Kaieiyu in Minowa: Soft Water, Carbonated Baths and Two Very Different Saunas
Kaieiyu near Minowa Station has softened well water, a 37–38°C carbonated bath and ¥600 adult entry; it closes Tuesdays and bars tattoos.
Kaieiyu opened in Minowa in 1950 and was renovated in 2020 under the idea of a “luxury sento in downtown.” It is a public bath rather than a natural hot spring: the facility pumps well water from about 120 metres underground, then softens it for the baths, showers and wash stations.
That soft water is the detail you will notice across the whole bathing area, not just in one tub. The slippery feel can make soap seem as if it has not rinsed off, and the floor may be slick, so take your time when moving around.
A gentle carbonated bath, then a warmer silk bath
The high-concentration carbonated bath is kept around 37–38°C, noticeably milder than a hot sento tub. A silky bath uses fine bubbles and softened water; the men’s side also has an outdoor bath. The facility lists the silky bath and outdoor tub at around 39–40°C.
Both sides have a dry sauna, cold bath and reclining bath. The men’s sauna is listed at 90–100°C and uses automatic Löyly and a hot-air cycle about every 20 minutes. The women’s sauna is hotter on the display, at 100–102°C, with a daily aroma-water pot on the heater. The outdoor bathing space is only on the men’s side, and the venue says it has no plans to switch the bathing sides.
If you want the full hot-cold-outdoor-rest sequence, that layout is available only in the men’s bath. The women’s side has its own high-temperature sauna, but not the same outdoor section.
Current ticket prices and what to bring
Adult bathing costs ¥600; elementary-school students pay ¥200 and preschool children ¥100. The sauna surcharge is separate: men pay ¥750 on weekdays or ¥850 on weekends and holidays; women pay ¥500 or ¥600. Children of elementary-school age and younger cannot use the sauna. A towel set is ¥180.
Cashless payment is available for many purchases, but the hairdryer, bath passes and milk vending machine remain cash-only. The changing-room lockers use ¥100 coins; staff can provide change or lend a coin. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are supplied.
A short walk from the station, but not an overnight stop
Kaieiyu is about a three-minute walk from Exit 3 at Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line. Minami-Senju Station is roughly nine minutes away on foot; the Minowabashi tram stop is about seven minutes away. There is no parking at the facility.
Opening hours are 2 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, and noon to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Last reception is 11:30 p.m. Tuesday is the regular closing day, including when it falls on a public holiday. The operator occasionally changes hours for special dates, so check its latest notice before going.
Tattoos are not allowed regardless of size, and covering them does not make an exception. Kaieiyu also does not offer pre-bath locker use as a running station, so it is not a place to leave your things before a run.
For a nearby bathhouse whose current FAQ allows tattoos, see Yudonburi Sakaeyu in Asakusa. If you are deciding between soft-water sento and a large natural hot spring, start with the Tokyo large day-onsen comparison.
Sources
- [Kaieiyu: current facility information, prices, hours and rules](https://kaieiyu.com/) - [Kaieiyu: Tuesday closing day, effective December 16, 2025](https://kaieiyu.com/news/277) - [Kaieiyu: cashless payments and price changes effective July 8, 2026](https://kaieiyu.com/news/317) - [Taito City official tourism site: Kaieiyu](https://t-navi.city.taito.lg.jp/spot/1322) Checked: 2026-09-27Tags: Kaieiyu, Minowa sento, Tokyo public bath, soft water, Tokyo sauna
