Spa World Hotel & Resort (formerly Spa World)

A 24-hour world-onsen theme park below Tsutenkaku — tattoos fine with cover stickers

Spa World opened in 1997 in Osaka’s Shinsekai district right beside Tsutenkaku tower, three minutes from Shin-Imamiya and Dobutsuen-mae stations. The 4F Europe Zone (an ancient Roman bath recreating the Trevi Fountain, Greek, Mediterranean, Finnish sauna — seven kinds) and the 6F Asia Zone (Japanese stream rotenburo, Islamic, Balinese, hinoki — six kinds) swap between men and women each month; the 8F has an indoor pool with slides, the 3F bedrock baths themed on eight countries. Open 24 hours (maintenance 08:45–10:00), it suits dawn arrivals and overnight stays, and ¥1,500 for baths only, towels and lounge wear included, is cheap for the scale. Most important for foreign visitors is the tattoo policy: entry is allowed if tattoos are hidden with cover stickers — the most tolerant of Osaka’s big facilities. Conversely the water is recirculated, chlorinated simple spring — not a place for water quality — and weekends and school holidays are packed with children.

Tips & cautions

- Men’s and women’s zones swap monthly — check the official site for this month’s allocation if you want a particular zone.

- Staying past midnight adds ¥1,300 + ¥150. If using it as overnight lodging, recliner seats are contested.

- Tattoos: admitted with cover stickers (not if too large to hide); stickers sold at the shop.

- Pool needs swimwear (rental available); pool prices rise in summer holidays and weekends.

- Weekend daytimes are very crowded — go weekday mornings or late at night.

- Pair with Shinsekai’s kushikatsu street and Tsutenkaku for a half-day.

Getting there

3 min on foot from Shin-Imamiya (JR Loop and Nankai lines), from exit 5 of Dobutsuen-mae (Osaka Metro Midosuji and Sakaisuji lines), or from Hankai tram Shin-Imamiya-ekimae — Ebisu-higashi 3-4-24, Naniwa-ku. ~45 min from Kansai Airport by Nankai line. 100 paid parking spaces.