I wanted to close out 2025 at what I consider the best sauna in Japan.
That wish was about to come true.
About three hours from Kumamoto. I arrived at Shin-Osaka at 5:30 PM, transferred to a local train, and headed to JR Nishinomiya Station. From there, I drove toward Kobe. My destination: Kobe Sauna & Spa.
Over the course of my life, I have visited sauna facilities all across Japan — including many of the most famous ones. And yet, if someone were to ask me, "What is the best sauna in Japan for you?" I could answer without a moment's hesitation: Kobe Sauna & Spa. To me, it is simply the greatest sauna facility in existence. And I was about to wrap up 2025 at the greatest sauna of my life.
I walked through the familiar streets of Sannomiya and arrived at the entrance of Kobe Sauna. I stepped off the elevator on the 6th floor and made my way to the reception area, where a wonderfully pleasant scent hung in the air. While waiting in line, I heard a voice pleading desperately: "I really need a massage today! My body is absolutely wrecked!" The man looked utterly exhausted — no doubt he had come to wash away an entire year's worth of fatigue. I completely understood the feeling. The massages at Kobe Sauna are exceptional (I can speak from experience), so wanting one that badly makes perfect sense. It seemed there was an opening in the late-night slot, and he managed to secure a reservation. "Thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to it!" he called out as he disappeared into the locker room. I checked in at the front desk and headed to my locker.
I changed in my familiar locker and made my way to the main bath area. No matter how many times I come here, my excitement never fades. First, I washed up, then slowly eased myself into the natural hot spring at the center of the main bath. The tension that had built up in my body from the Shinkansen ride began to melt away. It felt wonderful. Knowing I was able to come here at the very end of the year filled me with a deep sense of joy, and my happiness just kept growing. After warming up for a while, it was time for what I believe is the best sauna in Japan.
First, I headed to the main sauna — and was immediately struck by what I saw. It had been renovated. The wood was new, and both the exterior and interior had been completely transformed. The warm-toned lights from the outdoor bath cast a gentle glow into the sauna room. The beautiful wood-lined interior was filled with the scent of lemongrass. I felt it in my bones: Kobe Sauna really is the best. I let the roughly 100°C heat warm my body, then made my way to the cold plunge bath at 11.7°C. The piercing cold of that plunge is one of Kobe Sauna's signature features. After the cold plunge, I enjoyed an outdoor rest session gazing up at the Kobe sky. Even on the first set, an incredible wave of euphoria washed over me. I had visited Yurakkusu that morning, so perhaps that played a role as well.
For my second set, I headed to the Finnish sauna in the outdoor area. Built with kelo wood — sometimes called the jewel of the forest — this sauna features self-service löyly. The rich, woody fragrance unique to this sauna is unlike anything else, and the moment I stepped inside, I was moved: what an incredible scent. Fortunately, there weren't many other people. I settled onto the upper bench and quietly, unhurriedly let the heat soak into my body. At some point, another guest poured water for a löyly. The hissing sound echoed through the darkened room, and the perceived temperature shot up in an instant. My heart rate spiked and sweat poured out of me. This was my last sauna of 2025. It felt as though every bit of this past year was being sweated out of me.
I plunged back into the 11.7°C cold bath to cool down, then moved on to the outdoor rest. I found myself reflecting: how many sets of sauna → cold plunge → outdoor rest did I do this year? I go to the sauna every day as a rule, doing at least three sets a day, so I've completed at least 1,095 sets of sauna → cold plunge → outdoor rest. On sauna trips, I often go twice in a day, so the actual number is probably even higher. When I think about it that way, the accumulation really is something. Resetting each day's fatigue and greeting each new morning — I'm convinced that this kind of daily buildup is what makes for a truly great life. 2025 is coming to a close, but I can say with full confidence: it was a wonderful year. And I'm equally confident that next year will be just as wonderful.
Sauna is something I simply cannot live without if I want to live a happy life. If saunas were to disappear, I have no doubt I would be miserable. I intend to keep stepping into my beloved saunas for many years to come.
After the sauna, I had a meal at a restaurant I know well. Coming off what I consider the best sauna in Japan, the satisfaction of the food was something else entirely. I always order the karaage fried chicken at Kobe Sauna — I'm a huge fan — and the charcoal-grilled oyakodon here is absolutely outstanding as well.
When the meal was over, I felt a strong reluctance to leave, but knowing when to call it a night matters too. The final day had brought to life the ultimate route: Yurakkusu, the sacred sauna of the west → Kobe Sauna & Spa. A lineup this luxurious may never come together again. And with that, my 2025 sauna journey came to a close. I left Kobe Sauna & Spa with gratitude for everything that happened this year, and a vow to return.
On the drive home, I was already starting to think about where to go for my first sauna trip of 2026.
