Daikokuyu Higashiyama, Kyoto

HIGASHIYAMA, KYOTO · NEIGHBORHOOD SENTO

A Kyoto bathhouse with a second chapter. Daikokuyu combines a neighborhood sento, sauna and cold bath with a clear welcome for guests with tattoos.

Looking for a local public bath rather than a hotel spa? This Higashiyama sento is worth considering for its bathing facilities and revival story. It is a sento; this guide does not describe it as a natural hot spring.

Researched guide, not a personal visit report. Information checked October 11, 2026.

A second life for a neighborhood bathhouse

Daikokuyu’s story is about keeping a neighborhood bathhouse alive. The operator’s history records a reopening in September 2025, followed by a crowdfunding-supported refurbishment in April 2026.

The Instagram post above introduces the new manager before the reopening. It adds the operator’s own voice to the story; for current facilities and opening arrangements, use the official information linked below rather than treating an older post as a current notice.

What you can use: baths, sauna and cold water

The official English guide lists a very hot bath, a sauna and a cold-water bath. The Kyoto bath association also lists jet, electric and herbal baths. These are sourced facility descriptions, not our own temperature measurements or bathing impressions.

The operator’s current Japanese FAQ lists auto-löyly saunas in both the men’s and women’s bathing areas. Automatic steam does not mean guests should add water themselves: the operator specifically says not to pour water on the sauna heater.

Visiting with tattoos

The official English guide states that tattoos are welcome and that there are no restrictions against guests with tattoos. This is a facility-specific policy, not a claim about every bathhouse in Kyoto.

English visitor information is available online. That is useful for planning, but it does not establish which languages staff will speak during your visit.

Make room for a weekend morning bath

The current operator lists a 06:00 opening on Saturdays and Sundays, while weekday opening starts at 15:00. Tuesday is the regular closing day. A morning bath is therefore another option when arranging a Kyoto itinerary; early opening is not a guarantee that it will be quiet.

Daikokuyu is in Higashiyama, with Kiyomizu-gojo Station on the Keihan Line as the station reference in the Kyoto bath association’s listing. The full address, contact details and map are at the end of this guide.

Photos and updates from the bathhouse

For more photos, visit @daikokuyu_kyoto on Instagram. We embed the original post above rather than copying its images into our photo library. Instagram may not display in every browser; the original-post link remains available.

Sources: official English visitor guide; current operator information and FAQ; reopening history; Kyoto bath association; operator’s Instagram introduction.