Those Big "amusement park" Onsen in Tokyo...

[tequilatamm]

Ohaiyo!

This is going to be our second time spending the holidays in Tokyo. We will be there from 28-Dec to 4-Jan, and will be in Osaka and Kyoto just prior.

I'm curious to find out a little more about Oedo Onsen Monogatari and LaQua Spa. We tried to go to LaQua last time we were there but the wait was overwhelming. Of course, it was a rainy day and also right in the middle of that 29-Dec to 2-Jan window when things like that are crowded.

Just wondering for anyone who has been to these what they think. Also if there are recommendations for or against either one, and what time of day might be best to go. I'm thinking somewhere around the 8pm mark sounds like it might be the best bet.

Also, the kimonos they give you to wear... do they come in REALLY large sizes? My husband is a big guy (think nearly sumo size but less round and taller), and he's worried we'll get all the way there just to find out they have nothing to fit him.

Past experience and advice welcomed! Maybe some of you who can actually read Japanese as well as speak it now, can look it up on the site for me. I know my Hiragana alphabet so far, but that's about it!

[Bueller_007]

If you're going to be in Osaka anyway, you might try Spaworld while you're there. It's supposedly the biggest onsen in the world.

http://www.spaworld.co.jp/

Unfortunately, there's no kon'yoku (co-ed bathing), which means you and your husband will be separate, but that's standard for big city onsen. Otherwise, the baths are quite nice, but not traditional Japanese. One floor is European style, and one is Asian style (one floor is men's and one is women's: they change which floor is which every month). If you bring your swimsuit, they have water slides, swimming pools, and a public (mixed-sex but clothed and not so good) onsen on the top floor.

Otherwise, Arima Onsen in Rokko (between Kobe and Osaka) is a very old (supposedly the oldest in Japan), very famous onsen. I haven't been there, but I've heard conflicting reports: it's over-rated vs. it's great. It's supposedly not so expensive if you don't stay the night. I've heard they have some baths that are carbonated like Perrier water, and that seems to be confirmed on their website.

http://www.arima-onsen.com/eng/index.html

[Belton]

I can reccomend Spaworld in Osaka too.
It was quite a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. It's very near an underground station so it's easy to get to. It's just south of the Minami nightlife area in Tennoji area. about 2 stops away if I remember correctly.

In the Asia themed baths there is a Japan style bath and rotenburo. (And a bar!)
Of the onsen or sentou I've been to (not a lot admitedly), it probably was the best because of it's size and having a variety of baths. It maybe lacks some traditional decor and feel but, except for a temple I stayed in that had a wooden bath, so did most of the others.

If you ask at the entrance they have an info sheet in English which helps. I had problems with the machine where you buy a ticket but when I asked a staff member I pretty much got guided through the book-in process and escorted to the correct changing room. As I usually found in Japan the staff can be very helpful.

The drill is buy an electronic ticket. This is more of a deposit than a ticket. Go to turnstiles where you are given a watch-like strap that records all money transactions, and your time of entry. Remove shoes, put in locker. you'll need a 100yen coin. you'll get it back. If you have valuables you can put them in a safe deposit area by the main desk. (This was slightly complex but the staff was patient with me) Locker room again you need 100 yen coin for the locker.

If you buy anything your watch is scanned and you settle up before leaving.

They don't have kimono. Women have pink nightshirt like dresses and men have blue pyjama sets of trousers and buttonless top. They have a range of sizes but I can't be certain about the biggest. XXL at least I think, they're loose fitting and if it's height and broad shoulders rather than roundness I think you'll be ok. You only need them if you want to walk around the public areas without getting dressed first. So it wouldn't be a complete hinderance if you couldn't find your size.

It's open 24hours, except for an hour early in the morning when there is no access to the baths. The swimming pools etc. on the roof close around 5 or 6PM (sunset maybe).

If you don't want to use the pools, night might be less crowded when the kids have gone home. It's also very relaxing after a days sightseeing.

It's maybe a bit odd to go off on your seperate ways if you're a couple, but you see lots of Japanese couples there out for the evening.

Check out is self service by machine, but it was easier to go to the counter and deal with a person. They accepted a credit card. I thought it was going to be more expensive but I only had 500 yen or so more to pay, hardly worth using a card. You then get a ticket that lets you leave in the next 10 minutes I think. Just collect your shoes and off you go.

[tequilatamm]

Thanks for the great info, guys!

I'll check out the site in Osaka too. Maybe we'll try to go there, and then if we like it, we'll try one of the two in Tokyo as well.

My husband is indeed a bit bummed that they are segregated male/female, but that's pretty common of all spas in most Asian countries, not just Japan, so it's not that big a deal.

I wouldn't say my husband ISN'T round, and he's about an XXXL at the very least, so the issue of something to wear in the public areas may still be a problem.

If anyone else has any info about LaQua, Oedo, or sizing of bath attire at these places, please post!

[Belton]

on yukata

They're usually graded by height.

because they wrap, bulk isn't *that* much an issue. it just overlaps less. Again there tends to be room around armpits and shoulders, or maybe I amn't that broad across the shoulders. I am over 6 foot though and not entirely slim.
The belts are long enough for any size I'd say.

I can't remember in the onsen but there are big Japanese people too and they must be catered to.

and height just means more of your leg might show maybe. (Be careful sitting down, especially on floor. Men aren't used to wearing skirt like things. haha)

If you're staying in a hotel you can see in privacy of hotel room how a yukata is going to work for you. (Every place I stayed in had yukata for the guests)

By public areas I mean where men and women mix. In the baths and locker rooms you just let it all hang out! You could always get back into street clothes to meet up outside baths in restaurant areas etc.

[tequilatamm]

You know the robes they provide in most 4 and 5 star hotels for the guests to use?

Those generally don't fit around my husband enough to not be indecent.... e.g., there is usually at least a 6 to 9 inch gap in the front.

So that's EXACTLY what we're worried about!

I guess there's no way to tell besides going there and finding out.

And yes.... there ARE big people in Japan... but mostly Sumos, and our entire time in Tokyo, I think we saw one Big Mens shop.

I don't think the idea of "big" in Japan exactly on the same scale, generally.

[Bueller_007]

You know the robes they provide in most 4 and 5 star hotels for the guests to use?

Those generally don't fit around my husband enough to not be indecent.... e.g., there is usually at least a 6 to 9 inch gap in the front.

So that's EXACTLY what we're worried about!

I guess there's no way to tell besides going there and finding out.

And yes.... there ARE big people in Japan... but mostly Sumos, and our entire time in Tokyo, I think we saw one Big Mens shop.

I don't think the idea of "big" in Japan exactly on the same scale, generally.

If you're that worried about the robe, just bring your own. So long as it's in decent condition, I can't imagine anybody would say anything.

[DaiButsu]

I went to LaQua in Tokyo a few years ago and I thought it was worth the effort. It was very large with a variety of different treatments. I went late at night (11pm-ish) so lines were not a problem, but there were a surprisingly large number of people there. It had a number of floors with different treatments on each foor. Like Spaworld, none of the bathing or sauna areas were co-ed. There was also a Eurorean sauna on one floor for an extra charge but I didn't bother.

The bottom floor has a number of different massage rooms, which are used by both men and women. You sign-up at a table out in a lobby area and they call your number when they are ready for you. If I remember correctly, the shiatsu style massage area was just a big open room with a large number of mats or tables. Some of the other massage areas have tables separated by drapes.

The top floor had a co-ed relaxation room, which is nothing more than a big open room with lounge chairs and blankets. This room looks over the baseball stadium and you can order drinks and snack.

As for robe size, I think Bueller-sama has the right idea. Take your own just in case. In some cases you might also be handed a pair of scrubs or pajama-like wear, so you may want to just get and take a pair of scrubs, as well. I'm 6ft and on the beefy side, but I don't recall having problems finding a robe to fit. But why take the chance and ruin a relaxing experience.

For some of the treatments at LaQua you are given a different color robe or scrubs combo. For example, if you purchase the European sauna you will be given a different color outfit so that they know you have paid to be in that area.

I think one of the most important things to remember is that Japan is an extremely service oriented country and culture. They will make sure things are taken care of for you. I'm sure if they don't have something that fits they will think of something. If you've brought your own it just makes it easier on them. If the color doesn't match what you're suppose to be wearing based on what you've purchased they will make sure you get access to what you've paid for.

[tequilatamm]

Thanks once again for all your replies.

In the end, we actually found some thin, cotton Yukata (no kidding, in Australia) in Big Men's sizes, and they were only $35. So we bought one to take along... just in case.

Really looking forward to Spa World in Osaka. We're staying at Swissotel in Namba so we're not very far at all from it.

If we like it, we'll probably go to LaQua or Odaiba in Tokyo.

Looking forward to it!

[Bueller_007]

Thanks once again for all your replies.

In the end, we actually found some thin, cotton Yukata (no kidding, in Australia) in Big Men's sizes, and they were only $35. So we bought one to take along... just in case.

Really looking forward to Spa World in Osaka. We're staying at Swissotel in Namba so we're not very far at all from it.

If we like it, we'll probably go to LaQua or Odaiba in Tokyo.

Looking forward to it!

Swissotel Namba has a great location, and it looks pretty nice (from the exterior at least).

I don't know how the prices compare, but Ritz-Carlton Osaka is generally considered to be one of the best hotels, if not THE best hotel in Japan, so if you decide to spend an extra night in Osaka, you might want to give that a try.

[WCR91]

Isn't the Nagashima Spaland home to the Steel Dragon (Which is supposed to be the biggest roller coaster on record)?

[visual_gaze]

Can anyone please tell me where LaQua or Odaiba are? I know they're in Tokyo but I would like to know how to get to them, whether it be train or bus. Thanks in advance

[Psy]

I don't know about LaQua, but Odaiba can be reached by by taking the Yamanote line to Shimbashi, where you then take the elevated train over the famed "rainbow bridge" to reach Odaiba.