About
I created this blog for the below purposes:
- To introduce you to the uniqueness of sauna culture in Japan and possibly influence you to visit Japanese saunas while living or traveling here
- To talk about sauna’s positive effects on mind/body and motivate you to give it a try yourself if you have not yet
- For myself, to write about one of my passions
I have been living in Japan since 2017. I also had a one-year student exchange experience between the years of 2015 and 2016.
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Japan, its culture and people. Throughout the time, I have been exposed to both good and a bit worse side of living in the so-called country of the Cherry Blossom.
I changed my jobs as many as three times and experienced working from multiple angles in different companies. However, it has not been until 2021 that I first had my true Japanese sauna experience which I consider one of the biggest treasures of Japan.
I remember well being taken by friends to a proper Sauna place in Kinshicho (an area of Sumida City in Tokyo) in Summer. That was the first time I followed Sauna → Mizuburo (cold bath) → Gaikiyoku ("air bath") properly.
After that, it still took me some time to get back to it. They say here that no one loves sauna instantly from their very first experience. You have to get used to it and either you will love it or not. In any case, after few visits and imitating the same pattern, I slowly started to like it. Now I visit sauna at least three times a week, it gives me an energy to live through the week and stay motivated. And I could do it everyday for all the advantages it has.
Initially it might be difficult. Sauna can be too hot for you to last more than 5 minutes, the cold bath (usually about between 15°C~17°C degrees, but can go as low as 9°C) can feel like a torture and the Gaikiyoku - depends on the season (essentially though Gaikiyoku is the pivotal, most important part of Japanese saua where the “totonou” occurs). Heck, even the hot bath in Japan can be sometimes too hot to enter for a normal human being (about 45°C). But once you persuade yourself to repeat the cycle few times, I can almost guarantee you will love Sauna and it will become not only the best form of relaxation for you, but also one of the healthiest things you can do to your body and enjoy at the same time.
In this blog, I am writing about sauna from various perspectives, such as:
- What is the sauna culture in Japan and how is it different in comparison to abroad/Finland as the pioneer
- What are the rules in Japanese sauna and bath that you ought to obey
- Why is Japanese sauna unique
- How to make the most of your Sauna experience
- Introduction to Saunas in Japan (Senyō Sauna, Sentō , Super Sentō, Kenkō Sentah, Hotels with saunas, Tento Sauna etc.)
- Benefits of sauna
- Recommendations of books, movies and other medias related to Sauna
- Presentation of Sauna goods/merchandises (Sauna hats, watches, glasses, towels)
- Sauna Terminology
- Other/your suggestions
Please do not hesitate to leave a comment anytime anywhere. I wish you will find something interesting for you in this blog.