Oedo Onsen Monogatari's Reviews/Tokyo Sightseeing, Super Sentos

Stephe

Oedo Onsen
(2008-11-12)
This is an excellent spot to take your out-of-town guests for a 'dip' into the world of Japanese bathing. Set in a large indoor (dare I say Disney-like?) theme park, there are plenty of activities for those who prefer to keep their yukata on, and several different waters (memory says around 7?) for those who prefer to take them off.

My favorite highlights include:
- When you check in, you will have the option to pick your own yukata for the day/evening. Congratulations, you now look like you belong in medieval Edo (except the locals would probably have no idea what to do with you)
- The village square, complete with beer cart. Just about all of your favorite Japanese snack foods (and drinks) in one convenient area. Menus are in English &/or have pictures for pointing.
- No money required. Just swipe that handy wrist band & pay the piper on your way out. Don't worry, prices are posted.
- The baths truly are excellent, with indoor and outdoor single-sex baths, and several different waters and temperatures to experiences
- Several massage options, though if you go in the evening, make your reservation for a spot as soon as you arrive.
- The outdoor foot bath winds through a pretty garden area. There are acupressure bumps in the bottom, and some are quite insistent. Get to the end of the path and another surprise awaits - Turkish fish foot baths. These are the fish that you saw on TV, that are nature's pedicure in a pool. Those of a ticklish nature should proceed with caution.

I hope you enjoy!

Note: By the way, rumor says that you can get tickets for this sento if you are a guest at the Disney resorts. So I wasn't far off, was I?

(2)

faleelee

Oedo Onsen Monogatari <3
(2008-06-30)
Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a really cute (and extremely tacky) theme onsen near Odaiba. It’s a fun afternoon trip, however, because of all those tacky things that you can do there. When you arrive you are given a scan-able wrist band which you use to pay for the restaurants and bars etc inside. The best part is next, when you go and get your yutaka (casual kimono) and obi (belt) from the yutaka and obi counter. There’s a pretty good selection of (tacky) designs to choose from. Anyhow, you continue on into the mens’ or womens’ changing room, change into your yukata and exit through a different door into the main “street” of Oedo Onsen. This is an indoor replica of an Edo period street filled with bars and restaurants and little game booths. It’s really cute. After a bit of exploring, you can go to the outside walk-through foot onsen, or just head straight to the baths. In the baths they provide you with a towel, facecloth and you can put your yukata in a locker for free. There is also numerous types of massages and treatments that you can enjoy (for an additional cost and a scan of your wristband).
ALERT! This place is full of young couples. There are obviously other people but it’s a popular date spot so maybe you can bring that special someone!
I highly recommend it to anyone who’s visiting Tokyo, even though it IS really tacky. That’s almost part of the charm, in my opinion.

(1)

Susan

Oedo Onsen Monogatari
(2007-10-01)
Supa Sento are a fabled wonderland of physical pleasure. While they have all the wonderful features of onsen, they have more spa-like features. Who wouldn't want to go to a wonderland of physical pleasure? Being a fan of onsen, I headed to Oedo Monogatari which is located conveniently close to the Terukomu sento station in Odaiba.

The name perplexed me. The "monogatari" in the name is the same one that's translated "tale" in the case of The Tale of Genji. The answer is that the Supa Sento is Edo period-themed. At least, that's my best guess. I walked in and followed the normal routine of locking my shoes in a cubby, and payed my entrance fee. Then, I selected my yukata. The selection consists of gaudily rendered woodblock print designs. Some of them are cool; some are simply over the top. Be sure to grab an obi, or sash. This article is critical if you want to keep your yukata shut. I almost forgot this critical piece of equipment.

When I paid my entrance fee, I was given another incredibly critical piece of equipment: my key. There's a small plastic fob that identifies the locker that it opens. Note, you'll find that your locker number is preceded by a hiragana character. The hiragana will correspond to a curtain in the changing room, and behind that curtain, you'll find a small room filled with lockers. If you get totally confused, you can always ask someone. Anyway, the key is on a little arm band, handy since you'll wind up walking around in your birthday suit. Notice also that the key fob has a bar code on it. If you buy anything in the Supa Sento or reserve any special services, you'll be charged via that bar code and pay on the way out.

I made my way to the baths. When I exited the changing room in my gaudy yukata, I walked into the part of the Supa Sento that's themed. Ninjas crouched in the shadows, carnival games had shuriken instead of darts, and a small mote with a mechanical dog inexplicably sitting on a raft. There were also several food stalls and a rustic seating area. I can see this part of the Sento as being a blast for kids, but for me, it fell into the "over the top" category.

The baths themselves were wonderful. Each tub has a thermometer, which is convenient, but the thermometers are calibrated in metric, which may or may not be a problem for you. The day that I went, it was raining. Is there anything as viscerally pleasant as sitting in water so hot steam is rising off of it while raindrops are falling on your head and naked shoulders? No, nothing compares.

From there, I had myself buried alive in scorching hot sand. I made a reservation at the desk in front of the entrance to the baths. There are pictures of most of the available beauty treatments, so if all else fails, you can get by with pointing. I would recommend sunaburo, the sand treatment that I had. For one thing, it was cheap compared to most of the other treatments. My sweltering fifteen minutes buried in sand cost me 1500 yen.

After that, I went for another freebie: there's a water filled walking course outside. The idea is that you walk across this course barefooted. There are differently textured and sized rocks set into the ground. Some of the sections are very difficult to walk over, so take your time.

If you have a few hours to spend leisurely, Oedo Monogatari Supa Sento is a great place to go. I would especially recommend the experience.

(20)

Oedo Onsen Monogatari 大江戸温泉物語 Super Sentos / Odaiba

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