During the day, I visited 'Osaka Sauna DESSE', and at night, I headed to 'Naniwa Health Land Yuutopia'. Both are representative sauna facilities in Japan. To be able to visit these two places in one day is such a luxurious sauna journey. Savoring the happiness, I stepped into 'Naniwa Health Land'. Naniwa Health Land has three saunas: a high-temperature sauna, a meditation sauna, and a forest sauna. Although I had checked the atmosphere through photos beforehand, the actual experience was quite different. Excited about what kind of sauna experience awaited me, I headed to the large bath. Upon entering the large bath, I saw several large tubs lined up. There were herbal baths, cypress baths, and open-air rock baths, allowing for a variety of bathing experiences. I first entered the herbal bath to warm my body. Although I could have gone straight to the sauna, warming up in a hot bath first allows for a better sweat. After soaking in the herbal bath for about 10 minutes, I decided to go to the high-temperature sauna for the first set. As I opened the door and entered, I felt intense heat. It seemed to be around 100°C. However, the thermometer read 85°C. The fact that it felt extremely hot at 85°C indicated high humidity. Sweat poured out immediately. The atmosphere in the sauna room was pleasant. The lighting was dark and chic. It seemed like each guest was having a moment of introspection. Everyone must be a sauna enthusiast. After steaming for about 5 minutes, I headed to the cold plunge bath. The 15°C cold plunge bath was right next to the high-temperature sauna, making the flow perfect. Moreover, the water was charcoal-filtered, giving it a soft quality. The water was constantly overflowing, keeping it clean. As I entered the cold plunge bath, my body, heated by the sauna, gradually cooled down. This moment was irresistible. The heart rate elevated by the sauna calmed as I cooled down. Then, I collapsed into a resting chair, and a sublime time arrived. I praised myself, saying, 'Good job today,' and felt grateful for the wonderful sauna journey I was having. For the second set, I went to the forest sauna. The forest sauna at Naniwa Health Land is a steam sauna filled with the aroma of whisks (bundles of branches and leaves from plants like birch and oak) along with steam. It is designed with the theme of 'a calming space as if in a forest.' The exterior resembles a log cabin, similar to authentic Finnish sauna huts. Upon entering, I couldn't help but exclaim, 'This is amazing.' The dark sauna room had several whisks hanging on the walls, enveloped in the pleasant scent of birch. There was no TV here. Fortunately, there were no other guests. I inhaled the birch scent deeply through my nose, exhaling impurities from my body with my breath. I focused on my breathing and the scent, feeling it with my whole body. I enjoyed this personal space without any interruptions. For the third set (the last one), I went to the meditation sauna. This sauna is also known as the meditation sauna. In the center of the narrow sauna room, an iki stove is installed, allowing for self-löyly. Benches surround the central iki stove, allowing steam to spread in all directions from the center of the room. The interior was almost pitch dark, taking some time for my eyes to adjust. I thought no one was there when I entered, but looking ahead, I saw someone on the opposite side. However, in the dark room, I couldn't see their face. Even those who are self-conscious can have a moment of introspection in this sauna. 'Would you mind if I did löyly?' the man in front of me asked. 'Please, go ahead. Thank you,' I replied, closing my eyes slowly again. As water was poured onto the sauna stones, steam spread rapidly. The perceived temperature rose, and sweat poured out, but the warm steam also provided a sense of relaxation. Indeed, saunas are wonderful. I indulged in self-satisfaction while sweating. Finally, I cooled my body in the cold plunge bath, concluding the sauna experience for the day.

Afterward, I decided to have a delicious meal and sleep. The area around Naniwa Health Land retains a downtown atmosphere, with long-loved local eateries lining the streets. To cool down, I decided to take a walk and choose a place to eat. When I travel, I generally don't research anything other than saunas. Especially for dining, I choose based on intuition at the moment. While walking around the town, I inevitably come across a place that seems 'really nice.' It takes courage to enter alone, but I've gotten used to it. Walking down the downtown street, I found an old udon shop. The menu outside indicated that curry udon was their specialty. Wonderful. Curry is an excellent meal after a sauna. I passed through the noren and entered the shop. The owner kindly greeted me with a 'Welcome.' The shop, run by an elderly couple, had a very warm atmosphere. I savored the exquisite curry udon made with homemade noodles, feeling happiness once again. I might never visit this shop again in my lifetime, but I'll never forget it. Strangely, the shops encountered during travels are always remembered. Travel is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. The same goes for saunas. That's why I intend to enjoy every visit to the fullest, ensuring the best experience possible. With such self-satisfied determination, I headed to my hotel. The Osaka sauna journey continues.