JAPAN'S BEST-DESIGNED SAUNAS13 saunas
Sentō: Japan's neighbourhood bathhouses, with a sauna
A sentō is a public bathhouse for the neighbourhood. These sentō have saunas, and many keep their old character: tile pictures, a Mt Fuji mural, a chimney over the outdoor bath.
A sento's leftover space, turned into an open-air rest area
A car park turned into a half-outdoor rest area
A “travel-mood sento” that keeps its Showa-era tile pictures
An 80-year-old sento updated for today
A Mt Fuji mural and a bathroom of pale blue tile
A bath you walk through, and tubs you enter without stepping over
A “terrarium sento” with a big aquarium and greenery
An auto-löyly sauna walled with bakuhan stone and a 13 °C big cold bath
A cave sauna of lava tile and a round, cocoon-like sauna
A mugwort steam salt sauna and a big outdoor bath with a view of Skytree
A city sento with a far-infrared sauna and a carbonated bath
Modern Japanese, with just a touch of the exotic
A hot spring sento running since the Taisho era, renovated to open onto the street
Planning a visit
Hours, cold baths and tattoo rules for these 13 saunas
Nearest stations: Ikejiri-Ohashi.
| Sauna | Area | Hours | Cold bath | Tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kairyoyu | Shibuya | — | — | — |
| Bunka Yokusen | Ikejiri-Ohashi | — | Softened well water | Allowed — people with tattoos can use the bath. |
| Hasunuma Onsen | Nishi-Kamata | — | — | Allowed — people with tattoos may use the bath. |
| Hottayu | Nishiarai | — | Outdoor cold bath 160 cm deep on the men's side | — |
| Chiyonoyu | Gakugei-Daigaku | — | — | — |
| Taiheiyu | Aoi | — | — | — |
| Kua Palace Fuji | Itabashi | — | — | — |
| Koganeyu Tokyo | Kinshicho | 6:00–9:00 / 11:00–24:30; closed 2nd and 4th Mondays | Big cold bath 13 °C (90 cm deep), cold bath 18–20… | — |
| Koganeyu Shinjuku | Shinjuku | 12:30–24:00 (from 26 August, until 9:30 the next morning)… | THE POTION (natural groundwater, about 15–16 °C)… | — |
| Oshiage Onsen Daikokuyu | Oshiage | Weekdays 15:00–10:00, Sat 14:00–10:00, Sun & holidays… | Yes | Allowed — the official website says “tattoo OK”. |
| RAKU SPA 1010 Kanda | Kanda | 11:00–8:00 the next morning (last entry 7:00; varies by… | Yes | Not allowed — irezumi, fashion tattoos and tattoo… |
| Eastland | Shinozaki | — | — | — |
| Yakushi Onsen | Yakushi | 6:00–23:00 (open every day) | — | — |
From each official website. “—” means the official information we checked does not say.
Questions visitors ask
Which saunas in Japan stay open after midnight?
Koganeyu Tokyo (6:00–9:00 / 11:00–24:30; closed 2nd and 4th…), Koganeyu Shinjuku (12:30–24:00 (from 26 August, until 9:30 the…), Oshiage Onsen Daikokuyu (Weekdays 15:00–10:00, Sat 14:00–10:00, Sun &…), RAKU SPA 1010 Kanda (11:00–8:00 the next morning (last entry…).
Can I go in with tattoos at the saunas in Japan?
Bunka Yokusen: Allowed — people with tattoos can use the bath.; Hasunuma Onsen: Allowed — people with tattoos may use the bath.; Oshiage Onsen Daikokuyu: Allowed — the official website says “tattoo OK”.; RAKU SPA 1010 Kanda: Not allowed — irezumi, fashion tattoos and tattoo stickers.. For the others, check the official website or ask before you go.
Which saunas in Japan have a place to rest outdoors?
Kairyoyu, Bunka Yokusen, Hottayu, Koganeyu Tokyo, Koganeyu Shinjuku have an outdoor rest area, according to their official websites.
Can I pay without cash at the saunas in Japan?
Kairyoyu: Credit cards and QR payments (the hair dryers take cash only).; Bunka Yokusen: Credit cards are not accepted.; RAKU SPA 1010 Kanda: Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Discover, Diners Club), e-money…. Other places do not state payment methods on their official websites.
What are the nearest stations for the saunas in Japan?
The stations mentioned most often are Ikejiri-Ohashi Station. Every sauna page has directions and the address in Japanese.
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