Saunas in Japan: The Japanese-Scandinavian Staple That’s Trending Today

Many people might choose to wash away their worries in the traditional Japanese onsen (hot springs), but did you know there are also 17.8 million people who go to saunas regularly as of 2024? Known as “saunners,” these sauna enthusiasts are the driving force behind an ongoing boom in Japan, which considers sweating away all the toxicities of everyday life to be just as therapeutic as a hot bath. With over 10,000 saunas scattered throughout the archipelago, you might just find that the Japanese sauna is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and even connect with locals in ways only sitting together in a steamy room can offer.

History Behind Saunas

Did you know Japan’s sauna culture owes its existence to the Olympics?

The bathhouse and onsen cultures are long embedded in Japanese history. On the other hand, the sauna is a relatively new phenomenon that started in 1957 when a public bathhouse in Ginza called “Tokyo Onsen” installed Japan’s first dry sauna facility. The company’s president, a member of Japan’s national shooting team for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, got the idea after seeing the sauna brought in by Finnish athletes.

However, it wasn’t until the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when Finnish athletes brought in sauna equipment once more, this time right into Tokyo’s own Olympic Village that the first sauna boom officially kick-started. Now, the Finnish sauna can be traced back 2000 years and was originally used as a way for people to stay warm in the region’s cold climate. It eventually evolved into a relaxing activity that granted both health benefits and a space for social interaction. Many hotels, bathhouses, and sports facilities in Japan would then install their own saunas, a precursor of the various establishments at the forefront of the second sauna boom.

From the 1970s to the 1980s, “spa lands,” alongside the similarly marketed “health centers” and “super sento (public bath),” with their all-in-one facilities of baths, restaurants, and even massage parlors became popular amongst families. Previously, most saunas were men-only, leading to the image that only old men visit saunas. However, these establishments introduced separate saunas for men and women, further spreading interest amongst the general population.

Today, saunas have been trending again and this third sauna boom is usually credited to the TV adaptation of Katsuki Tanaka’s Manga Sadou (“The Way of the Sauna”), which aired in 2019. A second season, aired in 2021, is set in a post-COVID era where people are finally allowed to visit saunas once more, something that resonated with people around the country. The drama also introduced the concept of “totonou,” a state of mental and physical bliss achieved by spending time in a sauna, taking a cold plunge, then relaxing in the fresh air before repeating the cycle all over again. This rejuvenating ritual with proven mental and physical benefits has understandably made it popular amongst the modern-day population, especially those looking to shed any stress and/or worries.

What is a (Japanese) Sauna?

A sauna is a heated room, usually made out of wood, that utilizes either “dry heat” from hot stones or an electric stove, or “wet heat” from a steam generator found inside the room. Many Japanese saunas are dry saunas, characterized by higher temperatures of 80 degrees Celsius and lower humidity levels of 10 percent as compared to a wet sauna. However, many different types exist in Japan, each offering an equally unique experience for first-timers and saunners alike.

Different Types of Saunas in Japan

Mist

This sauna involves the steam being redirected into the room instead of being generated inside. The temperature is noticeably lower than a dry sauna at around 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, making it easier to stay in for long periods. Some places even use herbs for their mist, easing you into a deeper state of relaxation as it slowly warms up your body.

Salt

A kind of sauna that promotes skincare on top of the usual health benefits. Here, rubbing special salt like Himalayan salt onto your skin exfoliates it, an effect enhanced by the heat from the sauna and leaving you with soft skin to show for your rejuvenating sauna session.

Löyly (Rouryu in Japanese)

Imported straight from Finnish sauna culture, “löyly” actually refers to the steam that arises when water hits the hot stones on top of a wood-burning stove, which has traditionally been used to heat sauna rooms. In a self-löyly sauna, you’re able to ladle the water onto the stones and control the temperature yourself. Feel the fresh, hot steam envelop your body as the temperature gradually cools down, marking the time for the next pour.

Aufguss

A German-style sauna where water is poured over hot stones by an attendant (known as an “aufgusser” or “neppashi” in Japanese), who then fans the steam in the bathers’ direction with a towel. Sometimes, the towel is infused with aroma oils, sending pleasant scents for an even more therapeutic experience your way.

Whisking

As its name suggests, this technique from Finnish and Eastern European sauna culture involves gently whipping, tapping, and brushing your skin with a bundle of branches (a “whisk”) after your body has warmed up from the sauna. Doing so actually helps your muscles relax, improves your blood circulation, and even imbues your skin with therapeutic oils and vitamins depending on the type of twigs used.

How to Use Sauna in Japan

Before the Sauna

Make sure your body is completely clean before entering the sauna by taking a full shower. Then, it’s recommended to take a brief soak in a bath to warm up your body, making it easier to sweat in the sauna.

Inside the Sauna

Assuming you have been provided with a small towel, you can use it to cover up during your time in the sauna if you prefer. Note that though some places do require you to wear bathing suits, going naked in either the bath or sauna areas is a perfectly acceptable practice in many facilities in Japan. You can then wet the towel and put it on your head for heat protection when you’re not using it, or get a special sauna hat from the facility for the same effect.

If sauna mats are also available, you can take one with you and lay it on your bench. The recommended period for staying in the sauna is between 6 and 12 minutes, and there’s usually a clock in the sauna that’ll help you track your time. Of course, it’s important to pay attention to your body as staying too long can make you dizzy or dehydrated. Make sure to take your mat with you when you leave and rinse it off before returning it.

Entering the Cold Bath

Rinse off any sweat in the shower before getting in the cold water bath. For both cases, make sure to wash or submerge yourself slowly and part-by-part to avoid a cold shock. It’s recommended to stay in the bath for only thirty seconds to a minute, again to make sure that your body doesn’t cool down too much.

Relax & Feel the Breeze

If you’re in for the full totonou experience, head to one of the chairs in the rest area after thoroughly wiping off any excess water. Feel the breeze hit your body, and relax for those 5-10 minutes as your blood vessels expand and you’re hit with waves of euphoria. Take the time to rehydrate with one of the drinks from the vending machines before starting the cycle once more.

General Precautions & Other Japanese Bathhouse Etiquette

Always shower before entering or reentering the bath and sauna, and always rehydrate before and after entering the sauna to replace the minerals you lost by sweating them out.

Note that in Japan, most onsens and sentos, and thus saunas, are separated for men and women. In the cases where mixed groups are allowed, wearing swimsuits is required. Moreover, depending on the facility, you might not be allowed to talk inside the sauna, which is a rule often enforced after the COVID-19 pandemic. It might also not be possible to enter a sauna if you have tattoos, but some places provide a patch that you can use to cover up if your tattoo is small enough.

While the etiquette is generally uniform throughout Japan, it’s important to check the rules of each specific bathhouse beforehand to be sure what exactly you can and cannot do within their facilities.

Recommended Sauna Spots

Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort (Hokkaido)

What better way to experience saunas to the fullest than to go back to the origin of why it came to be: by taking it amid the coldest weather imaginable whilst you sit in the warm comforts of the sauna. Watch the ice drifting along Hokkaido’s Sea of Okhotsk through the window of Kitakobushi’s gorgeously designed sauna, and gradually take in the boundless natural beauty of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, for your moment of fresh air, go up to the Tokonou Terrace and immerse yourself in an obstructed view of the sea, mountains, and starry night sky from all sides.

Website link: https://www.shiretoko.co.jp/onsen/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7XHnJ41jrQYSETVQA

Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya (Aomori)

The first festival-themed concept sauna in Japan already promises a unique experience. Centered around Aomori’s iconic nebuta festival, which sees giant, intricately designed floats paraded throughout the city, expect to be greeted by one such float the moment you step into the sauna room. The automatic löyly system is synchronized with the climax of the festival music playing in the background, the temperature rising to reflect the levels of excitement from the actual parade. It’s a sauna that’ll recharge you not with its calm environment, but with energetic, heart-pumping music. Lose yourself in the heat from the sauna and this one-of-a-kind Japanese tradition.

Website link: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/aomoriya/activities/14134/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mdQ3bbCLCV5FDbPg6

Guest House LAMP (Nagano)

Get away from the big city crowds in beautiful Nagano, Japan’s premier ski destination known for its bountiful nature and delicious, high-quality produce. This rustic getaway makes you feel at home in its Finnish-style wooden huts, nestled right in the middle of an idyllic Scandinavian forest. Sit around the wooden stove with its soothing heat and aromas, basking in the ambient sounds of the forest around you. Take a refreshing plunge in the natural groundwater from Mt. Kurohime, or jump straight into Lake Nojiriko just a short distance away. Cleanse away your worries in the untainted air and clear waters of Nagano where tradition and nature abound.

Website link: https://lampinc.co.jp/en/nojiriko/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmVZsGyVkEHfK5vf6

Nolla naguri (Saitama)

A facility where you can experience Scandinavian culture in Japan’s sprawling nature. Here, you can rent a private tent sauna and enjoy whisking and self-löyly with the aromatic steam of your choice. Cool off in the outdoor bath with the sight of Naguri’s forest and mountain range spread out all around you. Sample some Nordic drinks and desserts from the nearby stand, or get hands-on with the Scandinavian-style BBQ featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Website link: https://www.nolla-naguri.jp/#booking_box

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1hGA8htQteyQ64Hy6

Sauna Tokyo (Tokyo)

A newcomer that’s already making waves as the official, largest sauna facility in the Kanto region. Its superior size comes with even higher quality saunas, of which there are five: an auto-löyly, self-löyly, meditation sauna, super dry sauna, and a steam sauna. The last two are reminiscent of a Showa-era sauna and an Edo-era steam bath respectively, allowing you to take a trip back in time in your moment of peace and tranquility.

Website link: https://sauna-tokyo.jp/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/a8mfwqgTKGvBKzon6

Shibuya SAUNAS (Tokyo)

A sauna whose design was supervised by Katsuki Tanaka, author of the manga that sparked the third sauna boom. The harmony between its minimalist architecture and lush outdoor bathing space is especially geared towards helping you reach your own state of harmony between your body and mind, or the totonou state. With two separate wings, each with several unique saunas that’ll engage your five senses, you’d definitely want to come back to try out all that this facility has to offer.

Website link: https://saunas-saunas.com/en/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YWASvYanhQKGqEea6

CYCL (Yamanashi)

Rest with a drink and sweet in hand at CYCL’s 360-degree lounge, with its one-of-a-kind views of Mount Fuji and Lake Yamanaka surrounding you. Further immerse yourself in Mt. Fuji’s stunning nature in the cold plunge baths, drawn from the mountain’s very own natural spring water. Its self-löyly saunas allow for mixed-gender groups – a rarity in Japan – granting space to socialize whilst still enveloping you in the peace and quiet only found in the heart of nature.

Website link: https://cycl.co.jp/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vsnH1NRMiahtLVXbA

Musu Goka Sauna (Kyoto)

Go back to your childhood days in this idyllic retreat tucked in the mountains of rural Kyoto. Based in a kominka, which is a traditional Japanese house, this sauna promises a private and nostalgic experience, as if you’re coming home to your grandparents in the countryside. The sauna is of a pleasant warmth, inviting you to pass the time slowly with your loved ones right next to you. During winter, lie down next to the irori hearth for a comfortable nap – or have a barbeque with some local meat and seasonal produce over it! Have a splash in the cold river after your sauna session or dive into the thick snow when the area inevitably transforms into a winter wonderland.

Website link: https://musu-sauna.com/

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TgifHrvbWwybCgow5

With a well-established tradition of communal bathing that similarly combines relaxation, health benefits, and social interactivity, it makes sense that Japan would add sauna to its repertoire. By doing so, it did not simply follow Finland’s footsteps but transformed it into a unique experience that answers a worldwide need for a moment of rest, healing, and comfort with Japanese sensibilities.

Going to a sauna might not be everyone’s first choice when visiting Japan. But with so many saunas to be found throughout the country and hidden inside the more traditional onsens and sentos, why not go through Japan’s whole history of bathing culture by visiting all of them at once? And who knows, you might just get addicted to that feeling of totonou. After all, total rejuvenation in between long bouts of hard work at your job or school is not a bad thing to look forward to.

Featured Photo Credit: CYCL official website

Once you’ve chosen a nice sauna to de-stress at, try some amazing food with one of our solo-friendly food tours!