Exit the sauna. Cool down in the cold bath. Rest during the outdoor air bath. Your body is perfectly aligned.

Next stop, the dining hall. The goal is singular: beer.

Golden liquid poured into a glass. Bubbles rising. Bring the glass to your lips. It flows down your throat in one go. "Ahhh!" You can't help but exclaim.

This is post-sauna beer. The most delicious drink of your life. A blissful moment that the Japanese love dearly.

Why is Beer After a Sauna So Delicious?

Beer after a sauna is extraordinarily delicious.

This isn't just subjective; there are scientific reasons. The body changes in the sauna, altering the taste of beer.

First, dehydration. You sweat profusely in the sauna, and your body craves fluids. Drinking cold beer in this state of thirst leads to an exceptionally high absorption rate. It permeates your body instantly. This is the first reason for its deliciousness.

Next, circulation. The expansion and contraction of blood vessels in the sauna and cold bath dramatically improve circulation. In this state, alcohol is absorbed quickly, and you feel the effects faster. Even a small amount can be satisfying.

Additionally, body temperature. After the sauna, your body is warm. Introducing cold beer to this warm body creates a temperature contrast, providing stimulation. This stimulation doubles the deliciousness.

Finally, mental state. Being "aligned" after a sauna means a balance of relaxation and excitement. In this mental state, all senses are heightened. The taste, aroma, and throat feel of beer are all vividly perceived.

The Culture of Sauna Meals

Every sauna facility has a dining area.

Super sentos, specialized sauna facilities, hot spring inns. Everywhere, there's a place to eat. This is a characteristic of Japanese sauna facilities.

The menu is down-to-earth: curry, ramen, set meals. And, of course, there's beer. Draft beer, bottled beer, canned beer. Beer is indispensable at sauna facilities.

The term "sauna meal" has become so established that post-sauna meals are considered important. The sauna experience includes not just the sauna but also the meal.

Types of Beer After a Sauna

What to drink after a sauna varies by person.

Many prefer draft beer. Order it in the dining hall, and a mug of draft beer is brought to you. Plenty of foam. It's cold. The happiness of drinking it all at once is unparalleled.

Some prefer bottled beer. Bottled beer evokes a Showa-era atmosphere. The act of pouring it into a glass is a ritual in itself. Pour at your own pace, drink at your own pace.

Canned beer is drunk in the rest area. Buy it from a vending machine and drink it on a bench. Casual and easygoing. This casualness is the charm of canned beer.

Recently, more facilities are offering craft beer. Partnering with local breweries to provide beer you can only drink in that area. Saunas and craft beer. This combination is creating a new sauna culture.

Timing of Drinking

When to drink beer after a sauna?

Most people drink after completing all sets. After 3-4 sauna sessions, when the body is fully aligned, they head to the dining hall. This "closing beer" is the most delicious.

However, some drink midway. After two sets, they drink beer once, then do two more sets. This "midway beer" enhances the latter half of the sauna experience.

There's no right or wrong. Enjoy it in your own style.

Appropriate Amount of Beer

Beer after a sauna is drunk in a dehydrated state.

Therefore, you feel the effects faster. Even those who can usually drink two glasses may find one glass sufficient after a sauna. This "satisfaction with a small amount" is an economic advantage of post-sauna beer.

However, caution is needed not to overdrink. Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a dehydrated state burdens the body. Headaches, dizziness, nausea. The next day's hangover can be worse than usual.

The appropriate amount is likely 1-2 medium mugs. This amount provides satisfaction with minimal burden on the body.

Balancing with Hydration

Drinking only beer after a sauna is dangerous.

Alcohol has a diuretic effect. Drinking beer causes further fluid loss, advancing dehydration.

Therefore, drink water before beer. Drink 500ml to 1 liter of water before the beer. This order is the healthy way to drink after a sauna.

Many sauna facilities have water stations. After the sauna, drink water there first. Hydrate sufficiently before heading to the dining hall. This habit is common sense among sauna enthusiasts.

The Option of Oropo

Besides beer, another staple post-sauna drink is "Oropo."

Oropo is a drink made by mixing Oronamin C and Pocari Sweat. It's a drink invented by sauna enthusiasts specifically for post-sauna consumption.

Oropo contains no alcohol. Therefore, it allows for simultaneous hydration and energy replenishment. It efficiently supplies the minerals and sugars lost in the sauna.

Beer or Oropo? This is a constantly debated topic among sauna enthusiasts. It's not about which is superior. Choose based on your mood, physical condition, and plans for the day.

Post-Sauna Meals

Beer alone isn't enough. You also want a meal.

The classic post-sauna menu is curry. Spicy, hearty, and pairs well with beer. Curry is a staple on the menu at many sauna facilities.

Ramen is also popular. Salt ramen, soy sauce ramen. The hot soup permeates your post-sauna body. Beer and ramen. This combination is unbeatable.

Some opt for set meals. Fried chicken set, ginger pork set. A substantial meal replenishes the calories burned in the sauna.

Recently, sauna facility meals have evolved. More facilities are offering high-quality meals by incorporating full-fledged restaurants. Post-sauna meals are an important part of the sauna experience.

Drinking Beer Alone

People often go to saunas alone.

Enter the sauna alone, drink beer alone. This solitary time is actually the ultimate luxury.

Drink beer at your own pace without being disturbed by anyone. Without looking at your smartphone, just zone out. This "doing nothing time" is precious for modern people.

Drinking beer alone is quiet. Listen to the surrounding sounds and slowly savor the beer. This silence calms the mind.

Drinking Beer with Friends

On the other hand, sometimes you go to the sauna with friends.

Friends, colleagues, family. Enter the sauna together, drink beer together. This shared experience deepens relationships.

Post-sauna beer enhances conversation. "Today's sauna was great," "That heat wave was amazing." Conversations about the sauna are lively. This conversation is enjoyable.

Drinking beer with friends is lively. Laughter, the sound of toasting. This liveliness amplifies the sense of happiness.

Post-Sauna Beer is Culture

Post-sauna beer is not just drinking.

It's part of Japanese sauna culture. Enter the sauna, enter the cold bath, rest, and drink beer. This series of actions is the Japanese-style sauna experience.

This habit doesn't exist in Western sauna culture. In Finland, people may drink beer after a sauna, but it's done elsewhere. Drinking inside the sauna facility is unique to Japan.

This culture has its roots in Japanese sento (public bath) culture. Sento has long had the habit of drinking "milk" or "coffee milk" after bathing. The habit of drinking something after bathing carried over to saunas and became beer.

Post-Sauna Beer is a Joy of Life

Post-sauna beer is a small joy in life.

You can't go to the sauna every day. Once a week, a few times a month. During those limited opportunities, enter the sauna and drink beer. This joy motivates you to work hard on weekdays.

"When should I go to the sauna next?" "What should I eat next time?" These expectations add excitement to daily life. Post-sauna beer is not just drinking; it's a habit that enriches life.

Post-Sauna Beer, the Best Moment

Exit the sauna. Cool down in the cold bath. Align during the outdoor air bath. Your body is in perfect condition.

Head to the dining hall. "Draft beer, please." Wait a few minutes. This waiting time also heightens anticipation.

The beer arrives. Golden beer fills the mug. The foam is beautiful. Just seeing this makes you feel happy.

Lift the glass. Bring it to your lips. It flows down your throat. "Ahhh!"

This is it. This is post-sauna beer. The most delicious drink of your life. A blissful moment loved by the Japanese.

Enter the sauna. Then, drink beer. Therein lies the happiness of life.