Sight guide · Hakone · Japan
Visiting Tenzan onsen
A large day-use hot-spring complex in Okuyumoto, a short bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto station, with outdoor baths built from rocks and wood along a forested riverside slope.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quercus acuta, CC0
Quick answer
Tenzan onsen is an experience in Hakone-Yumoto, Hakone. Allow 1.5–2 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Hakone-Yumoto
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- couples, rainy day and nature
- Best months
- May and November–December
About Tenzan onsen
A large day-use hot-spring complex in Okuyumoto, a short bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto station, with outdoor baths built from rocks and wood along a forested riverside slope. It is a popular option for those not staying overnight in a ryokan.
Tip: Bring your own towel to save on hire, and check the tattoo policy before you go.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Hakone-Yumoto, the gateway onsen town by the station, with souvenir streets and riverside ryokan.
Best time to visit Tenzan onsen
Tenzan onsen is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- May: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- November: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- December: 9°C (48°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Hakone has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Hakone itinerary visits Tenzan onsen on day 3, together with Hakone Tozan Railway and Old Tōkaidō road and cedar avenue.
- No. 16 of the 18 sights in our Hakone things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in hakone on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Hakone.
Near Tenzan onsen
Also in Hakone-Yumoto, so you can walk between them:
- Hakone Tozan Railway — 40 minutes, low cost
If you like Tenzan onsen
- Hakone Ropeway — Ōwakudani, 30–40 minutes
- Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise — Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, 40 minutes
- Onshi Hakone Park — Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi, 45 minutes
- Pola Museum of Art — Sengokuhara, 2 hours
Staying near Tenzan onsen
Stay in Hakone-Yumoto ($$) to walk here: the gateway onsen town by the station, with souvenir streets and riverside ryokan. All areas to stay in Hakone.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Tenzan onsen?
Plan 1.5–2 hours. With Hakone Tozan Railway nearby, it fits a half-day in Hakone-Yumoto.
+Is Tenzan onsen free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Tenzan onsen?
May and November–December for the most comfortable weather. Bring your own towel to save on hire, and check the tattoo policy before you go.
+Do I need to book Tenzan onsen in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.