Japanese Sauna Terminology

Piotr Wawrzyniak -

last updated 2024/06/03

・A

Akasuri (アカスリ) : <to be added>

Aufguss（アウフグース）: Sauna performance originated in Germany. In German aufguss means "infusion". The performer pours the water on sauna stove stones and stirs heat waves from accumulated steam using a towel.

Auto-löyly（オートロウリュ） : <to be added>

・C

・D

Deck chair（デッキーチェア）:

Dry Sauna（乾式サウナ（カンシキサウナ）Kanshiki sauna）: One of the two main types of sauna. In contrast to Wet Sauna, Dry sauna has a high temperature and low of humidity. In Japan, majority of the saunas are of this type. For some the temperature can go as high as 110°C.

・G

Gaikiyoku（外気浴（ガイキヨク））: An " air bath" in which you exposer your body to a fresh air from outside. In Japanese sauna terms, this happens usually after you go out from the cold bath (Mizuburo). This is a time for relaxation, meditation and rest.

・L

Locker（ロッカー）:

Locker key（リッカーキー）:

Lady's day（レディースデー）:

Löyly（ロウリュ（rouryu））: This word comes from Finnish, and was adapted to Japanese. It means to pour the water over the stones in the sauna room, which generates steam that raises the body temperature. Although it is not very popular in Japan to have löyly style sauna, some places, especially senyo sauna have it. The first sauna with löyly in Japan was created back in 1966 and it was called "Scandinavia Club" (it does not exist anymore, unfortunately)

・M

Mizuburo（水風呂（ミズブロ）: A bath filled with cold water. Apparently a temperature between 15°C and 17°C is most beneficial for the body, but there are places where it is set on as cold as 9°C or higher that 17°C.
This is an indispensable bath for a true Japanese Saunner since it helps to reach "totonou" after entering it from hot sauna.

・N

Inner "Air bath"（内気浴（ナイキヨク）naikiyoku） : <to be added>

Neppashi（熱波師（ネッパシ））: <to be added>

・R

Rotenburo（露天風呂）: <to be added>

・S

Sauna（サウナ）:

Sauna food（サ飯（サメシ）（sameshi））: <to be added>

Sauna hat（サウナハット（sauna hatto））: Sauna hat is an essential equipment for a Saunner. As a principle it should protect your head and hair from the heat.
These days there are various Sauna hats, from budget ones to some really luxury models. The price mostly depends on the fabric used.

Sauna mat（サウナマット）: <to be added>

Saunner（サウナー）: <to be added>

Sentō（銭湯（セントウ））: <to be added>

Senyō Sauna（専用サウナ（センヨウサウナ））: <to be added>

Super Sentō（スーパー銭湯（スーパーセントウ））: <to be added>

・T

Totonou（ととのう（totonou））: The word itself does not have an equivalent in English, but you can say it is a Japanese term for "sauna high" or "sauna trip". A feeling of ecstasy which occurs during the alterations of hot and cold baths (Sauna → mizuburo → gaikiyoku). Usually happens during gaikiyoku ("air bath") when parasympathetic nerves are most active. It is more of a slang used amongst Saunners rather that an actual scientifically based term.

TV（テレビ）:

・W

Wet Sauna（湿式サウナ（シッシキサウナ）Shisshiki sauna）: One of the two types of sauna. In comparison to Dry sauna, Wet Sauna has a lower temperature, but higher humidity level. There are four main kinds of this type:
- Finland type
- Mist sauna
- Salt sauna
- Smoke sauna

References:

◆草彅 洋平＋AMAMI・浜竹 睦子. サウナ語辞典 サウナにまつわる言葉をイラストと豆知識で「ととのった～！」と読み解く. 誠文堂新光社, 2o23

◆加藤容崇. 医者が教えるサウナの教科書ービジネスエリートはなぜ脳と体をサウナでととのえるのか？. ダイヤモンド社, 2020