#Japanese saunas: Ofuro no Osama, Kozashibuya Ekimae (Kanagawa)
last updated 2024/04/23
Ofuro no Osama is one of my favorites, especially this branch in Kozashibuya.
Type of facility: Super-sentō
Price: 1000 yen in a weekday, 1150 in a weekend day
900 and 1050 yen retrospectively if you buy a member's card (costs only 100 yen)
Towel is not included
Tattoos: Not allowed
Shampoo/Body soap: Included
Sauna type:
1. Dry sauna, traditional
2. Steam sauna, no salt
Sauna temperature: Dry sauna 92°C, Steam sauna 85°C
TV in Sauna: Dry sauna yes, Steam sauna no
Cold bath (Mizuburo): 15°C
Hot bath types: many types from natural Onsen to carbonated bath, jet bath, electric bath, etc.
Dryers: Free, multiple
Sinks: Many
Drinkable water: Yes, near the entrance to the bath space
Toilet: One toiler in western style
Payment: Cash and cashless
There are few things I like in this place.
First of all, it is as close to the station as can be. It is literally next to it.
Then, you would think that it would make it pricey, but not necessarily so. ~1000 yen is absolutely affordable for what it has. And this is a super-sentō, not just a regular sentō. The other branches though, such as the one in Otemachi (Tokyo) can be far more expensive. Sometimes it's good to live outside of Tokyo.
It's great that it has a carbonated bath as well. This is something I usually go to before sauna or after if available. Although, it should be mentioned that in most super-sentōs carbonated baths installed, so it is not something you would not expect to have.
Regarding the sauna, there are two types, steam and dry. The steam one is generally not very popular, but I recommend trying out both of them.
Steam sauna does not feel as hot and it might be not enough for everyone. Saying that, it can still make you sweat a lot and it feels good. As steam sauna is one type of wet saunas, the level humidity is much higher than in the dry sauna. Some might prefer that. It can accommodate only about 5 people, but then again you will hardly encounter it full.
Dry sauna has as many as space for 15 people available and it is rather huge. With the temperature of around 92°C, it is enough a Saunner should wish for. There is a sauna timer and TV. It is a traditional type of dry sauna with two stoves. One of them produces auto-löyly once in a while. It does not make it especially hot though.
Let's go to Mizuburo. With a 15°C temperature and relatively big size (5 people can fit together), it's enough for what one should wish for. The depth is around 100cm which is good too.
As most of the super-sentōs, this one also has a gaikiyoku. I love gaikiyoku space in here. Apart from many chairs located around the Rotenburo (open air hot spring), there is a wooden floor on which you can lie. Not only it feels good, but the view is great as well. Depends on the time of the day you might get to see Fuji-san. For nights, the moon looks glamorous.
If you prefer to relax inside, there are also chairs available inside the facility for naikiyoku.
Apparently there are some Aufguss events sometimes. For details, I would recommend to check the official webpage.
What is interesting, they switch men's bath with women's bath. "Appare no yu" is for women on odd days and for men on even days. Respectively "Kidachi no yu" is available for women on even days and for men on odd days. There is no big difference when it comes to the sauna and mizuburo, but the view outside slightly changes.
This is definitely a place worth its price and what it offers. You should have a good sauna experience. The facility also has Ganbanyoku, restaurant, manga, massage, hairdresser (!), place to relax and more. If you are here for more than sauna you can look around.
I will be coming back for sure.