[Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari’s tale will soon come to a tearful conclusion.](https://soranews24.com/2021/06/24/one-of-tokyos-best-hot-spring-complexes-is-closing-for-good/)
>Since its opening in 2003, Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari has been pretty much the best place in Tokyo to experience Japan’s hot spring culture. Conveniently located in the downtown Odaiba district, the facility has 13 different baths, both indoors and out, some with natural hot spring water pumped up from a depth of 1,4000 meters (4,593 feet). There’s also a gigantic outdoor foot bath garden, and they even provide free yukata (light kimono) rentals for all guests.
>It also offers a great opportunity to get a feel for traditional Japanese festivals. Every day is like a party in the building’s spacious common area, which features carnival games and food stalls that are nostalgic for locals and novel for newcomers from abroad.
>But sadly, soon it’s all coming to an end. The Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari management has announced that the facility will be shutting its doors for good this fall, ending its 18-year-run as a one-stop spot for its multiple cultural experiences.
>With the ongoing pandemic, the Japanese travel and leisure sector is going through its worst slump of the modern era, and Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari’s proximity to both downtown hotels and Haneda Airport made it especially popular with foreign tourists. However, it turns out the reason Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari is shutting down isn’t coronavirus woes, but lamentable lease regulations.
>**According to the management, Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari’s lease will be up at the end of the year. However, even if they were to renew it, under the Act on Land and Building Leases, the total length of its land lease can not exceed 20 years total. In other words, even if they were able to negotiate an extension, they’d still have to shut down in 2023.**
>The statement says that Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari tried to find some sort of workaround, but was ultimately unable to, and since it has to return the land to vacant lot stats by the time its lease ends, they’ll have to cease operations in September in order to begin demolishing the building and removing its debris.
>It’s a sad turn of events for a facility that attracted roughly one million visitors a year, especially with its outdoor foot bath garden, having just been renovated in 2019. “There are no words that can properly convey our deep appreciation to our customers, business partners, and everyone else who has supported us,” Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari’s statement says, and the last chance to stop by for one last soak will be September 5.
23 comments
That’s a bummer, what an interesting regulation…
Wow, that’s a shame! So many fun places are shutting down. I’m glad I got the chance to visit on my trip back in 2019 at least.
:/ Another place I wanted to go gone…
So to have a long term business in Japan you have to own the land?
Oof, that’s sad news!
I’ll always remember that place as the first time I went to an onsen by myself. It was a fun experience, especially with the outside foot bath and wearing a yukata.
Huh sad. Glad I decided to stay overnight back in 2015
Really sad to see this close, spent a relaxing afternoon here in 2018 before our flight back home and it was easily one of our favorite spots in Odaiba. Great place to chill and unwind after a long day of walking. Food options were awesome too, will miss this!
Aww man I saw videos of this place on YouTube and was one of my things to do while in Japan. I really hope the owners can turn this unfortunate situation into something even better in the future.
Man this sucks… this has been on my list for years and I was supposed to go to last year :/
The Oedo Onsen in Urayasu, a short ride away, is also pretty nice.
https://urayasu.ooedoonsen.jp/
Ooedo Onsen is actually a chain so for those sad they’re missing out, there are other locations across the country.
aw this sucks. been three times and enjoyed it everytime. i will look into the other locations for sure!
Sh*t I wanted to go there next year, my plans are ruined, some onsen recommendations in Tokyo?
That sucks! I was hoping to go on my next trip since I wasn’t able to on my last one.
Is this the place frequently described as the “mall of onsens” in Tokyo? If so, that really sucks, it was a planned stop on my visit whenever I got to go 🙁
aw man this place was my favourite back in 2016, it felt like I was in the bath house in Spirited Away!
A shame I won’t get to experience that again
I love this onsen group— I’m going to their branch in Nagano for summer vacation. Sad to see this one go, though.
That’s sad. This onsen doesn’t allow customers in with tattoos?
oof, i regret only ever going there once. i planned on visited again, just never found the right time for a trip…
Sounds like the plot for a new Yakuza game
This used to be one of my favourite ‘close enough I can go after work’ places when I was there. Gonna miss it on future visits 😟
Anyone have other recommendations with day-visit (not overnight), outdoor baths close to Central Tokyo?
I know there’s another in Urayasu but that’s quite the trek for an evening bath.
This blows. Was one of my favorite spots in Japan — and remarkably tourist friendly. What a damn shame.
Inaka onsens are way better anyway.