JAPAN'S BEST-DESIGNED SAUNAS
Introduction
A sento is neither a super-sento nor a spa
Now that almost every home has a bathroom, what does it mean to go to a sento? The architects toured bathhouses with the owner and were moved by people of every age and gender bathing happily together.
The design held firmly to the idea that a sento is a public bath. What had charm was kept; everything else was put in order so that anyone would find it clean.
01 · Bathroom
Keeping the Hokusai tile picture
The grand tile picture in the bathroom was repaired and partly restored, and is lit from above with indirect light.
The bath and tap tiles and all the plumbing were renewed.
02 · Sauna
A sauna scented with herbs
The sauna is a herbal sauna with auto-löyly, roomy enough for each person to relax.
03 · Outdoor bath and rest
A 160 cm cold bath and rest under the sky
The men's large outdoor bath was enclosed with a fence, and a big tree was kept.
A new cold bath 160 cm deep was added, with room along the fence for outdoor resting chairs.
What is miyazukuri?
A way of building with a large, curving roof like a shrine or temple. It is common among Tokyo's sento.
At Hottayu the entrance was moved to the centre of the building so it would be symmetrical with the great temple-style roof.
