, and you’ll be transformed into a resident of a time gone by.

Directly connected to JR Bentencho Station, access to Solaniwa Onsen couldn't be easier. Directions from the station platform to the hot springs are prominently displayed and easy to understand, so it's hard to get lost.

After checking in at the reception desk, choose your favorite yukata! There are seven styles for women, four for men, and two for children. Since shoes are prohibited on the grounds, you can leave yours in this area.

The second floor at Solaniwa Onsen features a restaurant and a shopping area, and a hot stone spa. The third floor is a huge rest area, while the fourth floor is home to a garden where you can enjoy footbaths, and the bathrooms are found on the fifth floor.

Nine different baths at this Osaka onsen!

Nine different baths at this Osaka onsen!

Upon arriving at Solaniwa Onsen, start your visit with a relaxing bath to embrace a sense of freedom and tranquility. You can choose from nine different types of baths, including an open-air bath that allows you to experience the changing seasons and a garden-view bath with a stunning vista of the 3,300-square-meter Japanese garden.

Rest assured, the nude bathing areas are separate for men and women, ensuring a comfortable and secure environment for all guests.

However, private family baths or footbaths where you can relax in your yukata are also recommended. The open-air family baths feature their own gardens, so you can fully appreciate your private space.

Can I visit Solaniwa Onsen with tattoos?

Tattoo-covering stickers are available in three sizes (smartphone for size comparison)
Tattoo-covering stickers are available in three sizes (smartphone for size comparison)

At Solaniwa Onsen, visitors with tattoos are welcome to bathe as long as their body art is covered with stickers, which can be purchased at the reception desk. The stickers are available in three sizes, priced at 100, 200, and 400 yen (excluding tax). In the private family baths, however, you can bathe without the need for stickers.

Shows, shopping, dining ... Solaniwa Onsen is full of fun!

A summer-only ”splash show” where you can participate in a water battle
A summer-only ”splash show” where you can participate in a water battle
An audience-participation dance show
An audience-participation dance show

In addition to bathing, you can enjoy shows, shopping, and dining at this famous Osaka onsen. During the daily shows, performances by figures from the Azuchi-Momoyama unfold before your eyes, drawing you further into that era.

The experience-based shows are a fun way for guests to spend time together while participating!

Gold leaf mask
Gold leaf mask

The shopping area is divided into sections: “Beauty,” “Miscellaneous Japanese Goods” and “Food & Drinks.” Many souvenirs unique to this Osaka onsen are available, so it’s an exciting place to do some shopping.

Ukiyotei Gyoen (Past menu item; currently unavailable)
Ukiyotei Gyoen (Past menu item; currently unavailable)

There are three places for food: Komachi-Chaya, offering a variety of healthy foods and drinks; Restaurant Kuidaore-Yokocho, modeled after popular restaurants of the past; and Cafe Tenga-Chaya, which serves sweets and desserts like soft serve and parfaits.

Costume rentals and photoshoots: Even more fun!

Costume rentals and photoshoots: Even more fun!
Oiran photo shoot
Oiran photo shoot

There are also areas where you can dress up as a townsman or townswoman, ninja, or samurai (charges apply) for a fun photoshoot.

The most popular option is being transformed into an oiran. When you enter the studio wearing a glamorous kimono and elaborate hair and makeup, you can leave the rest to the photographer, who will help you create some beautiful Japanese memories!

A fulfilling experience and you’ll need more than a day

Since it’s open all night, Solaniwa Onsen is a great place to stay on your first night in Osaka. After a relaxing evening bath, you can ease into the next morning before sightseeing in the city. So enjoy eating, dancing, and onsen culture and this fun Osaka onsen theme park!

  • Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower
    空庭温泉 OSAKA BAY TOWER
    • Address 1-2-3 Benten, Minato-ku, Osaka
    • Phone Number 06-7670-5126
    • ・Hours: 11 AM–11 PM
      ・Admission: Adults from 2,460–3,780 yen, 4–12 years old 1,320 yen (flat rate; under 4 years old free)
      * Excluding consumption tax and bath tax
      * Additional charges for Bedrock Sauna, dining, and costume photography
      ・Closed: In 2024, June 12, August 21, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11; in 2025, January 8, February 5, and March 12

Written by:
WESTPLAN
WESTPLAN

Kiko Matsuda, Keiko Kimura, Risa Tsuji, and a team of female writers familiar with Kansai. We love eating, drinking and traveling! We share fun information based on our experiences.

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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