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A Japanese tub home (or sentō) has been a necessary a part of Japanese tradition for over a thousand years. Each day, individuals from all around the nation head to the sentō to get pleasure from their tub.
Whereas that is frequent in Japan, a sentō will not be well-known to westerners. With an increasing number of foreigners touring to Japan, it solely is smart to get the phrase out about these incredible Japanese bathhouses. The one drawback is that many guests are nervous about visiting a sento since it’s required to be nude round strangers.
The fact is it isn’t that dangerous, and when you let your nerves and timidity down, you’ll see {that a} Japanese tub home is a cultural expertise. Right here’s every thing you’ll want to find out about visiting a Japanese sento.
A Information to Japanese Bathtub Homes and Sentos
1. What’s a Japanese Sento?
The brief reply is a sento is a Japanese public bathhouse normally separated by intercourse and open to all.
2. Why Do Individuals Go to Japanese Sentos?
Again within the day, most Japanese didn’t have baths of their house, in order that they went to public bathhouses to wash a couple of occasions every week. These sentos had been primarily in each neighborhood so the native residents might bathe and socialize.
After all, now with fashionable occasions, most individuals have baths of their home however nonetheless benefit from the sento bathing expertise. Each sentos and onsens are crucial to Japanese tradition. Nonetheless, sadly because of the accessibility of baths, fashionable tradition, and rising prices, sentos round Tokyo and all of Japan are closing.
3. What’s the Distinction Between a Japanese Sento and an Onsen?
In the event you’ve researched Japan, you’ve possible heard of a Japanese onsen. They’re well-known all over the world and generally is a spotlight of any journey to Japan.
There’s truthfully not a large distinction between a sento and an onsen, however there’s a distinction. Sentos are public Japanese tub homes with artificially heated water. Sentos are available many sizes and styles; you might discover jacuzzies, saunas, and chilly water baths, relying on the place you go.
An onsen is a pure scorching spring shaped underground. The water is heated by geothermal vitality. So if you end up in an outside tub, you’re most certainly at an onsen.
It’s necessary to notice the distinction so that you don’t arrive at a sento anticipating a pure geothermal scorching spring from the earth.
4. What Do you Must Carry to Get pleasure from Japanese Sentos?
Not a lot! You’ll be bare! Nonetheless, you will have a drying towel to your physique, and many individuals additionally deliver a small wash towel. These aren’t offered freed from cost on the sento however are sometimes obtainable when you neglect yours for a small charge.
After all, if in case you have plans after your sento expertise, you’ll need to deliver the stuff you want after you sometimes get achieved bathing. Underwear, garments, make-up… stuff like that!
5. What Facilities are Obtainable on the Sento?
Virtually all sentos can have a hairdryer within the altering rooms, and a few could have additional objects like Q-tips and hair spray. Contained in the precise bathhouse, you possibly can look forward to finding physique wash and shampoo, and many who I visited even have conditioner.
If you’re like me and at all times want conditioner and fash wash while you bathe, deliver these things with you. Many sentos have issues like razors and deodorant obtainable for buy as properly.
6. Can I Put on my Footwear or Slippers Contained in the Sento?
It’s important to take off your out of doors sneakers on the entrance of the sento. There can be a locker offered to your sneakers. Eradicating your sneakers at properties and bathhouses in Japan is frequent apply.
It’s also not frequent to put on slippers contained in the sento or altering rooms. Bathroom slippers can be offered on the entrance of the bathroom room.
7. How A lot Do Japanese Sentos Price?
There are 530 sentos in Tokyo alone. Virtually all of them are members of the Tokyo Sento Affiliation and cost ¥470 for admission. Some sentos could have a Japanese sauna, and people sometimes value additional. If you’d like anything additional, like a towel or drink, be sure that to deliver some change. As with most of Japan, be sure that to deliver money to pay. Most sentos won’t be able to simply accept bank card.
Be aware* Some sentos you’ll pay instantly on the conventional attendant’s sales space, whereas some have a ticket merchandising machine the place you’ll buy the ticket after which hand it to the attendant.
8. Can You Put on a Bathing Swimsuit within the Japanese Sento?
No. Bathing fits aren’t allowed in sentos. It’s customary to be absolutely bare contained in the bathhouse. Foreigners ought to adjust to this Japanese customized. Belief me, nobody cares that you’re bare or can be “wanting” at you. This has been a cultural norm for lots of of years, and the Japanese are used to bathing bare, amongst others. Don’t fear, in a Japanese sento, everyone seems to be equal – each social standing, form, measurement, and age!
In the event you “attempt” to put on a showering go well with within the sento, I promise you that you’ll really feel extra awkward than being bare. It’s unlikely {that a} Japanese individual will say something to you, however they won’t be happy on the within.
9. Are Japanese Sentos Separated by Intercourse?
Each sentos and onsens are separated by intercourse virtually instantly after coming into the institution. A blue curtain sometimes represents males’s tub entrances, and the ladies’s entrances are marked with a crimson curtain. In the event you get confused, ask the entrance desk attendant, and they’re going to level you in the precise path.
10. Are Tattoos Allowed on the Sento?
Tattoos aren’t frequent in Japan, and it was as soon as thought that when you had a tattoo, you had been a member of the infamous Yakuza. Due to this fact, sentos and onsens banned tattoos from the bathhouse.
Nonetheless, occasions are altering, and most sentos house owners are aiming to be extra accepting of tattoos. Now round 90% of the sentos in Tokyo gladly settle for these with tattoos into their premises to create a heat and welcoming setting for everybody.
If tattoos aren’t allowed, you’ll know on the entrance as there can be indicators.
11. Do I Should Wash First?
Sure. It’s important to scrub your physique first earlier than entering into the Japanese tub home. In each sento, you will notice rows of quite a few bathe heads with stools for laundry. Close to the showerhead, you’ll possible discover cleaning soap and shampoo. It’s necessary to scrub your physique off right here earlier than coming into the bathtub.
It could appear intimidating, however it’s not onerous! Simply sit (don’t stand) on the stool and activate the showerhead and start washing. Do not forget that it is best to flip the water off when not utilizing the bathe head to keep away from losing it.
It’s not needed to scrub your hair when you don’t need to. Simply ensure that if in case you have lengthy hair that it’s not touching the bathwater. Carry hair ties so that you just pull it up right into a bun when enjoyable.
12. What’s the Small Towel For?
When having fun with sento, you’ll discover that most individuals can have a small towel with them. That is for laundry or no matter you need it for. Don’t put the towel within the water of the bathtub. When having fun with the bathtub, the towel needs to be positioned on prime of your head.
13. Can I Stroll Round with a Towel?
It’s completely acceptable to stroll across the altering room with a towel; when you enter the bathtub, it’s fairly regular to be bare from right here on out. Bear in mind to position your towel someplace dry and away from the bathwater when within the tub, so you might have it while you get out.
14. When Are Japanese Sentos Usually Open?
Each sento is totally different, however most open at 3 pm and keep open till 11 or 12.
15. Can I Carry my Telephone or Digicam into the Sento?
Telephones and cameras aren’t permitted in a Japanese sento or onsen – individuals are nude and wish their privateness. Be aware that I’ve images of myself within the sento on this put up, however I used to be within the sento earlier than opening hours and had particular permission from the house owners to take images for the aim of this text.
16. How Can I discover Sentos Round Tokyo and the Remainder of Japan?
Typing in “sento” to Google maps will yield many outcomes for sentos round Tokyo or wherever else that you’re in Japan. You’ll know that you just reached the sento while you discover the Noren hanging exterior the doorway.
It is a curtain that’s hung on the entrance of buildings in Japan when they’re open. The sento image is an oval with three curved traces rising out of it (for warmth). See the photograph above!
17. Are you able to Speak in a Sento?
Sentos are a spot for dialog and socializing (though not loud ones). Nonetheless, when you aren’t with a buddy and also you don’t communicate Japanese, chances are high you may be conversing with nobody. However don’t be shocked if different individuals are having low-key conversations round you.
18. How Sizzling is the Water?
A number of the sento water can get significantly HOT. In a single Japanese tub I used to be in on the Kumano Kodo I couldn’t stand it for greater than 5 minutes and needed to exit. In the event you begin to really feel lightheaded, it’s very important to get out of the water and both go within the cooler water for a bit or name it a day.
19. Are Japanese Sentos Intimidating?
Your first sento or onsen expertise could also be somewhat intimidating, however you’ll begin to calm down and really feel proper at house after a couple of minutes. They’re meant to be enjoyable for guests, and after your nerves settle down about being bare in entrance of others, you’ll quickly fall proper into the swing of issues. Don’t fear when you don’t do one thing completely the primary time, however in saying that, most sento customs are just about frequent sense.
The principle issues to recollect are no bathing fits, wash beforehand, and maintain your towel out of the bathtub.
20. How Does a Typical Sento Expertise Go?
A typical sento expertise will go one thing like this:
- Step 1: Enter the sento and take away your sneakers. There can be lockers to position your sneakers. Some sentos even have umbrella holders, go away the umbrella right here.
- Step 2: Pay for the sento both with the attendant or on the merchandising machine
- Step 3: Enter both the mens or ladies’s altering rooms. Undress utterly and prepare for sento! Put your belongings within the offered lockers.
- Step 4: Enter the bathhouse along with your bathing objects. End up a bathe spot with a stool.
- Step 5: Wash your self earlier than coming into the tub. If in case you have lengthy hair you possibly can wash it or tie it up so it’s not within the bathwater.
- Step 6: Benefit from the sento! Some sentos can have a number of baths ranging in temperature. You might also discover that there’s a Japanese sauna or out of doors tub as properly.
- Step 7: When you find yourself achieved dry your physique off and prepare to go away the sento.
- Step 8: It’s typical to get pleasure from a glass of chilly milk, chilly espresso, beer, or different refreshments after sento. You will discover these for buy exterior the altering rooms the place you entered.
21. Why Ought to You go to Sento as a Foreigner?
A part of the enjoyable about touring in Japan is immersing your self in a very new and totally different tradition. Japanese tub homes (sentos AND onsens) are each distinctive to Japan, so to journey to Japan and never go to one could be a mistake.
I’ve been to over ten totally different onsens and sentos, and when you recover from the concern of getting bare in entrance of strangers your first time, each after that could be a enjoyable expertise.
Moreover, as talked about earlier than sento numbers are down, and sadly many are closing store. As vacationers, it’s essential to assist and provides again to the neighborhood you’re visiting, and going to sento does simply that. Each sento I’ve been to is completely happy to see foreigners stroll via their doorways and desperate to share their tradition!
Plus, don’t you need to sit and ponder your enjoyable journey day round Japan in a soothing setting?
22. What Sentos Must you Go to Whereas in Tokyo?
I visited 4 totally different sentos whereas in Toko, and each was distinctive in its personal manner.
Mannen-Yu
This sento is tucked away behind Koreatown down a quiet road. Like most sentos in Tokyo, Mannen-Yu is household run by Nobuyoshi-san and Satsuki-san. The within is fashionable and glowing clear. The house owners informed me the sento has simply been refurbished. There’s a scorching tub, tepid tub, and chilly tub on each the boys’s and ladies’s sides.
Hasunuma Onsen
Hasunuma Onsen is attractive and brings you again to a unique period in Japan. That is one other third era owned household sento and onsen. Right here you will discover a carbonated spring, chilly tub, sauna, and scorching spring tub (watch out – it’s actually scorching)! This onsen is on the best way to Haneda Airport, so it’s a wonderful place to cease earlier than or after your flight.
Kairyo-Yu
Kairyo-Yu is an especially fashionable sento that matches the model of close by Shibuya station. Upon coming into this sento you’re feeling as if you’ve stepped into one other world. The paintings on the partitions depicts scenes from Shibuya and is enjoyable to take a look at as you get pleasure from your tub. There’s additionally a chilly tub and sauna right here.
Inari-Yu
This sento is without doubt one of the oldest ones in Tokyo. In-built 1930, Inari-Yu is a timeless Japanese tub the place you possibly can soak within the heat waters whereas admiring a portray of Mt. Fuji on the wall.
This sento has retained the attraction and character of its early 1900s look, however the toilet has been utterly renovated. That is the one sento I visited that also has picket buckets and a Japanese-style backyard with carp.
Above All Get pleasure from Your Japanese Sento Expertise!
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