Egotayu in Nakano: A Geothermal-Inspired Sento Beneath the Street
Explore Egotayu’s cave-like basement baths, carbonated pool and paid dry sauna. It uses softened water, not a natural hot spring.
At Egotayu, the visit starts by heading downstairs. The bathhouse uses its semi-basement location as the whole design idea: dim light, dark surfaces and rippling reflections give the space a sheltered, underground feel. The “Geo Sento” concept is about the atmosphere, not a natural hot spring—the baths use softened water, well water and an artificial carbonated bath.
What the basement design changes
Egotayu opened in 1983 and was remodelled in September 2021. The entrance stairway leads down to a lower-lit bathing area where reflected water moves across the ceiling. The main bath is deliberately shallower than a standard tub, making it possible to recline and look up at those reflections. There is also a carbonated bath, a cold plunge, massage and electric baths, and a dry sauna.
All bath and tap water is softened. That is different from the facility being a natural onsen: the site does not list a certified natural hot-spring source. The carbonated bath is also artificial.
Sauna and bathing fees
Tokyo’s tariff sets adult admission at ¥600 effective August 1, 2026. The sauna is an additional ¥300 and includes a face towel and bath towel.
Together, bath and sauna cost ¥900 for an adult.
The facility’s older static fee page still shows the former ¥520 admission price; use the current Tokyo tariff for the basic bath charge. Free shampoo and body wash are provided.
The sauna is a dry, far-infrared type, not an automatic steam or aufguss room. Its official facility information does not give a fixed temperature. The basement design carries through to the blue-lit cold bath. There is no outdoor bath or dedicated outdoor-air rest area, which matters if you are choosing a place mainly for a full sauna circuit.
Getting there and choosing a time
Egotayu is open 3 p.m.–midnight. It closes Mondays; if Monday is a public holiday, it opens that day and closes Tuesday instead. The walk is about 10 minutes from Shin-Egota Station, 12 minutes from Numabukuro Station or 15 minutes from Ekoda Station. This is not a station-front stop, so allow time for the final residential streets.
The basement setting and strong sauna make Egotayu more of a destination than a quick add-on after a train ride. If you are already in Nakano or the northwest side of central Tokyo, it pairs naturally with dinner nearby. For a central Tokyo bath with a very different selling point—an outdoor rooftop pool—compare Kohmeisen in Nakameguro.
Sources
- [Egotayu: official site and access](https://egotayu.com/) - [Egotayu: baths, fees, amenities and opening hours](https://egotayu.com/facilities.html) - [Tokyo Sento Association: Egotayu feature](https://www.1010.or.jp/mag-lens-39-egotayu/) - [Tokyo Sento Association: adult bathing fee from August 1, 2026](https://www.1010.or.jp/guide/%E5%85%A5%E6%B5%B4%E6%96%99%E9%87%91%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B/) Checked: 2026-09-27Tags: Egotayu, Nakano sento, Tokyo sauna, underground sento
