SAUNA STORIES
Authentic Experience Reports from Saunas & Hot Springs Across Japan
Oct 17–20, 2025 Osaka Sauna Journey
If you're a salaried worker with weekends off, you can start your journey on Friday night and return on Monday morning, making it a 4-day, 3-night trip. This Osaka sauna journey was planned with such a schedule. I thoroughly enjoyed Osaka's famous facilities from morning till night. On Friday, I stayed at 'Sauna & Capsule Amza,' then on Saturday morning, I went to 'Osaka Sauna DESSE,' and in the evening, I headed to 'Naniwa Health Land Yu-topia.' On Sunday morning, I visited 'Hanazono Onsen sauna kukka,' and stayed overnight at 'Sauna Resort Oriental Kobe.' I enjoyed the sauna again on Monday morning, returned home in the morning, and went straight to work.
Sauna & Capsule Amza
A Battle with Snoring and Ultimate Sauna Experience in the Heart of Osaka Minami
Osaka Sauna DESSE
Osaka's Strongest Sauna
Naniwa Health Land Yuutopia
The Pinnacle of Sauna Experience
Hanazono Onsen sauna kukka
First Mixed-Gender Sauna Experience
Sauna Resort Oriental Kobe
Hotel sauna featuring a 105°C sauna and an 8°C cold plunge bath
Oct 3–6, 2025 Hokuriku Sauna Journey (Toyama & Ishikawa)
Hokuriku was an unknown territory. I had gathered information that there were many amazing saunas, and I myself had researched and recognized their greatness. However, weekdays were occupied with work, and the access from Shikoku to Hokuriku was not easy, which prevented me from exploring. The dilemma continued to build up, and I reached a point where I couldn't suppress the urge to visit Hokuriku. I wanted to go before it got cold. With that in mind, I took Friday and Monday off work to secure a four-day weekend. As a result, I visited a total of seven facilities in Toyama and Ishikawa. Astonishingly, five out of the seven facilities had a 'drinkable cold plunge bath.' This indicates the high quality of the water. As for the saunas, they were all like manifestations of 'if only there were such a sauna,' making Hokuriku worthy of being called a sacred place for saunas. It was a journey that made me feel that way.
Spa Alps
The Sacred Place for Saunas in Hokuriku: 8 Rounds
APA Hotel Stay Toyama
The Sauna Created with Seriousness by APA of the World
Bathhouse FUROBAKKA
Exquisite Wood-Fired Sauna and Kurobe's Famous Cold Plunge Bath
SPA BALNAGE
Overlooking the Tateyama Mountain Range and Toyama Bay
Natural Hot Spring Relax Park Terume Kanazawa
Natural Hot Spring Flowing Freely & Drinkable Cold Plunge Bath
Kinjo Onsen Motoyu
The Best Morning Bath of My Life
Sauna Talo Toyama
A sauna nestled in a quiet residential area
Sep 19–21, 2025 Kyoto-Gifu Sauna Journey
I wanted to embark on a journey seeking the ultimate 'cold baths.' Not ordinary cold baths, but unique, original cold baths that exist only at specific facilities. This trip began at Kyoto's 'SPA&HOTEL Suishun Matsuiyamate' with a 13°C carbonated cold bath, followed by savoring the flowing groundwater cold bath at 'Hakusanyu Rokujo Store.' Then I moved to Gifu Prefecture to enjoy the exquisite herbal sauna and flowing groundwater cold bath at 'Megumi-no-Yu.' On the final day, I made my second visit to Ogaki Sauna, where I lost consciousness in Japan's finest cold bath.
SPA&HOTEL Suishun Matsuiyamate
First experience with 13°C carbonated cold bath
Hakusanyu Rokujo Store
Kyoto's Ultimate Cold Bath (Flowing Groundwater)
Megumi-no-Yu
Japan's Ultimate Herbal Sauna and Flowing Groundwater Cold Bath
Ogaki Sauna (Return Visit)
Japan's Finest Flowing Groundwater Cold Bath
Sep 12–15, 2025 Osaka, Nara & Wakayama Sauna Journey
A week had passed since my sauna pilgrimage journey. After powering through the weekdays with high energy, Friday arrived. That day, I finished work early and headed to the "Yao Grand Hotel," often hailed as one of Osaka's sacred sauna destinations. Thus began my weekend sauna adventure. On day two, I indulged in "Gose Hoyu" in Gose City, Nara Prefecture, and "Koyaguchi-no-Yu" in Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture. Day three saw me achieving totonou once again at "Koyaguchi-no-Yu" in the morning, followed by evening visits to "Kofuku-yu" and "Fukurou-no-Yu" in Wakayama City. On the final day, I experienced my first-ever Korean-style body scrubbing at "Nara Kenko Land" and emerged with silky smooth skin all over.
Yao Grand Hotel
Historic Hot Springs - Osaka's Sacred Ground
Gose Takarayu
Finnish-Style Sauna with Clay Walls
Traditional Bathhouse Koyaguchi-no-Yu
Harvia iki sauna with natural groundwater cold bath
Traditional Bathhouse Koyaguchi-no-Yu (2nd Visit)
Second visit after returning from Mount Koya
Kofukuyu
15-minute stay. Failed to complete even one set...
Fukurou-no-Yu
Natural Hot Springs from 1,500m Underground
Nara Health Land
My First Korean Body Scrub Experience
Sep 4–7, 2025 Sacred Sauna Pilgrimage
In the sauna world, there exist places revered as 'sacred grounds'—legendary facilities that every sauna enthusiast dreams of visiting at least once in their lifetime. This pilgrimage began at Kobe's holy site and continued through the sacred venues of Gifu, Shizuoka, and Nagoya. Seven magnificent establishments in total: 'Kobe Sauna & Spa,' 'Ogaki Sauna,' 'Sauna Shikiji,' 'Mt. Fuji Natural Water SPA Sauna Taka-no-yu,' 'Suruga Kenko Land,' and 'Wellbe Sakae.' For any sauna lover, this is a route that would make you want to shout with joy—a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Kobe Sauna & Spa (2nd Visit)
A Sacred Journey Begins in Kobe
Ogaki Sauna
The Miraculous Cold Plunge
Sauna Shikiji
The Holy Land of Saunas
Mount Fuji Natural Water SPA Sauna Taka-no-Yu
The Ultimate Cold Plunge with Mount Fuji Spring Water
Suruga Health Land
Ancient Waters from 10-Million-Year-Old Geological Strata
Wellbe Sakae
Finnish Forest Sauna Experience
Aug 29–31, 2025 Kobe & Umeda Sauna Journey
Hyogo and Osaka prefectures are home to numerous sauna and onsen facilities that represent the best of Japan. My personal 'must-visit list' already contains over 50 establishments. This trip took me to 'Safi Spa Maiko,' 'Arima Onsen Taikou-no-yu,' 'New Japan Umeda,' 'Kobe Sauna & Spa,' and 'Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu.' What kind of sauna experiences await at each of these facilities?
Safi Spa Maiko
The Ultimate Expression of Sauna King's Vision
Arima Onsen Taikou-no-yu
Blissful Moments in Golden and Silver Springs
New Japan Umeda
Ultimate Sauna Bliss at Umeda's Legendary Institution
Kobe Sauna & Spa
Ultimate Sauna Bliss at Kobe's Sacred Ground
Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu (2nd Visit)
Cold Plunge Fed by Miyamizu Sacred Waters
Aug 14–17, 2025 Ehime Sauna Journey
My home prefecture of Ehime is blessed with many outstanding sauna facilities. For me, returning home is always part of a sauna journey. This trip took me to 'Iyo no Tojiba Kisuke-no-Yu' in Matsuyama City and 'Shimanami Onsen Kisuke-no-Yu' in Imabari City. The Matsuyama Kisuke-no-Yu is a renowned establishment that once ranked #1 in the Nifty Onsen national rankings. This journey explores Ehime's premier super sento facilities.
Tosa Mochizuki Onsen Himewako-no-Yu
Kochi's Largest Super Sento Experience
Iyo Hot Spring Resort Kisuke-no-Yu
Japan's #1 Ranked Fujin Sauna Experience
Shimanami Onsen Kisuke Hot Spring
Morning Bliss with Green Tea Löyly
Aug 9–11, 2025 Shiga & Nara Sauna Journey
The Kansai region is home to many wonderful saunas. This time I decided to visit Shiga and Nara prefectures. In Shiga, I visited 'Chomeiji Onsen Amaha-no-Yu' and 'Spa Resort Ogoto Agaryanse.' In Nara, I visited 'Yurara-no-Yu Oshikuma,' enjoying the saunas, cold baths, and hot springs at each location. The journey's finale was my first visit to 'Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu' in Hyogo Prefecture. There I discovered a world that completely blew my mind.
Chomeiji Onsen Amaha-no-Yu
Wood-Fired Sauna with Spectacular Lake Biwa Views
Spa Resort Ogoto Agaryanse
Ultimate Serenity with Lake Biwa Views
Yurara-no-Yu Oshikuma Store
Finding Perfect totonou Under Nara's Sky
Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu
Becoming One with Nature in the Forest Garden