When I was a child, I went on a family trip. We visited temples in Kyoto, ate kushikatsu under Tsutenkaku in Osaka, and stayed at a nearby hotel. That hotel was a resort with a massive pool and hot springs, and I spent time splashing around in the pool with my father before soaking in the large communal bath where you could enjoy hot springs from around the world. I remember it as a wonderful trip. As it turns out, those memories were made right here at SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT. There is something deeply moving about returning to that place from my childhood, this time on a sauna journey.
From Tsuruhashi Station, where I was staying, I took the Osaka Loop Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. From there, it was just a few minutes on foot to SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT. Near the entrance, you can take in a full view of the main street leading to Tsutenkaku, one of Osaka's most iconic landmarks. I still remember eating kushikatsu there as a kid. With those thoughts in mind, I stepped inside.
While waiting in line for the self check-in machines, two women joined the queue behind me. They seemed to have arranged to meet here, and one of them called out in Osaka dialect, "Alright, let's go!" The other responded in a raised voice, "Let's go, let's go! I'm about ready to explode!" "What happened?" the first woman asked. "He's just completely hopeless," the other shot back. "He puts his mom before me. He doesn't even see me. Every time something comes up, he goes to ask his mom. Whatever she says is absolute law. The other day, our kid got sick and..." — and on and on she went, venting her fury at her husband. "That's why I just want to clear my head today. I want to feel completely empty," she finally said, letting it all out.
Honestly, I think that's a brilliant choice for a reset. When something is bothering you, dwelling on it does nothing. The best solution is to cycle through sauna and cold plunge until you feel refreshed. This woman clearly understood that. I was lost in these musings — perhaps a bit too nosy — when my turn at the machine arrived. I completed the self check-in and headed inside. The two women and I parted ways.
The large communal bath at SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT rotates between floors on a monthly basis. There are two zones — Europe and Asia — and this month (January 2026), men can use the Europe zone. That meant I'd be able to experience the theater sauna in the Germany area, which seats 140 people.
I got changed in the locker room and entered the communal bath. The space felt both familiar and unfamiliar. A bath modeled after a Roman temple caught my eye immediately. I had a vague feeling I might have soaked in it with my father as a child. Walking further in, the space opened up into themed areas inspired by Germany, Finland, and other countries. Honestly, the sheer scale was staggering. You could search all of Japan and probably not find a communal bath this vast.
I made my way to the Germany area with its much-anticipated theater sauna and stepped in without delay. For a split second, I thought I had walked into a concert hall. Then the heat snapped me back to reality. This was a sauna. It was just that enormous. By far the largest sauna I have ever been in. I had heard it could seat 140 people, but it surpassed my imagination. And despite the immense size, the heat circulation was excellent. No matter where you sat, you felt an intense warmth. I've been in saunas that hold around 100 people before, but the sheer size often meant the heat didn't reach every corner, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT was different. It was seriously hot. And because of the scale, there was no sense of being cramped. I could sit with plenty of space around me and relax in whatever position I liked.
After thoroughly warming up, it was time for the cold plunge. The scale of the cold plunge options was equally impressive. Stepping out of the theater sauna and through the door straight ahead, I found three cold plunge baths set up in the outdoor area. The temperatures were 8°C, 15°C, and 20°C. Each had ample depth and width — at a rough estimate, each could hold around 30 people. I plunged into the 15°C bath and let the cold wash over me from head to toe. After the cold plunge came outdoor relaxation. The outdoor area was lined with a generous number of lounge chairs — enough that even on a busy day, no one would be left scrambling for a seat. There were also recliners where you could lie flat. The outdoor relaxation space was among the largest in Japan.
For my second set, I headed to the Finland area. The space was designed around the concept of a Finnish forest — dim, unified lighting, log cabin elements, birch trees, and a pleasant scent drifting through the air. The sauna room featured two units, one infrared heater type and one stone type, both enveloping you in a gentle warmth. Where the theater sauna had delivered powerful, intense heat, this one felt soothing and mild. Having a variety of sauna types to choose from, each with its own character, is something only a facility of this scale can offer. I took my time warming up slowly.
The Finland area also had its own dedicated cold plunge bath. Set at 16°C and as wide as a small pool, it was completely empty when I got in. I let my body float on the surface, spread out my limbs, and drifted there for a while. It felt like floating in an actual Finnish lake. After the cold plunge, I moved to the rest area — though rather than chairs, it was an open space on the ground where you could simply lie down. That felt wonderful in its own way. Instead of sitting upright, you stretched out on the earth. There was something wonderfully raw and elemental about it that made the whole sauna experience feel even more memorable.
I had taken a particular liking to the theater sauna, so for my third and fourth sets I returned there — heating up in the sauna, then cycling through the cold plunge and outdoor relaxation again and again. The overwhelming sense of openness, the scale, the comfort — everything came together to let me truly relax. And because this is also a place tied to my fondest childhood memories, I found myself falling completely in love with SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT. I am genuinely glad I came.
After the sauna, I ordered katsu curry at the restaurant inside the facility. Curry after a sauna seeps into your body in the best possible way. I savored every bite, then started thinking about what to do next. I had the following day off too, so staying another night and continuing my sauna journey was an option — but how you end a trip matters. Just as the peak-end rule suggests, finishing at the peak is what counts.
Honestly, I didn't think anything on this trip could top the experience at SPAWORLD HOTEL&RESORT. This was the moment when the memories of my childhood and today's extraordinary experience converged. My body felt perfectly in tune. This was undeniably the peak of the trip. If that was the case, ending the journey right here and heading home felt like the right call.
I took the train back to Tsuruhashi Station and climbed into my car in the parking lot. Grateful for the incredible memories, I pointed the car toward Tokushima, where I live. And with that, this sauna journey came to an end. I can't help but wonder — what kind of place will I visit next?
