Corridor no Yu is a bathing facility on the 4th floor of Ginza Granbell Square that also serves as the hotel's large bath. You can use it as a day visitor without staying at the hotel. The design idea is “a space that invites introspection”, and the whole floor, including a café and bar and a library, was planned as a place to relax before and after the sauna. It was designed by Kentaro Imai Architects. Everything below is based on the architects' project page and the official website.
Location4F Granbell Square, Ginza 7-chome, Chuo, TokyoCompleted2023DesignKentaro Imai ArchitectsFloor area881.92 m² (renovated area, including plant rooms)
Introduction
A space that invites introspection
“Naikan”, introspection, means looking at yourself and healing yourself through it — an idea shared by mindfulness, Zen and yoga.
A public bathhouse inside a glamorous Ginza complex was unusual. It was planned as a place to face your own mind for a while in the middle of city life.
01 · Up to the 4th floor
A corridor edged with lines of light
The building has a hotel on its upper six floors and shops on the lower three; the bathhouse is on the 4th.
Lines of light run where the corridor walls meet the ceiling, drawing you inside.
A corridor edged with lines of light
02 · Sauna
A 90 °C dry sauna
The sauna is a dry sauna at 90 °C with auto-löyly; an aroma löyly comes every 15 minutes.
The women's side also has a 45 °C steam sauna.
03 · Spa
Monotone baths wrapped in light
The baths are planned in a basic monotone, wrapped in lighting effects.
A bath bathed in blue lightA bath lit through glass blocks
04 · Outdoor rest and lounge
Open-air rest in Ginza, and rest until morning
There is an outdoor rest area — rare in Ginza — with LAFUMA reclining chairs.
The lounge areas include desk space and a library, open until 9:00 the next morning.
The outdoor rest area with rows of chairsThe library with shelves and sofasA rest area with desksThe powder room with rows of basins
What is naikan?
Looking inside yourself.
Corridor no Yu puts “a space that invites introspection” at the centre of its design, creating a quiet bathhouse with light and materials.
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