Oct 3–6, 2025 Hokuriku Sauna Journey (Toyama & Ishikawa)

Hokuriku was an unknown territory. I had gathered information that there were many amazing saunas, and I myself had researched and recognized their greatness. However, weekdays were occupied with work, and the access from Shikoku to Hokuriku was not easy, which prevented me from exploring. The dilemma continued to build up, and I reached a point where I couldn't suppress the urge to visit Hokuriku. I wanted to go before it got cold. With that in mind, I took Friday and Monday off work to secure a four-day weekend. As a result, I visited a total of seven facilities in Toyama and Ishikawa. Astonishingly, five out of the seven facilities had a 'drinkable cold plunge bath.' This indicates the high quality of the water. As for the saunas, they were all like manifestations of 'if only there were such a sauna,' making Hokuriku worthy of being called a sacred place for saunas. It was a journey that made me feel that way.