Many closed-down “sento” public bathhouses across Japan have been reborn as cafes or even “izakaya” pubs. But a few are now being used for welfare services while maintaining the original association ...
From Koganeyu to Spa LaQua to Myojinyu, here are our picks for the five best "sento" public bathhouses in Tokyo. Shedding your clothes, sinking into a tub of steaming water and staring up at soothing ...
Wim Wenders’ latest film, Perfect Days, is a languid sketch of a typical Tokyo toilet cleaner’s life. It shows the minutiae of the working-day rituals of its protagonist, Hirayama: wiping toilet bowls ...
Public bathhouses, or sento, as they’re known in Japanese, used to be a thriving business back in the day, when people didn’t have baths or showers installed at home. These days, there’s not a lot of ...
This article is part of a collaboration between FT Globetrotter and Nikkei Asia. FT Globetrotter showcases the best journalism from Nikkei Asia writers about cities across the region, starting with ...
Onsen (hot springs) have been part of Japanese culture for centuries, but they’ve been seriously surging in popularity over the past 20 years. At the same time that there’s an onsen renaissance going ...
Covid accelerated a decline but a new breed of bathhouse is reimagining a Japanese tradition It is a Japanese ritual that stretches back centuries: stripping off in the company of friends and ...
Recently restored by architect Kentaro Imai, Bunkayokusen (文化浴泉) is what’s known as a designer sento. Concerned about the survival of the sento tradition, Kentaro has become a specialist in renovating ...
Long-standing sento bathhouse Matsumoto-yu in Nakano has undergone a major renovation for the first time in its 85-year history. With the help of locals, the bathhouse was able to collect sufficient ...
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