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Located in the fun area of Shinsekai in Osaka, Spa World is not a traditional onsen. It’s more of a water theme park full of themed hot and cold pools that are the perfect place to soak away some of the aches you’ll end up with walking miles around Japan. But, while it might be a fun soaking spot, there’s still etiquette involved with visiting Spa World, and it’s good to be clued up on what to expect before you visit.
No photos are allowed in the onsen at Spa World, so this is an AI-generated image.
Spa World pretty much saved my last trip to Japan. By the time I lowered my broken body into one of its hot pools, I’d been walking 15-20km a day for 21 days – and, on top of an existing muscle issue that made walking painful, I was done. But I still had ten days left of my trip.
However, after two hours of hopping between hot baths, saunas, and an ice-cold plunge pool, everything was again right with the world. So, if you’re also struggling with the aches and pains of sightseeing by the time you reach Osaka, or just want to try a bath-style experience in Japan and aren’t staying at a hotel with an onsen, you might want to add Spa World to your own Osaka itinerary (we suggest it on day two of our three day Osaka guide) – it’s the perfect place to while away a few hours.
Like so much of Shinsekai, it’s fabulously kitsch – I was in Europe, and there’s everything from plastic bulls (Spain) to log cabins and fake Northern Lights (Finland). You aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the onsen area, so the ones in this piece are those I took from the Spa World sign outside the building. And here’s our detailed guide to navigating the experience.
Entering Spa World
When you arrive at the top of the (long) set of stairs leading to Spa World and enter the glass doors, you’ll first see a set of ticket machines with big buttons. This is where you pay your entry.
One set of buttons is in Japanese; the other set is in English. Look for the one that says adults, press it, and pay your money. These machines are cash only, so make sure you have some handy.
Entrance to Spa World costs, 1500 yen at the time of writing, 1500 yen, which lets you into the hot pools for up to three hours. You can pay extra for some other areas and facilities, which I’ll talk about in a minute.
To the left of the machine, you’ll see a manned desk. Give them your ticket, and they’ll swap it for a wristband. This is how you pay for extras, so keep it with you.
Remove Your Shoes
Shoes aren’t allowed past this point. Take them off and head to the area of shoe lockers to your right. You’ll need a 100 yen coin to work the locker. If you don’t have one, the change machine is next to where you removed your shoes. Pick your locker; the ones with the keys in the door are empty…put in the coin and get the key. Keep that with you.
You’re currently on the second floor. If you feel you need it, your last job here is to lock any valuables in the special valuable lockers. This isn’t essential, as you will lock your things up in the changing room anyway, but Spa World won’t accept any responsibility for items stored elsewhere.
Find Your Soaking Zone
Spa World is separated into two themed zones, Europe and Asia, with different pools in each. Each zone is allocated to a different gender because, while it might not look completely traditional, Spa World still sees you bathing naked like a normal onsen.
These zones are rotated monthly to allow regulars a change of scenery, so the first thing to do is check which zone your gender will be soaking in.
You can’t get confused about this as it’s signposted in Japanese and English on signs outside the lift, inside the lift, and on the lift buttons themselves. Europe is on floor four, and Asia is on floor six.
Even if you do managed to get confused as to what floor is which, there was also a big sign outside entry to the changing area that says ‘women only’… I’m guessing there’s the same at the men’s.
Head in, and you’ll find another set of lockers to put your clothes in; you’ll need another 100 yen coin. And at this point, my eternal confusion about using an onsen emerges…
When Do You Get Naked?
I made my peace about being naked in a room full of people I’ve never met several water soaks ago. However, I still don’t always know exactly when I’m supposed to disrobe, especially in a facility like Spa World, where there are lots of different areas and doors. After all, you don’t want to wander into the cafeteria naked!
This famously led to me ending up in a group hug with some random half-naked Japanese ladies while I tried to explain my confusion, so if you remember nothing else from this piece, remember this.
The answer at Spa World is once in you’re in the changing room it’s time to get your kit off!
Basically, strip off, get one of the small yellow towels you can use to preserve some of your modesty and head past the reception desk, through the hair drying and make-up area, to the big glass doors. That’s where you find the onsen pools.
If that all sounds too confronting, before you strip off, visit the reception desk. They will give you a bright pink robe to wear. I got given this while scoping things out, but frankly, I felt more self-conscious wearing it…. not least because you feel a bit like a blancmange or Barbapapa!
The Big Mistake Not to Make
Right now, you could be tempted to rush straight to the water to hide your blushes. Do not do this; the worst mistake you can make in any public bath in Japan is to get in it without washing yourself thoroughly first.
Normally, you can’t forget this as you’ll walk through the washing area on your way to the baths, but it’s not the case at SpaWorld; you need to walk around a bit to find the washing area.
If you’re in Europe, it’s off the right next to Finland. It’s area 17 if you can find the floor map! If you’re in Asia, it’s in the roughly the same place on the floor but located next to the Cypress Bath – or marked no 16 on the map.
If you lose all sense of direction, simply look for an area with showers, bowls, and stools. Once here, sit on the stool and wash everything, including your hair, with soap/shampoo. The more obvious you can be about scrubbing every part of yourself, the better!!! Also, tie up any long hair.
If you choose to wear the Blancmange, there’s a cubby hole just before you enter the washing area where you can stash it. From this moment on, you’re going in naked!!
I appreciate that’s a lot of words so far, but visiting any public bath in Japan can be a bit intimidating, not least because we’re not normally used to getting naked with random strangers, but from now on, it’s easy.
In The Baths
You’ll soon realize that no one cares that you’re naked. If anyone pays you any attention, it’ll usually be to help you with something or to point out some small mistake.
I normally forget to take my watch off as it’s waterproof, and many a naked Japanese lady has pointed it out to me as it’s a good idea to take off jewelry in the baths. My friend Jonelle, who lives in Japan for half the year, has tarnished silver rings and earrings while onsen soaking.
So, from this moment on, just enjoy yourself. Flit from bath to bath, spend some time in the sauna, cool down the cold pool, and then start again.
There’s also an outside bath, and don’t worry, it’s shielded from the trains that whizz past every few minutes!
You have three hours in the baths – if you end up super relaxed and overstay, you’ll have to pay extra when you check out.
You can carry your modesty towel, but don’t put it in the water. You can leave it at the side of the bath, or you’ll see many people wearing them on their heads.
If you are just using the hot pools at Spa World, that’s all you need to know; once you’ve finished soaking, head back to the locker to get changed and skip to the checkout area to settle your bill. But the onsen isn’t the only area at Spa World.
Other Areas to Try at Spa World
The Swimming Pools
Located on the 8th floor, these include pools and slides. They are mixed-gender, so you need a swimsuit for this part of Spa World. If you didn’t pack one, you can rent them for 650 yen, but they may run small.
If you want to use the pools, you buy a slightly more expensive entry ticket – it’s 2000 yen for adults and children over middle school age (around 12); or 1200 yen for younger children. You also need an extra ticket for the slides.
Ganbanyoku Beds
Ganbanyoku beds are beds made of different types of stones that are said to emit waves that have positive effects on the body. The Ganbanyoku area on the 3rd floor of Spa World has eight different areas to lie in – again, these are themed for different countries. You can pick from warm stone beds or a cool stone area or just sit in a massage chair in a clean-air room called Canada.
The stone spa has an additional charge of 800 yen, and you’ll be given a robe or towel to wear while you use the beds – so do not strip off!
Entertainment
Because Spa World is also a hotel, there are other fun things to do, like karaoke and darts. You pay for each of these separately.
Leaving Spa World
When it’s time to leave, head back down to the ground level, and you’ll find the payment machines. They scan your wristband – which you drop into the square metal slot on the far right of the machine – and if you’ve incurred any other charges, you’ll pay these now. If not, you’ll be given a ticket with a QR code to scan at the gates at the exit – this opens the gates so you can leave.
You can use the payment machine if you haven’t incurred any other charges or have cash to pay for anything you have bought. If you need to pay with a foreign credit card, you’ll need to go to the manned desk as the machines can’t take those.
Other Questions
Do You Need to Book Spa World in Advance?
No. You can just pay at the door.
Can You Wear a Swimsuit in the Onsen?
No. Only in the mixed swimming area.
Can Children Visit Spa World?
Yes, they can – but all children must pay for a ticket, even babies. Small children of different genders to their parent are allowed to go into the segregated onsen, Spa World doesn’t advertise an age cut-off, but in other areas of Japan, the law only allows kids under 6 or 7 to bathe with a parent of the opposite sex.
If your children are older than this, double-check with Spa World for the exact cutoff, as the laws about this have been changing recently in Japan and Osaka might have introduced some rules that weren’t current when this was written or last updated. Also, note that children still in nappies shouldn’t go in the baths.
Can You Use Spa World with Tattoos?
No. They aren’t allowed.
Can I Visit Spa World in the Evening
Bits of it, yes. The onsen area is open 24 hours (except from 8.45 am – 10 am when the baths are cleaned). This makes a few hours here perfect for soaking after a hard day’s sightseeing. If jetlag is getting the better of you and you want to use the pools between midnight and 5am, there is an additional late-night fee – and this will apply even if you enter at say 10pm and stay until 12.10.
If you want to try the stone beds, they are only open 10-5 pm, with the last entry at 4 pm.
The swimming pools are open 10 am – 10 pm (9.30 pm for the children’s pool).
You cannot use Spa World if you have been drinking, so don’t plan on heading here at the end of a night out.
How to Get to Spa World?
It’s located in Shinsekai. The nearest metro station is Dobutsoen Mae, or it’s a short walk from Ebisucho. The entrance to the complex is located up the big set of steps.
Find more advice on the Spa World website.
So there you have it, our guide to Spa World in Osaka. If you do have any more questions, head over to our Facebook group where I, or someone else who has been to Spa World can help answer them.
