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Note that I have photos of myself in the sento in this post, but I was in the sento before opening hours and had special permission from the owners to take photos for the purpose of this article. However, times are changing, and most sentos owners are aiming to be more accepting of tattoos. Now around 90% of the sentos in Tokyo gladly accept those with tattoos into their premises to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. If you “try” to wear a bathing suit in the sento, I promise you that you will feel more awkward than being naked. It’s not likely that a Japanese person will say anything to you, but they will not be pleased on the inside.
Things to Know Before You Use Onsen and Sento
Entering a sento for the first time can be a particularly nerve-wracking affair for the unsuspecting foreigner. The thought of baring for all and sundry is just a little over the top for your average, gun-shy tourist. But for those prepared to take the plunge, the bathhouse offers an energy-priming prelude to a night out on the town or a revitalizing soak after a long day. 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.
How to Use a Sento: Japanese Bathhouse Etiquette
Most head spa treatments start with a consultation in which the client communicates the unique conditions of their hair and scalp so the treatment can be customized to their needs. The Japanese practice of ‘shinrin-yoku,’ or forest bathing, is the simple act of immersing oneself in the forest without distractions (like your phone). Reported to improve sleep, mood, ability to focus, and relieve stress and muscle tension, forest bathing is considered so effective it’s considered a of preventative healthcare in Japan.
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They have changing rooms with high latticed ceilings, small courtyard gardens, and large murals painted above the baths. This basic structure remains today, although features such as tiles and taps have been added through the years. According to materials produced by a bathhouse association, sentō reached their height of their popularity in 1968, when there were 18,325 located across the country. Just 5 minutes away from Koenji Station, Kosugi-yu has been around for over 84 years and has been the neighbourhood’s de facto communal meeting place. This was especially so when many houses didn’t have a bathroom, so it became a daily routine to catch up with one’s neighbours in the public bath. The recent renovation shifted its botanical theme to a ‘bubble lounge’ theme.
Haginoyu’s main bath features microbubbles that purportedly deeply cleanses the pores on your skin. It also has two different cold water baths, which are meant to aid muscle recovery and boost metabolism, making it a popular bath amongst athletes. There is an outdoor ‘garden’ bath in the men’s room, which is perfect for both lazing on a sunny afternoon or star-gazing at night. In the women’s room, there is a ‘beauty skin lab’ on the second floor. It consists of a steam sauna and a ‘silky’ carbonated bath with ultra-fine microbubbles, said to deeply cleanse and promote clear and healthy skin.
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Hasunuma Onsen is gorgeous and brings you back to a different era in Japan. This is another 3rd generation owned family sento and onsen. Here you can find a carbonated spring, cold bath, sauna, and hot spring bath (be careful – it’s really hot)!
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Komaeyu Public Bathhouse / Schemata Architects + Jo Nagasaka.
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Often referred to as "super sento" and much larger than the traditional sento, these bathing complexes feature a range of pools, saunas and fitness facilities. Some of the largest ones resemble small theme parks and offer various dining, entertainment and relaxation services. Accordingly, many customers spend extended time periods there. Some of them are even open 24 hours and could be considered as budget accommodation. Rooted in Japanese tradition, bath houses are still very much a part of daily living here, although sadly we're seeing more and more closing down since modern homes are now equipped with baths. Still, no-one's going to dispute the absolute heaven of stepping into a steaming healing bath, especially in the middle of winter.
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If there are multiple baths, feel free to move from one bath to another. Once done bathing, dry off with your small towel before entering the changing room. You can partially cover yourself with a small towel while walking around the baths, but culture dictates that this towel should never touch the water. Most people will either wear the towel on their head or place it on the edge of the bath. You'll see some bathers who attempt to cover their genitals with this towel while walking around, but most don't bother.
Japanese Bathhouse Etiquette You Must Know Before Visiting Japan
However, on the whole they’re still seen as inappropriate, especially in bath houses. If you’re inked up, there’s no doubt that your access to traditional Japanese bath houses will be limited. This is connected to a deeper societal stigma around tattoos in Japan. Many bath houses also offer massage services, relaxation rooms, gift shops and even restaurants.
In our hyper-connected age, arguably its greatest appeal is that it provides a chance to disconnect from technology. Instead, one engages in a sort-of walking meditation, noticing and engaging with all the intricate elements of the forest—from listening to the birds to touching the bark of trees. Whether you’re seeking a healing spa treatment or immersion in nature, you’ll want to try these six experiences the next time you’re in Japan. One of the things that Charles really wanted to do in Tokyo was to visit a traditional Japanese bath house. If you watch the show Girls, the Tokyo episode (which is a treat even if you don’t watch the show) featured a scene at a bath house.
As an example, in the northern suburbs of Osaka, a mega-sento was built in the 1960's for families to experience the community's spirit of yesteryear. Operating 24/7, this sento is a more modest and family-oriented version of some of the wilder forms of sento entertainment that exist today. Once through the noren, customers undress, place their clothes and other items in a locker, and proceed to the washing and bathing area. Generally they are expected to bring their own toiletries or purchase them at the sentō. Bathers wishing to be discreet can use a towel or washcloth to cover themselves. The times are changing slowly (veeeerry slowly), and young people in particular are becoming more open minded when it comes to tattoos.
There are many hot spring districts in Japan, but some of the most popular are Hakone, Arima Onsen, and Beppu. Changing facilities are separated depending on gender, so make sure you enter the right one. Get undressed right down to your birthday suit and shut everything in the locker, except your towel and toiletries. Put the face towel or normal towel on one of the shelves outside the bathing area, for easy access to dry yourself once you get out.
Nowadays, as most households have their own bath, the number of traditional public baths has decreased, but they can still be found in many of the more old-fashioned city neighborhoods. Even as sentō gradually decline in numbers, spa-like commercial baths have continued to gain in popularity. Known as super sentō, they feature saunas, specialized baths, and other unique amenities. There are even super sentō that combine sports and recreation facilities. The bathhouse offers five different types of special baths, including natural hot springs, jet baths and a denki buro, or electric bath. Said to help with relieving pain, the denki buro runs a low electric current through the hot spring water that might give unsuspecting patrons a mild shock.
In the bathing area, grab a stool and a bucket and wash yourself. If the place isn’t crowded, you can leave your toiletries there. After washing yourself and removing all soap and lather, enter the tub of your choice. When you’re done, towel off at the sinks before going back into the changing room. However, the sento remains a veritable oasis in many communities, especially in the suffocating summers and brass-monkey winters, and recreational reincarnations have kept the spirit alive.
In spite of this, laws regarding mixed-sex bathing were soon relaxed again. Larger scale public bathing facility types are called super sentō and kenkō land, both more expensive than sentō, though super sentō offer a more modest price compared to kenkō. 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. 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.
Sento, or public bathhouses, were once a staple of Japanese neighborhood life. These bastions of communal bathing allow customers to pay a small fee to shower and then soak in a variety of tubs. In Japan, it is customary to remove one's shoes when entering a private home.
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