Just 45 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, a secluded mountain retreat in the Dandenong Ranges is quietly offering something that feels far removed from Victoria altogether, with a hyper-detailed, Kyoto-inspired escape complete with private onsen-style bathing and traditional ryokan stays.
Tucked away in Montrose, the 5-acre, adults-only Japanese Mountain Retreat has built a reputation as one of the state’s most transportive short-stay experiences. And with Japan continuing to top Australians’ travel wishlists, experiences like this are increasingly stepping in to fill the gap closer to home.
A private take on the onsen ritual
While Melbourne has no shortage of bathhouses and hot spring destinations, most lean toward communal bathing. Here, the experience is deliberately more intimate. Each booking includes access to a completely private outdoor mineral bath, enclosed and hidden within dense bamboo and landscaped gardens.
Relax and reconnect in heated natural mineral waters sourced from 80 metres below the ground, with guests able to bathe outdoors in either a traditional Japanese cedar hot tub or a rock pool surrounded by Japanese-style gardens. The retreat heats its mineral waters to between 37°C and 39°C, making the baths especially appealing during the colder months in the hills.
Stone lanterns, timber detailing and the soft sounds of the surrounding ranges deepen the illusion, while consistently heated mineral waters make the experience especially appealing during the colder months in the hills. Because the bathing areas remain completely secluded, guests can choose to forgo swimwear in line with traditional Japanese onsen customs—a notable point of difference in a state where most bathing experiences revolve around shared or heavily structured spaces.
In addition to the outdoor bathing areas, the retreat also features an indoor Roman bathhouse beneath a high domed ceiling, complete with exotic marble, intricate mosaics, an adjoining steam room and private shower facilities. The space is designed to recreate the opulence of traditional Middle Eastern bathhouses, offering a striking contrast to the minimalist Japanese gardens outdoors.
Stepping into a ryokan stay
The retreat leans fully into its Japanese influence beyond the baths. Guests are provided with yukata robes on arrival, often worn as they move between bathing areas and accommodation. Overnight stays take place in ryokan-style suites, where shoji screens, tatami flooring and low futons create a pared-back, minimalist aesthetic.
The retreat pairs these traditional elements with modern comforts, including deep soaking tubs and carefully climate-controlled interiors, creating a balance between authenticity and luxury.
Dining is also part of the immersion. Multi-course Japanese meals are served on-site, alongside charcoal-grilled dishes that reflect classic robata-style cooking. It’s a slower, more deliberate approach to dining that mirrors the broader experience of the retreat.
The restaurant places a strong emphasis on locally sourced Victorian produce, with ingredients carefully selected from farmers, artisans and producers across the Yarra Valley and wider state. Menus feature premium grass-fed meats, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and microgreens, paired with Yarra Valley wines and imported Japanese condiments to create a dining experience centred around layered, carefully balanced flavours.
Activities to do nearby
Beyond the retreat itself, the surrounding Dandenong Ranges offer plenty to explore. Just a short drive away, Puffing Billy Railway remains one of Victoria’s most iconic heritage attractions, operating beautifully preserved 1900s steam trains through fern-filled forests, towering mountain ash trees and historic timber trestle bridges.
For something slower-paced, Sherbrooke Falls offers a peaceful rainforest walk along gravel paths lined with giant tree ferns and dense native bushland. The relatively gentle trail winds towards a cascading waterfall, while wombats, blue parrots and lyrebirds regularly appear throughout the surrounding bushland.
Otherwise, visitors looking to extend the slower pace of the weekend can also wander through the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, a sprawling 36-hectare garden renowned for its seasonal colour displays.
Getting there
Getting to Japanese Mountain Retreat from Melbourne is relatively straightforward, with the drive from the CBD taking around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Most visitors travel via the Eastern Freeway and EastLink before winding through the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges toward Montrose.
For those without a car, public transport is also possible, although slower. Trains from Melbourne’s CBD run to nearby stations including Lilydale and Bayswater, where visitors can connect to local buses or short taxi and rideshare trips into Montrose.
With Melbourne moving into the colder months, the appeal becomes even stronger, as a short drive from the city leads straight to a steaming outdoor bath framed by mist, forest and crisp mountain air.