In sauna facilities, loud voices break the silence. Splashing into cold baths. Sitting on chairs while soaking wet. Can you imagine how much Japanese sauna enthusiasts, known as "saunners," scream internally when they witness such scenes?

Japanese saunas have unique etiquette. These are unspoken rules upheld so everyone can enjoy the blissful experience known as "totonou." However, foreigners and beginners may simply be unaware of them. This article explains what you absolutely must not do in Japanese saunas, along with the reasons why.

Entering Without a Sauna Mat: The Ultimate Taboo

One of the most serious breaches of etiquette in Japanese saunas is not using a sauna mat. In Finland or Germany, sitting directly on the bench might be common, but in Japan, it's a definite no-go.

A sauna mat is not just a piece of cloth; it symbolizes the Japanese sense of hygiene and consideration for others. It ensures you don't leave your sweat for the next person. This small act of consideration forms the foundation of Japanese sauna culture.

After someone sits without a sauna mat, no one wants to sit on that bench. The sight of sweat-soaked spots is highly unpleasant. Many facilities sell sauna mats at the entrance. If you don't have one yet, you should purchase one immediately.

Breaking the Silence: Disrupting the "Totonou" Experience

Japanese sauna rooms are as quiet as meditation spaces. You close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and become aware of your body warming up. This silence is essential for achieving "totonou."

Then, a loud voice echoes. Chatter, laughter, smartphone sounds. These are the biggest enemies for Japanese saunners. The moment the silence is broken, the concentration painstakingly built up collapses, distancing you from the "totonou" experience.

"But if I'm with friends, I want to talk." That's understandable. However, conversations should be enjoyed in the rest area. The sauna room is a sacred space for individuals to face themselves.

Some facilities explicitly state "No talking." Even if it's not written, spending time quietly in Japanese saunas is an unspoken rule. Only those who respect this silence can truly experience "totonou."

Entering the Cold Bath Without Rinsing: A Double Offense

Sometimes you see people heading straight to the cold bath, drenched in sweat, right after leaving the sauna room. This is a double offense in Japanese saunas.

The first offense is hygiene. Entering the cold bath with a sweaty body means contaminating the water others will use. The Japanese sense of cleanliness does not tolerate this. Many facilities have showers installed before the cold bath. Rinsing off sweat before entering is the minimum etiquette.

The second offense is health-related. Entering a cold bath immediately after a hot sauna puts a sudden strain on the heart, potentially causing heat shock, which can be life-threatening. Rinsing is an important ritual to acclimate your body to temperature changes.

Start from your feet, gradually moving to your upper body, and finally pour water over your head. Performing this series of actions carefully advances you as a saunner.

Jumping into the Cold Bath: The Discomfort of Ripples

The sight of someone jumping energetically into the cold bath. It might have the dynamism of an action movie, but it's the worst breach of etiquette in Japanese saunas.

People soaking in the cold bath are quietly accepting the coldness as if meditating. Then suddenly, waves. Water splashes on faces, disrupting concentration. It's a moment that can even evoke anger.

Enter the cold bath slowly and quietly. Submerge gradually, from feet to waist, chest, and shoulders. Minimize movement, as if melting into the water. This quiet entry maximizes the cold bath's effects.

Moreover, remain still in the cold bath. Movement warms the water, diminishing its effects. Stay motionless like a stone, feeling the coldness envelop your body. This is the Japanese way of entering a cold bath.

Hogging the "Totonoi Chair": Arousing the Anger of Saunners

In the outdoor relaxation area, there are chairs called "totonoi chairs" for resting. Sitting in these chairs and resting while exposed to the outside air leads to the blissful state known as "totonou."

However, what if one person monopolizes a chair for 30 minutes or an hour in a crowded facility? Other saunners have to either stand while taking an air bath or give up and leave. The disappointment of those deprived of "totonou" is immeasurable.

The guideline for air bathing in a totonoi chair is about 5 to 10 minutes. Once you feel "totonou," give up the chair. Enter the next cycle or rest in the lounge. This consideration is the key to everyone achieving "totonou."

Even worse is reserving a spot with a towel. Claiming a chair you aren't using with just a towel is one of the most disliked actions by saunners. Chairs are for those who actually use them. If you're not using it, you should free it up.

Leaving the Door Open: Unconscious Inconvenience Lowering the Temperature

Opening the sauna room door and starting a conversation with a friend, or entering slowly with the door open. These actions unknowingly lower the sauna room's temperature.

The sauna room is a sealed space maintaining high temperatures. In the seconds the door is open, precious heat escapes. A body warmed over 10 minutes cools instantly. Saunners are internally clicking their tongues.

The door should be opened and closed quickly. Even a second shorter. This is the duty of those entering the sauna room. Open, enter, close. Perform this series of actions as swiftly as possible. Just by doing this, you'll be appreciated by those around you.

Sitting on Chairs While Soaking Wet: Lack of Consideration for the Next Person

Exiting the cold bath and heading to the totonoi chair. But wait a moment. Isn't your body still soaking wet?

If you sit on the chair like that, it will become drenched. The next person has to either wipe the wet chair or give up and look for another chair. Such small acts of inconsideration accumulate and create discomfort.

After exiting the cold bath, lightly wipe off your body's moisture. You don't need to dry completely. However, wipe enough so water doesn't drip. This few seconds of consideration is thoughtfulness for the next person.

Perfume and Hair Products: Amplified Scents in a Sealed Room

Some people apply perfume before entering the sauna. Others use a lot of hair products. However, this is a big mistake.

The sauna room is a high-temperature sealed space. Scents are amplified many times over. Even pleasant fragrances turn into intense odors at high temperatures. Others endure the sauna while feeling suffocated.

Before entering the sauna, keep your body as natural as possible. Avoid perfume, hair products, and strongly scented body creams. Enjoy the sauna's natural aroma with a clean body. This is the correct way to enter a sauna.

Bringing Smartphones: Invasion of Privacy

Bringing smartphones into the bath or sauna room is extremely risky in Japan. You might be reported by other users on suspicion of filming.

Japanese saunas are often used naked. Protecting privacy is a top priority. The mere presence of a smartphone makes others uneasy. Even if you're not filming, just being suspected is problematic enough.

Place your smartphone in the locker in the changing room. Refrain from using it even during air baths. While you might want to upload "totonou" moments to social media, cherish those moments in your heart and express them later in words. Smartphones should be kept outside the sauna experience.

Sauna After Drinking: A Life-Threatening Folly

"A beer after the sauna is the best." This is true. However, "a sauna after beer" is a life-threatening folly.

Alcohol dilates blood vessels. Saunas also dilate blood vessels. When combined, blood pressure drops rapidly, risking unconsciousness. Falls, drowning, heart attacks. Every year, fatal accidents from saunas or baths after drinking are reported.

Even a small amount requires waiting at least 1-2 hours after drinking. Don't enter the sauna until you're completely sober. This is not just etiquette but an absolute rule for protecting life.

Enjoy alcohol after the sauna. A drink after "totonou" in the sauna is unbelievably delicious. By following this order, you can have a safe and supremely happy time.

Why Is Etiquette So Strict? The Shared Experience of "Totonou"

Why is Japanese sauna etiquette so strict? It's because the "totonou" experience is extremely delicate.

"Totonou" only occurs when the mind and body are completely relaxed. Even slight noise, unpleasant smells, or dissatisfaction with others disrupt "totonou." That's why Japanese saunners are very sensitive to etiquette.

Moreover, Japanese saunas are shared spaces. One person's breach of etiquette can ruin the experience for everyone present. That's why everyone adhering to etiquette allows everyone to "totonou." This spirit of mutual aid supports Japanese sauna culture.

What You Gain from Following Etiquette

What do you gain by perfectly adhering to Japanese sauna etiquette?

First, a deep "totonou" experience. By following etiquette, you're freed from worrying about others. You can relax completely without guilt or anxiety. As a result, you can achieve a deeper "totonou."

Next, respect from the saunner community. Those who perfectly follow etiquette are respected by experienced users. Sometimes, regulars may approach you and share recommended saunas.

Finally, a deep understanding of Japanese culture. Sauna etiquette encapsulates Japanese values: cleanliness, consideration for others, respect for silence, and the importance of shared spaces. Understanding these deepens your understanding of Japanese society.

Following etiquette is not a restriction. It's a ticket to the ultimate experience.