In the article “Japanese Sauna Culture”, I go through the history of Japanese saunas and spas. I also tell about the present-day sauna culture in Japan.
Can you throw water on the sauna rocks in a Japanese sauna?
Are people naked or do you have to wear a swimsuit in the sauna?
Do men and women bath together?
The history of sauna in Japan
The first saunas were smoke saunas built into caves. The ancient Japanese burned fire to bring heat and smoke to the sauna. We also know that in the 900s saunas, water was thrown on the hot sauna stones. These traditions have since been forgotten.
Japan has a longstanding spa culture. The spas are called Onsen or Sento. The Onsen Ryokan is a spa inn located outside the city. Sento is a spa located in a city that uses electricity to heat the water. Rotenburo is a hot spring located outdoors. Ashiyu is a small hot spring for the feet.
You should always shower before entering the pool in a Japanese spa. It is customary for everyone to bathe naked. The Japanese are used to nudity in single-gender saunas and spas.
Who takes a sauna in Japan?
Usually men. However, women are also increasingly interested in saunas. In estimation, there are around 6,000 saunas in Japan, most of them in spas and gyms. Of course, there are also private saunas, as well as spas with Finnish-style saunas.
Visitors usually spend all day in the spas and saunas. One interviewee told of a comic event where a man had spent the whole day in the sauna world. He wanted to bring ice cream to his family after he came back. He woke up his family at 3 a.m. for ice cream when he arrived home from the sauna.
According to the Japan Sauna and Spa Association, about 10 million people take a sauna regularly. That is 8% of the country’s population. The Japanese way of taking a sauna has changed in recent years. Before, it was seen as a physical performance, not a treat. These days, the Japanese have learned to relax and to enjoy their sauna experience.
Saunas in Japan
Spa saunas are so-called dry saunas without a sauna stove. They have a temperature of about 80 ° C and a humidity of 10%.
The spas have hot and cold pools. The Japanese go from the dry sauna to the pool and repeat the procedure a couple of times. It may feel uncomfortable at first but in the end, most people enjoy it.
The spas also have hot tubs. 40-degree water can feel too hot at first so many people take their time going into the pool. I also heard that some Japanese spas have pools that give you small electric shocks. Have you ever heard of this?
In a Japanese sauna, everyone is given a small-sized towel (made of cotton perhaps) which is supposed to cover the front side of the body when moving in the sauna area. When you go into the sauna you can place the towel on top of your head. It helps to protect you from the heat. Some people even wet their towels for better heat protection.
Sadou-The way of sauna
A popular sauna themed manga called “Sadou” was published in 2011. “The way of sauna”, or “Sadou”, has even been turned into a television series. The tv-program is very popular and also talks about the Finnish sauna.
The book was written by Katsuki Tanaka, whose sauna knowledge was originally very poor. After researching the matter, he learned about saunas and especially how the Finns use the sauna. Tanako has been named Ambassador of the Japanese Sauna. He often speaks at sauna-events and has also published a book Sauna Guide for Beginners.
Sauna boom
A real sauna boom has begun in Japan. Young people and women, in particular, are very fascinated with the sauna. They are especially interested in the Finnish style saunas. More and more people want to travel to Finland and experience the authentic Finnish sauna. Smoke saunas are also of interest to the Japanese.
Comfort is an essential part of the Japanese sauna experience. Some saunas even have televisions. In the women’s sauna, the benches are covered with soft mattresses. The electric heater is often hidden, so you cannot see throw water on the sauna rocks.
The Japanese are so enthusiastic about the sauna that they have come up with their own sauna vocabulary. For example, sauna enthusiasts are called saunners. The Japanese also like the German-style Aufguss ritual and call it aufuguusu. Totonou, on the other hand, means the blissful and bright feeling you get after the sauna. Steam, on the other hand, is called rouryu.
Finland Village
Finland Village has probably the only underground smoke sauna in Japan. There is also a lake where you can cool off. Their ice sauna is super cold, -20 degrees below Zero Celsius. Finland Village hosts annual sauna festivals. They also have an association called Finland sauna Club.
Mixed saunas
Mixed saunas are a no go in Japan. There are practically no mixed saunas. The privacy of the body is of great importance for the Japanese. It is therefore understandable that mixed saunas are not considered suitable.
Tattoos and sauna
You may not be able to take a sauna at a Japanese spa if have tattoos. In some places, it is enough to cover the tattoo with a flesh-coloured patch. In other places, you can’t take a bath or sauna at all. Tattoos are strongly associated with Yaguza, the Japanese mafia. Members of Yaguza are unwanted visitors because they scare away other customers.
After the sauna
What do the Japanese do after the sauna? Do they drink beer, alcohol or water? According to rumours, the Japanese drink milk! They also like to drink iced coffee and eat cold fruit. And maybe that ice cream too!
Sauna Glossary: Japanese-English
- Onsen- Spa
- Onsen Ryokan – Spa Inn (outside of cities)
- Sento – Spa (located in the city)
- Rotenburo – Hot spring
- Ashiyu – A small hot spring for the feet
- Sado – Sauna road
- Totonou – Post-sauna state
- Aufuguusu – A German-style Aufguss or steaming ceremony
- Rouryu – Steam
- Saunner – Sauna enthusiast
Finnish saunas in Japan
There are some Finnish or Finnish-type saunas in Japan. Listed below are a few that I found online:
Spaworld.co.jp – Osaka
Saunashikiji.jp –
Lamp-guesthouse.com – Nagano
Moisauna.com – Atomu Tanaka
Tanja has written a few articles on Japanese spa culture on her “Please Be Seated for Takeoff” blog. Here one example: “Onsen is as dear to the Japanese as the sauna to the Finns, but easier to use” (blog post in Finnish).
Are you interested in other sauna cultures? My blog also provides comprehensive information on other sauna cultures. You can even start with Estonian sauna culture.
Read more: Estonian sauna culture
