It's been four and a half years since I last went to Tokyo. I currently live in Tokushima Prefecture, but four and a half years ago, I lived in Tokyo. Tokyo is a place where I tasted life's despair and also found the opportunity to rise. Because it's such a special place, I couldn't visit it casually. However, now I feel confident enough to hold my own in Tokyo. With that confidence, I embarked on this journey. On the day of the trip, I woke up at 5 a.m. As expected, I woke up early on the first day of the trip. A mix of excitement, nervousness, and thrill filled my body with adrenaline. After a morning walk and breakfast, I checked the travel schedule. This sauna trip is likely to be so luxurious that sauna enthusiasts across Japan will look at it with envy. With that thought, I headed to the airport. I boarded a 9 a.m. flight and arrived at Haneda Airport in about an hour. It's been four and a half years since I last visited Tokyo. So, where to head first? Of course, a sauna. The first sauna I decided to visit in Tokyo is Sauna Tokyo in Akasaka. It's about a five-minute walk from Akasaka-mitsuke Station, and I recognized the exterior I've seen many times in magazines. I quickly took a photo of the exterior, bowed, and entered. After checking in, I headed to the large bath. The compact layout means short distances to move, and the flow from the large bath to the restaurant is easy to understand. Entering the large bath, I found myself in another world. The dark and modern lighting filled the room with a pleasant aroma. On the first floor of Sauna Tokyo, there are carbonated baths and a washing area, while the second floor has saunas, a cold plunge bath, and an indoor relaxation space. First, I warmed my body in the carbonated bath. The stiffness from the morning's flight and train travel began to ease. Once the warm-up was complete, it was finally time to enter the sauna. Sauna Tokyo has five saunas. Let me explain each one. 1. Joki Ranbu -Löyly Sauna- The main sauna accommodates up to 40 people and hosts aufguss events. 2. Tejaku Joki -Self Löyly Kero Sauna- A self-löyly sauna using Finland's wooden jewel, Kelo wood. 3. Showa Enseki -Super Dry Sauna- A traditional high-temperature dry sauna with infrared heaters reaching nearly 100°C. 4. Meiso -Meditation Sauna- A sauna enveloped in silence and darkness. The seating is partitioned, allowing for complete solitude and meditation. 5. Todana Jofuro -Japanese Steam Sauna- A low-temperature steam sauna recreating the steam baths of the Edo period. Among these, I was most interested in the Tejaku Joki -Self Löyly Kero Sauna-. The sauna room made with Kelo wood, known as the wooden jewel, has an incredible fragrance. The moment I entered the sauna room, I was moved by the wonderful scent. I entered the sauna room with excitement, wondering what kind of aroma and indoor space Sauna Tokyo would offer. Fortunately, no one else was there. The scent was so good that I got overwhelmed and exclaimed, "What a wonderful aroma!" I sat on the bench, brought my nose close to the wall material, and inhaled deeply. Being alone, it was a completely quirky move. The rich aroma of Kelo wood traveled through my nostrils to my brain, bringing a dizzying pleasure each time. After enjoying the scent, I performed self-löyly multiple times, warming my body to the limit. After the sauna, it's time for the cold plunge bath, and there are three types available. The temperature variations are ideal at 8°C, 16°C, and 22°C, with ample space. Additionally, since each bath is connected, transitioning from 8°C to 16°C for a cold alternating bath is smooth. After cooling my body in the cold plunge bath, I headed to the dedicated indoor relaxation space. Many chairs were neatly arranged, where men, like myself, who were captivated by the sauna, were relaxing. Besides chairs, a few beds were also available for lying down. The room's air conditioning, aroma, chair quality, and cleanliness were all meticulously considered, making it almost strange not to achieve totonou in this space. At the edge of the indoor relaxation area, a drink bar was also available, and although it's a paid plan, you can enjoy various drinks while resting. For the second set, I entered the main sauna. A large sauna stove was placed in the center of the room, allowing for löyly from above. I was surprised to find the floor flooded when I entered the room. This was because the staff intentionally sprinkled water on the floor during their regular patrols to increase humidity. Sauna Tokyo has a very high awareness of humidity, and in the first set's Kelo sauna, in addition to guests performing self-löyly, the staff also added löyly. Thanks to this, I didn't feel any "dryness" at all. The high temperature and humidity quickly made me sweat. After reaching my limit, I entered the cold plunge bath again and returned to the exquisite indoor relaxation space. A bed was available, so I decided to lie down and rest. Showers were also installed next to each bed area, showing consideration for hygiene. By rinsing off before and after lying down, you can use it in a clean state. Without this, the accumulated body odor of many men would create an overwhelming stench. As I lay on the bed, the scenery gradually blurred. It was as if I was being led into another world, and I lost consciousness. How many minutes did I spend in another world? What time is it now? I experienced such deep relaxation that I lost track of time, and I headed for the third set. Although I wanted to enjoy all types of saunas, the Kelo sauna was so good that I decided to enter it once more. What I felt was the aroma, heat, heartbeat, and the joy of being in a supreme sauna. Wrapped in overwhelming happiness, I moved from the sauna to the cold plunge bath, completing the third set.

Sauna Tokyo, which I had researched many times in magazines and on websites, was a facility that perfectly matched the word 'exquisite.' It not only had high-quality saunas but also an elegance that suited the Akasaka area of Tokyo. Coming here, I even felt the illusion that I had become a refined person. That's also the allure of the city of Tokyo. After enjoying the sauna in the heart of Tokyo, I head to the next destination. Although I've just arrived in Tokyo, I'm now heading to Chiba Prefecture. I'm going to the most famous and popular facility in Chiba. For this sauna trip, I've planned to visit the most popular facilities in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa. With this much said, sauna enthusiasts might have guessed which facility I'm going to. Next, I'm heading to Spa Metsa Otaka Ryusenji no Yu.