Gokoyu in Kyoto: Two Saunas, Sunday Morning Hours and Bedrock Bathing
Plan a Gokoyu sento visit with 2026 admission, sauna and bedrock-bath details, Sunday hours, family entry rules, towel costs and access near Omiya-Gojo.
Gokoyu is one of the better-equipped neighborhood sento in Kyoto. The ¥550 adult admission includes sauna use, and the bathhouse lists six types of bath on its first floor, plus two saunas, a cold bath and an outdoor bath upstairs. It is in the Omiya-Gojo area, about two minutes on foot from the Omiya-Gojo bus stop.
The main catch is that the bedrock bath is a separate, reservation-only service. Do not assume it is part of the ¥550 ticket—or use old online prices as a current quote. The operator’s FAQ says to reserve and lists no current bedrock-bath price there.
Hours and admission
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 2:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. |
| Sunday | 7 a.m.–midnight |
| Public holidays | 11 a.m.–midnight |
| Regular closures | Mondays and the third Tuesday of the month |
| Admission | Fare |
|---|---|
| Adult | ¥550 |
| Junior-high student (ID required) | ¥400 |
| Elementary-school child | ¥200 |
| Younger child | ¥100 |
The ordinary sauna is included. If a month starts on Tuesday, the operator moves its monthly break to the third Monday and fourth Tuesday. Holiday periods may have special hours; check Gokoyu’s current notices before setting off.
Kyoto’s child-admission campaign runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Children below junior-high age can bathe free when accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older, but the adult must complete the facility’s QR-code form and show the confirmation screen at reception. The ordinary child fares still apply outside the campaign or when its steps are not completed. Junior-high students pay the listed ¥400 rate and should bring ID.
What you can use on the regular ticket
The Kyoto Sento Association lists six bath types on the first floor. Upstairs are a high-temperature steam sauna, a far-infrared sauna, a cold bath and an outdoor bath; the operator also describes a milky bath and mineral baths. If you like alternating between heat, cold water and an outdoor rest, Gokoyu gives you more variety than a quick neighborhood soak.
The ordinary sauna is included in admission. Towels and toiletries are not. The operator’s current list gives these add-on prices:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Small towel to keep | ¥50 |
| Bath towel | ¥150 |
| Single-use shampoo or conditioner | ¥40 each |
| Soap | ¥50 |
| Hair dryer | ¥20 for three minutes |
Buying one of each adds ¥350, bringing an adult visit to ¥900. That is a budget example, not a set package; bringing your own towel and wash kit keeps the visit close to the ¥550 admission price.
The facility also has a small food counter. Its hours differ by weekday and Sunday/holiday, so do not assume it will be open throughout the bathhouse’s full schedule.
The food counter has shorter hours than the baths. On weekdays, drinks are served from opening until midnight and food until 11:45 p.m. On Sundays and public holidays, drinks run from opening to 1:30 p.m. and again from 5 to 11:15 p.m.; food stops at 1:15 p.m. and resumes from 5 to 11 p.m. Treat it as a modest place to wait for a companion, not a full-service restaurant or lounge.
Bedrock bathing needs a separate plan
Gokoyu offers a reservation-only bedrock-bath service using mineral stones. It cannot be booked as a stand-alone visit: admission to the public bath is also required. The operator says couples and men may use it when there is no women’s reservation; if a woman has booked, she decides whether to share the session.
The current official FAQ does not publish a bedrock-bath price or appointment times. Call 075-812-1126 to confirm availability, price and who can join before arranging your visit. Older blogs may quote a rate that has since changed.
The mineral stones and bath treatments are not proof that Gokoyu uses a legally classified natural hot-spring source. If a documented natural onsen is essential, check the Kyoto sento guide to natural hot springs instead.
Gokoyu is a Kyoto sento with artificial mineral and functional baths, including Bad Gastein- and Komyo-seki-related features. Those names describe the bath treatment or material; they do not establish a natural spring source. The operator does not publish a complete temperature chart for every tub.
Getting there and practical limits
The bathhouse is about a two-minute walk from the Omiya-Gojo bus stop. Hankyu Omiya Station is around ten minutes away on foot. There is a small car park, but spaces are limited; arriving by bus is simpler if you are staying in central Kyoto.
The address is 590-12 Kakimotocho, Kuromon-dori Gojo-agaru, Shimogyo-ku. The operator lists 11 parking spaces, while the Kyoto Sento Association lists 10. Treat it as a small lot that may fill. Parking is free for the first two hours, then ¥500 per 30 minutes; a separate paid lot north of the bathhouse is not operated by Gokoyu.
Kyoto’s tourist information center lists Gokoyu’s tattoo policy as OK. That entry is separate from the operator’s public FAQ, so follow any temporary notice at the bathhouse if one appears.
Gokoyu works well if you want several baths and two sauna styles for one standard sento admission. For an earlier soak nearer Kyoto Station, Sauna no Umeyu opens at 6 a.m.; it has a different mix of facilities and free wash amenities. If you have arrived without towels or toiletries, the Kyoto sento guide for visiting empty-handed explains which supplies are rentals, sales or free amenities.
