The Japanese Bath House is a hidden gem and hot spring located in the Blue Mountains, 140 kilometres from Sydney, with the mountains at its back and facing the lake. Its biggest feature is the Japanese-style architectural design, which creates a feeling of being in Japan while soaking in the hot spring!
Our experience
Before you go
It’s about a one-and-a-half-hour drive, so please make sure to use navigation, or you might easily miss the entrance to the hot spring inn.
Since the hot spring is up in the mountains and there’s no Wi-Fi, your phone will have almost no signal. Be sure to record all check-in details on your phone before you go. After all, it’s a self-service Japanese hot spring retreat.
Private bath experience at the Japanese Bath House
Upon arrival, a thoughtful Japanese staff member will guide you through each outdoor hot spring pool. The facility is spacious, offering various pools of different sizes and temperatures. It’s recommended to visit during the daytime to soak in the hot springs while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Blue Mountains and nearby lakes, accompanied by a gentle breeze – truly soothing!
At the designated time, the staff will take you to the bath area, where you can enjoy both the scenic views and the hot springs! The private bath area is exceptional, situated at a slightly higher elevation to provide panoramic views. They even provide lemon-infused water! The ambience is enhanced by relaxing music, pleasant aromas, and well-equipped facilities.
After enjoying the private bath, a therapist will come to the room for a massage, followed by a serving of hot tea! Food is not included in the package, but they offer simple Japanese meals such as eel rice, beef rice, and udon noodles, which are delicious!
Reservation is a must! When we booked, they only accepted reservations through email. It’s advisable to book your desired time slot for soaking in the hot springs in advance. If you like, you can also add a massage session, with various durations to choose from!
Food and Meals
Food is not included in the package, but if you choose to dine here, they offer simple Japanese dishes such as eel rice, beef rice, udon noodles, and the flavours are quite good!
Staying at the Japanese Bath House
The advantage of staying at the Japanese Bath House is being able to experience the hot springs at night! The hot spring pools close at 10 PM, and there are fewer guests at night!
This Japanese hot spring guesthouse, we finally managed to arrange a visit for both myself and my good friend. Our schedules were so hard to coordinate that by the time we confirmed, the Tokyo suite we initially wanted was already fully booked! It’s incredibly popular! So, we each booked a room: Nara and Kyoto.
Overall, the experience was fantastic! There are plenty of traditional kimonos available in the guesthouse for you to choose and take pictures.
Each room also comes with its own private hot spring bath (no need to share with others), which we found to be quite private and enjoyable! The living room is a common area with fairly comprehensive facilities.
Again if you want to book accommodation, you must do it in advance, very much in advance! The rooms are limited, and you definitely don’t want to miss the Japanese hot spring experiencing in winter!
Address: 46 Explorers Rd, Katoomba NSW 2780
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