Japanese Bath House: A Foreigners GUIDE To Sauna & Sentos
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These often go hand-in-hand with little gardens or sections of potted plants and are guarded with high walls that prevent anyone from looking in. In every bath house, you’ll find a space for scrubbing down. This is usually visible as soon as you step from the change room and into the bathing area. These days, you’re much more likely to hear the term onsen, as true sento are less common than they used to be.
Hours of Operation
Part of the fun about traveling in Japan is immersing yourself in a completely new and different culture. Japanese bath houses (sentos AND onsens) are both unique to Japan, so to travel to Japan and not visit one would be a mistake. Many modern sentō have a sauna with a bathtub of cold water (around 17 degrees Celsius) just outside it for cooling off afterward. Visitors are sometimes expected to pay an extra fee to use the sauna and are often given a wristband to signify this payment. The Japanese Bath House Blue Mountains is a most unexpected gem situated at the western foot of the Blue Mountains.
Tattoo Friendly Public Baths And Hot Springs In Tokyo
These are smaller baths, and usually around 17 C (62 F). There’ll be a water faucet, a showerhead, a mirror, and soaps and shampoos for you to use. You’re also likely to see a small bowl that can be used to mix soap into a scrubbing towel or simply to splash water on your head. Take a seat, and pour hot water over yourself using the bucket. Girls 13 years or younger and boys 8 or younger are usually permitted to enter the baths of either gender. In other prefectures, the cut-off age can be as high as 16 in Hokkaidō or as low as 5 in Hyōgo.
Why Do People Go to Japanese Sentos?
Even if others are in the bath, feel free to enter as long as there is space to sit. Many baths will also provide nonessentials such as conditioner, razors, hair ties, face wash, makeup pads, combs and other items bathers might need after bathing. These items are often complimentary, but in some cases you may need to pay.
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Different Types of Baths
It is recommended that you drink some water beforehand to prevent dehydration. On the other hand, do not drink too much alcohol before bathing; the majority of onsen will ask you to leave if you are intoxicated. The majority of onsen have separate baths for males and females; be sure to set a meeting time and place beforehand.
Some bathhouses emphasize their tradition and run traditionally-designed bathhouses to appeal to clientele seeking lost Japan. These bathhouses are also often located in scenic areas and may include an open-air bath. Some also try drilling in order to gain access to a hot spring, turning a regular bathhouse into a more prestigious onsen. Near the entrance area is a supply of small stools and buckets.
Go ahead and get comfortable with the idea of bathing naked with strangers. Almost all baths are gender-separated, though, so at least you'll have that. Our outdoor Veranda offers a place for you to relax in an oasis while you reduce stress and achieve better focus. We offer complimentary fruit-infused waters, teas, and light snacks. You are welcome to check your laptop, have a quiet chat with friends, read, play games or just take in your surroundings with no distractions, no agenda.
They May Not Let You in With Tattoos
The country is blessed with many hot springs, but this is not the only reason for the popularity of bathhouses. For those who visit sentō, it is an opportunity to cleanse both the body and soul. Back in the day, most Japanese didn’t have baths in their home, so they went to public bathhouses to bathe a few times a week. These sentos were essentially in every neighborhood so the local residents could bathe and socialize. The exception to this rule is if you happen to be at one of the less-common mixed-sex bathing areas.
You should bring a small bag with a change of clothes, towel, and cash for vending machines or food offerings. Many people also bring their own body soap, shampoos, and other toiletries. However, this is up to your personal preference as bath houses provide everything necessary for bathing. That’s right, unlike hot springs in some other countries, there are no bathing suits allowed in Japanese bath houses.
We’ve kept all your favorites (like Goddess and Bliss) and added a few western fusion treatments you are going to love. Move from sauna to shower to pool and back again for as long as you like. We add only salt, herbs, natural clays, and ice to make your skin glow, your senses open, and your mind to let go of the outside world. Okyu (known as ‘moxibustion’) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy that involves the burning of dried mugwort, in the form of small cigar-shaped sticks, on the skin. By creating inflammation to targeted areas, okyu is believed to encourage healing by increasing blood circulation and encouraging the production of white blood cells. It’s even used as an adjunctive treatment for tuberculosis in developing countries.
At public baths, these basics may not be complimentary, but they'll almost certainly be available for rental or purchase. When you’re in the baths, it’s important to remember to keep your voice down – this is a place for relaxation, not chatter! Also, avoid splashing water on others – it’s considered bad manners. When you’re finished, make sure you rinse off one last time before heading back to the changing area.
One key difference between ordinary sentō and their super competitors is that the former have a maximum charge for use, established in local ordinances. Super sentō are free to set their own fees and accordingly offer more to customers, including such features as spaces to eat and parking areas. Families can comfortably spend several hours in these facilities. Edo-period bathhouses can be divided roughly along the lines of whether they allowed mixed bathing or had separate areas for men and women.
And place all your belongings into the facilities’ lockers, or at the front desk before embarking on this cultural experience. In most cases, breakable glass bottles are not allowed in the bathtub for safety reasons. I also offer my services to guide you to the sento, as a writer, or for any various projects linked to the subject.
Some spas even call themselves onsen now, despite using artificially heated water. Behind the bathing area is the boiler room (釜場, kamaba), where the water is heated. The boiler may be powered by heating oil, electricity, or be fuelled by wood chippings or any other suitable fuel source. The tall chimneys of the boilers are often used to locate the sentō from far away. After World War II, Tokyo often had power outages when all bathhouse owners turned on the electric water heating at the same time.
The Kansai region in western Japan boasted a lot of mixed baths. Edo had fewer, but the mixed sentō it did have were popular. For proprietors, having men and women together saved on costs as only one shared facility was required. One innovation was the introduction of yuna bathhouse girls to scrub male customers clean.
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