Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba

Odaiba island is a must visit. It is home to some of peculiar architecture.

There are many ways to go to Odaiba, by bicycle, car, walk, ferry, train but I recommend taking the automatic monorail (Yurikamome) from Shimbashi Station. Get the ¥800 Yurikamome pass for a day and you can travel around Odaiba (To see Tokyo Mega Web, Palette Town -Venus Fort, Fuji TV, Driver City - newest mall that opened April 2012, for Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation where you can allegedly play football with a robot, and see planetarium, Tokyo's only man made beach - no swimming, Maritime museum, Tokyo big sight etc. To buy yurikamome ticket individually will make you cry blood. I did (but no blood involved), as I didn't know about the pass. 

The Yurikamome station is next to Shimbashi Station

Yurikamome - get to the first door as you can see more view!

View from yurikamome

I would recommend traveler to at least try one public onsen not far from Tokyo - Oedo Onsen Monogatari. It has Edo (1603 - 1868) theme and included in your entry fee (under ¥2000 and ¥500 cheaper after 6 PM) is a set of Yukata which pattern you are free to choose, a locker, toiletries, bath and access to the public onsen (indoor and outdoor), sauna and the foot bath. Sure it is much more expensive than the neighbourhood sento or public bath but it is designed for local and international tourist. 

Spend half a day soaking yourself and go around the small theme onsen is enough to make your tired body happy. For guys only, they even can stay in the next door capsule hotel. They also have onsen service for the dogs. They provide free shuttle bus which you have to book first. 

One thing to note, you have to strip down, and can only bring a small towel inside the bath. Everybody will be naked and nobody care, as Japanese are so used to it from young. No person with Tattoos allowed (Perhaps tattoos is closely associated to mafia. I read somewhere there is a public bath in Narita accepts tattoos. 

Oedo Onsen Monogatari gate

For the dog it is building next door

Shoes locker before you pay entrance fee

Entry to the bath

I would stay here on tatami mat forever - it was so comfortable - food for your feet

Women bath - they have several different pool and a nice garden outdoor  bath and 6 individual big wooden bucket with 40 degrees water temperature. It was heaven to take at night time when the outside temperature drops down

Locker - "the great wave of Kanagawa" touch is cool!

Yukata with a sleeve for your personal stuff

The 'Edo' City

Apparently scratch was there during Edo time 

A traditional Japanese dessert

Japanese traditional games

Corridor to other beauty service like Stone Spa etc

To the foot bath outdoor area

See the steam?

I have no idea what this for - about your feet, direction?

They have food stalls and small restaurant around the town

You don't have to pay now, everything you purchased will be scanned with this tag, which is also has your locker key and you pay when you check out

Any place is not complete without the soft ice cream 

A room to eat and chat - they also have separate room on second floor to rest in a massage chair and has tv

fancy a customised sticker with Japanese touch - they have it

For those who stay overnight or when the food closes

A temporary show by four men who called themselves ikemen (good looking man). They sang, dance and did a sword performance with a little bit of humour. 

Personally, i like Oedo Onsen Monogatari for its close proximity to Tokyo downtown and its wooden bucket bath, it is a luxury though you have to share with other people. The only downside is the food, they are nothing special.