During our journey across Japan we had one night in Kyoto. In an effort to get the traditional Japanese onsen experience, we spent the night at the Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho. It’s worth noting that this review may be of limited use as the property is undergoing an extensive remodel between January and May of 2026.
Booking Our Stay at the Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
Mrs. ATX and one of our travel companions were adamant about getting the traditional Japanese onsen experience during our trip. We initially planned to split time between Tokyo and Osaka but cut out a night in Osaka to make room for an onsen stay in Kyoto.
Full disclosure, Mrs. ATX located this property and while I don’t know exactly how she found it, you can book directly via the hotel’s website here if you’re interested in staying. We booked our double occupancy room, which included dinner and breakfast as well as unlimited drinks, for $300 for the night.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho Location
Onsens are typically located outside of city centers as they surround local hot springs, and this one was no exception. The Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho is located in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto on the outskirts of the city along the Katsura River.
While it is accessible by public transit, there is a train station across the street, it would have involved two transfers with luggage from Kyoto Station and taken roughly 30 minutes. Because of this, we elected to take an Uber to the property which provided some nice scenery as we got towards the outskirts of
Upon arrival there is a very nice driveway entrance, though the sign is rather small. Keep your eyes peeled when approaching the area. There is also a second entrance for pedestrians and those arriving by rail adjacent to the driveway.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho Lobby and Check-In
Upon arrival, a bellman helped us unload our luggage from the van before taking us inside to the lobby and check-in desks. As you stepped into the building you were greeted by a small koi pond which was a nice touch as the bubbling water helped get us in the spa mindset.
Check-in desks were located down a short hallway and, thanks to all of the honey colored wood, I felt like I was checking in to an old Crowne Plaza.
The check-in process itself was very simple and after verifying our documents we were given an overview of the property and the rules and guidelines were explained to us. Essentially, once we stepped over the threshold the expectation was that no shoes would be worn and the property provided us robes and slippers for the duration of our stay. Shoes were left in lockers by the front desk should we want to venture out into the surrounding area.
While robes and slippers were provided, a gift shop was available if you prefer to purchase your own.
Because of this setup, the property essentially has two lobbies. One for coming and going and the other for relaxing, mingling, and hanging out. While not big, the lobby had a few chairs as well as some refreshments available throughout the day. Additional toiletries were on offer as well.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho Guest Room
We were assigned to a standard queen room on the second floor of the property. Our room was located at the end of the hall, far away from the elevators which I prefer. Upon entering the room there was a hallway leading towards the bedroom with the toilet to the left and the bathroom to the right.
Toiletries were in reusable bottles but, instead of being mounted on the wall like we see at most properties, the stand alone bottles were on shelves in the shower.
The bedroom was small and, while not dirty, it was very well worn. There was a small seating area closest to the door which was situated across from a small TV. We didn’t use this area at all during our visit except as a space for our bags.
Next to the TV was a small wardrobe that had hangars and baskets that could be used to take your belongings to the baths.
The largest bed available during our visit was a queen bed which was set up lower to the ground than I’m used to. While it was odd sitting on it the first time, I quickly became used to it. The bed was flanked by two small nightstands which had individual lamps on them. Power outlets were on the wall on each side of the bed.
Across from the bed was a decent sized desk that was well worn. Scratches and missing stain was present on the furniture throughout the room.
Our room had a small balcony with a couple of chairs and a table. The view was partially blocked by the roof but it was a relaxing space, especially as an evening storm rolled in.
The room wasn’t luxurious but it got the job done for our one night stay. Honestly, guests come here for the baths and likely won’t spend much time in their room aside from sleeping.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho Food and Beverage
As I mentioned earlier, our room package came with dinner and breakfast included in our rate. We scheduled our reservations upon arrival and both meals were served in the restaurant just off of the lobby. Food was traditional Japanese offerings and geared more towards locals.
I’m not the most adventurous eater but I like to try different things. While I didn’t eat everything (not even close) there were a few items that I liked. The unlimited drinks package included alcohol and I had a beer with dinner. That tasted more like malt liquor so I switched to a highball for the remainder of the meal.
The bar is located next to the restaurant and was open between 6:30p-11:30p. We stopped in here after dinner for a draft beer, which was much better than the free offering in the restaurant, and gyoza. These hit the spot after not eating much at dinner.
In addition to dinner and the snacks available at the bar, the property offers a late night ramen service in the lobby which we took advantage of during our visit.
Like dinner, breakfast was a fixed menu and served in the same restaurant space that dinner was. Some of this stuff was off the walls and even the most adventurous eaters in our group didn’t eat everything. It was a very unique experience though.
If we were to go back, I’d skip eating on property and venture out into the surrounding neighborhood for meals instead.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho Baths
The main attraction of this property is the onsen itself. For those that aren’t familiar, an onsen is a hot spring in Japan with bathing facilities built around it. This property had communal and private baths but we mostly stuck to the private ones. Since the baths are fully nude, only the private spaces are covered in this review.
Each private bath, wether indoors or outdoors, has shower facilities to rinse off before and after using the facility. The property has five private baths, three outdoor and two indoor, each one with a different theme.
The fifth bath was a steam sauna bath so I wasn’t able to get any useable photos during my visit. While I found the private baths to be relaxing, sitting around with my own thoughts isn’t something I particularly enjoy. Mrs. ATX on the other hand loved them and spent plenty of time here.
Summary
Our onsen visit was one of the more unique hotel experiences I’ve had during my travels. While I understand people travel from around the world to have the experience, it’s not really my cup of tea. In addition, the property that we chose was isolated and fairly worn out. If we return to another onsen, which I’m sure we will, I’ll be searching for a more modern option.