A sauna journey is all about the sauna itself, with shopping and extravagant outings in bustling districts being secondary. As I walk through Shinsaibashi, one of Japan's top bustling districts, my destination is neither a restaurant, a shopping mall, nor a soapland. It's a sauna. Walking through Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, I arrived in front of the building of "Osaka Sauna DESSE." As I headed for the elevator, I found myself alongside a pair of blond-haired individuals who looked like hosts. They seemed quite exhausted, perhaps from spending the night trying to woo women. I couldn't help but think that once they enter the sauna, they'll feel refreshed and ready to start a new day. With these thoughts, I arrived at my destination on the 4th floor. The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I was convinced of my success. First, the aroma was wonderful. The scent of wood-based aroma filled the facility. I anticipated that the sauna room would also smell great. The facility staff were full of energy, greeting me cheerfully and making me feel ready to head to the sauna. Before heading to the large bath, I checked the facility information. Osaka Sauna DESSE has six types of saunas: River Sauna, Forest Sauna, Water Surface Sauna, Detached Sauna, Tea Room Sauna, and Garden Sauna, each with a different concept. There are four cold plunge baths, each with different temperatures: 16°C, 15°C, 12°C, and 8°C. Of course, the relaxation spaces are also well-equipped. It truly is a facility made for sauna enthusiasts. Excited for the upcoming ultimate sauna experience, I headed to the changing room. As usual, I quickly undressed and entered the bath area. In an instant, I felt as if I had been transported to another world. The dark modern space was filled with the aroma, giving a sense of luxury. I hurried to confirm the layout. I checked where the six types of saunas were located and whether the flow from the sauna to the cold plunge bath was seamless. It was perfect. Then, I planned my set. Understanding the characteristics of each sauna, I needed to create a flow that would best prepare my body. After careful consideration, I decided to start with the "River Sauna." The River Sauna is the largest among the six saunas at Osaka Sauna DESSE and also the most distinctive. I'll explain more about this later. The River Sauna has two sauna stoves, and the pleasant scent of wood fills the sauna room. The BGM from the drama "Sa-do" was playing, which was fantastic. There was no TV in the sauna room, allowing me to close my eyes slowly and calm my mind. A period of "nothingness" continued, and I started to sweat quite a bit. It was about time to enter the cold plunge bath. Earlier, I mentioned that "the River Sauna is the most distinctive sauna." This is because there is a cold plunge bath inside the sauna room, which is connected to an outdoor cold plunge bath, allowing you to dive and move (exit the sauna room). It's a design of a cold plunge bath in the sauna. I've visited various sauna facilities, but it was my first experience being able to exit the sauna without opening the sauna room door. For the second set, I went to the "Forest Sauna." The Forest Sauna is the hottest "high-temperature steam sauna" at Osaka Sauna DESSE. Generally, steam saunas are often set at temperatures around 60-70°C. However, the Forest Sauna at Osaka Sauna DESSE was set at 93°C. I had never been in a 93°C steam sauna before. The moment I entered the sauna room, I was overwhelmed by the intense steam. It has a three-tier structure, but there was no way I could go to the top tier. The first tier was all I could manage. Even a dry sauna set at 93°C would be considered hot, but with the added steam, the high humidity made it feel incredibly hot. After five minutes, I reached my limit and entered the drum can cold plunge bath. The contrast from the 93°C intense steam to the 12°C ice-cold plunge bath provided an exquisite sensation. Even though it was only the second set, I lost consciousness for about 10 minutes on the chair. For the third set, I went to the "Water Surface Sauna." The Water Surface Sauna is a steam sauna with gently curved benches where you can recline. As I gazed at the ceiling, soothed by the pleasant herbal scent, the water surface of the cold plunge bath next to the sauna room reflected, creating a shimmering effect. A sauna that stimulates all five senses with its relaxing temperature, herbal aroma, and the shimmering projected on the ceiling. I clasped my hands together and prayed, "May this wonderful sauna journey continue in the future." For the fourth set, I went to the "Detached Sauna." The Detached Sauna is a small sauna room where you can perform self-löyly and is also used for whisking, allowing you to lie down. It quietly stands at the far end of the bath area, matching the concept of "detached." The interior is dark, making it a perfect space for meditation. Since there were no other users besides me, I lay down on the upper tier. Lying down in the sauna allows for even warming of the body. The gentle heat stimulated my body, and despite sweating profusely, the comfort prevailed. I believe it's the exquisite balance of temperature, humidity, and aroma that makes it so. After entering the cold plunge bath, I lost consciousness again in the relaxation area. It's about time for the last set. For the fifth set, I went to the "Tea Room Sauna." The Tea Room Sauna, as the name suggests, is a tea room-themed sauna with a tatami-matted room. Unlike a typical sauna, there are no benches. You sit cross-legged on the tatami, focusing your mind. The most unique feature of the Tea Room Sauna was the large teapot on the sauna stove. The teapot contains tea, designed to drip slowly onto the sauna stones. The constant steam of tea is very soothing. Sitting naked in a clean tea room, sweating profusely, is an almost guilty pleasure that becomes addictive. I indulged in the Tea Room Sauna to the limit and dove into the cold plunge bath.

After completing five sets, I was in a state of complete exhaustion. I lay down in the relaxation room next to the changing room and couldn't get up for a while. How long had I been unconscious? Hunger brought me back to consciousness. It's a physiological phenomenon that makes you realize you're human. After achieving the ultimate state of relaxation in the sauna, it's time for a delicious meal. You could say I enter the sauna to savor this ultimate moment. I moved to the dining space within the facility and ordered homemade char siu rice bowl, Finnish-style vegetable soup, and ginger pork. I ate as much as I wanted of what I craved. During the journey, I live true to my desires. After a while, the food was brought to me. First, I drank the Finnish-style vegetable soup. It penetrated deep into my body, which had been exhausted by the sauna. Delicious. Then, I alternated between the homemade char siu rice bowl and ginger pork. The loop of Finnish-style vegetable soup → homemade char siu rice bowl → Finnish-style vegetable soup → ginger pork was perfectly established. Just like sauna → cold plunge bath → rest. Not only the sauna but also my stomach was completely captivated. I love Osaka Sauna DESSE. On my way out, I found myself in the same elevator as the host-like pair I had entered with. The two who had looked exhausted when entering now appeared bright and refreshed, like completely different people. One of the host-like individuals said, "That was amazing," and the other replied, "It was truly amazing. I can keep going for a while now!" I believe saunas have the power to turn lives around. After leaving "Osaka Sauna DESSE," I drove to my next destination in Higashi Osaka City. Although there are several wonderful hot spring and sauna facilities in Higashi Osaka City, tonight I decided to visit "Naniwa Health Land Yutopia." The Osaka sauna journey continues.