#Sauna News Digest 3

Piotr Wawrzyniak -

last updated 2024/04/27

NS Group's capsule hotel chain “Anshin Oyado Sauna” is having a collaboration project to commemorate the 39th anniversary of Lotte's “Bikkuriman” at seven locations in Japan.

There are two plans available:
・a plan with sakatsu Zeus goods (from 12,000 yen for two hours)
・a plan with sakatsu Zeus sauna bottle cap (from 3,980 yen for two hours)
※"sakatsu" literally means "sauna activities"

Customer of either plan, will receive a "Sakatsu Zeus" sticker, which's picture will depend on the sauna temperature on the day.

On top of that, "Akuma no rouryu“ ("Devil's löyly”) and "Tenshi no rouryu" ("Angel's löyly") will be performed in the Shinjuku, Shiodome, Ogikubo, and Nagoya branches.

Lotte is a Japanese multinational holding company that mainly produces confectionery and ice cream goods, as well as manages hotels and sport facilities.
Bikkuriman is a line of wafer snacks produced by them, made notable for the randomly assorted bonus stickers included inside each snack. It was first released in 1977 and became wildly popular in Japan with Akuma vs Tenshi Seal series of stickers.

Period of the event: 2024/4/27～6/2

Why Sauna boom in Japan will not be over anytime soon?

It is said that Sauna's popularity in Japan started growing about 5 years ago. Why so many people love it nowadays? Here are some of the benefits summarized in the article on LASISA.

・Beautiful skin
By sweating profusely, dirt and excess sebum in the pores are discharged. In addition, blood circulation is stimulated, which improves skin metabolism.  Wet sauna is also  gentle for dry hair

・Diet
Sauna helps to expel body's wastes along with sweat

・Stimulation of blood circulation
It is believed that the increase in body temperature causes blood vessels to dilate which improves blood flow throughout the body. This relaxes muscles, alleviates stiff shoulders and else

・Relaxation/Digital detox
It is recognized a good manner not to talk inside the sauna. Of course, you are not allowed to take your cell phone or any digital device either.
The time you spend in this quiet place away from outside disturbance, just waiting for the time to pass, should be considered more precious than you can imagine, especially in this day and age. It helps you to refresh both your mind and body

・A good night's sleep
A pleasant feeling of fatigue, similar to that after a light workout, leads to a good night's sleep. Repeating sauna and mizuburo cycle secretes serotonin, a substance that produces sleep hormones

・Chance to make a friend?
Some people made friends by going to saunas. There are facilities that even offer an interesting service where you can get a “sauna friend discount” if you go together with your mate

・Food after sauna is delicious
Others go to hot spring facilities and spas to enjoy “sauna meshi” (sauna food) after getting out of sauna. Discovering menu items not available elsewhere and enjoying seasonal menus

What stands behind the overwhelming popularity of "The Sauna"?

"The sauna" is located at "LAMP Lake Nojiriko" inn built on the shores of the Lake Nojiri. The inventors personally visited Finnish saunas and did their best to make this one as similar and authentic to the origin as possible.

There are total of five separate saunas huts.
The first one was erected in 2019 and the fifth as recent as July 2023. Mizuburo (cold water baths) are using underground water from mount Kurohime and wells. During warmer months, you can also dive  directly into the Lake Nojiri. The place is surrounded by an abundant nature and forest. Great place to take a break from life.

In this short article the author talks about hut number 5.
It can be recognized as the most famous due to its presence in the TV drama "Sa-do" (TV Tokyo) starring a comedian Taizo Harada, actor Yuto Isomura and others. Being already popular before, now you have to book for as many as several months in advance to take save your spot.

Salamander Ono, who designed this sauna (named "Viisi" which means "five" in Finnish) being an employee of "The Sauna" at the same time, gave few words about it in a short interview.
He says that the secret of its remarkableness lies in the warmth and pleasant feeling coming from the steam when doing löyly. The sauna stove was made by Narvi, a Finnish company. Ono liked it the most from all his sauna travelling done in Finland. He actually learned from a skilled Finnish fireplace maker, how to force the steam from the löyly convect inside the room.
A board in the ceiling of the sauna room is installed as well. This is not something you would usually see. Apparently, it rebounds the steam that raised from the stove.
It is surprisingly easy to breath inside as there are certain tricks developed; a duct in the sauna stone that connects to the outside as well as a ventilation under the bench. Fresh air oxygen is taken into the sauna from these.
There might be some other inventions that you might want to ask Ono-san directly next time you visit "The Sauna".

You can check their website to make a booking/see the prices. No surprise here, it is rather expensive.

Hut 1 and 2: 3,500 yen per person on weekdays, 4,500 yen per person on holidays *2-hourly rate
Hut 3 and 4: 33,000 yen per person on weekdays, 36,000 yen per person on holidays
*3-hourly rate, reservations for private use of one hut
Hut 5: 35,000 yen per person on weekdays, 38,000 yen per person on holidays
Address: 379-2 Nojiri, Shinano-cho, Kami-mizuuchi-gun, Nagano Prefecture
Tel: 026-258-2978