Osaka Sauna & Sentou Guide 2024: Enjoy Japanese-Style Hot Springs!
In Japan, saunas and hot spring facilities are extremely popular, with innovative sauna facilities popping up one after another in major cities. Osaka, known as Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo, is no exception, with many sentou (public bathhouses) and sauna facilities being completed in recent years.
Osaka has traditionally been called the "Kitchen of the Nation" and has developed its own unique food culture. However, it has also been known as a city with many sentou and saunas, soothing many travelers and locals alike for years.
In recent years, Osaka has seen the completion of new saunas and sentou that are easily accessible to foreigners, gaining popularity among tourists. In this article, we will comprehensively introduce Osaka's sentou and saunas.
The Streets of Osaka Are Home to Many Sentou and Saunas
The streets of Osaka are home to many sentou and saunas, bustling with people daily. In Japan, hot spring facilities generally fall into two categories: public bathhouses called sentou, and large-scale hot spring facilities called super sentou.
Saunas are often attached to hot spring facilities, allowing visitors to enjoy both baths and saunas together. Osaka boasts numerous sauna facilities, offering a variety of experiences including high-temperature low-humidity saunas, steam saunas with high moisture content, and Finnish-style saunas where water is poured over sauna stones to create steam.
It can be fun to visit various sentou and saunas to find your favorite spot.
What Are the Characteristics of Japanese-Style Saunas and How to Use Them?
The main feature of Japanese saunas is the high-temperature dry sauna, typically ranging from 80°C to 100°C. As the sauna room is located within the bathing area, make sure to wash your entire body thoroughly before entering the sauna room.
In the sauna room, sit or lie down and relax without speaking loudly. The seating area is usually tiered, with the highest position being the hottest. If you're not accustomed to the heat, sit in a lower position.
The appropriate bathing time is 8 to 12 minutes, but it's fine to stay for a shorter time if you're not used to the heat. After leaving the sauna, rinse off the sweat with a shower and then cool your body in the cold-water bath.
If you sit in a chair after sufficiently cooling your body, you'll experience a mysteriously comfortable sensation. In Japan, this state is called "totonou," and many people visit saunas to experience this moment.
5 Must-Visit Popular Saunas in Osaka and Their Attractions
Osaka Sauna DESSE
Source: Official website
Osaka Sauna DESSE, which opened in Shinsaibashi in 2023, is a facility featuring eight different types of saunas with unique concepts. Its distinctive feature is the meticulous attention to detail in its design, making it irresistible for sauna enthusiasts.
One of the highlights is the "river sauna," where a stream flows through the sauna room, allowing you to jump into the cold-water bath immediately after the sauna. Other recommendations include the "forest sauna" with its dimly lit, relaxing atmosphere, and the "tea room sauna," which incorporates a traditional Japanese tea room design into the sauna space.
The cold-water baths are also unique, featuring a 150cm deep bath and another made from Shigaraki ware, a renowned Japanese pottery. If you want to enjoy a unique and interesting sauna experience, this is definitely a place to visit.
Address: 4F Kei's Building Shinsaibashi, 3-6-18 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Hours: 11:00 AM - 9:00 AM (next day)
Closed: Once a month (irregular)
Phone: 06-4256-4137
Official website: https://desse.osaka/
Towel rental: Available (for a fee)
Shampoo and body soap: Provided
Naniwa no Yu Natural Hot Spring
Source: Official website
Naniwa no Yu is a natural hot spring facility located near the Tenjinbashisuji shopping street, known as Japan's longest shopping arcade. The baths, which include an open-air bath, are known as "beauty hot springs" and are said to have skin-smoothing effects.
The facility features Finnish-style löyly saunas, with different types for men and women. The men's area has a steam sauna, while the women's area offers a salt sauna and a steam sauna with collagen lights to promote collagen production.
Three restaurants are also on-site, which can be used separately from the baths. With a range of relaxation services like massages and body scrubs available, this is an ideal spot for those looking to spend a leisurely, relaxing day.
Address: 1-7-31 Nagaranishi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM, Weekends and Holidays 8:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Closed: Never
Phone: 06-6882-4126
Official website: https://www.naniwanoyu.com/
Towel rental: Not available
Shampoo and body soap: Provided
Spa World: World's Great Hot Springs
Source: PR TIMES
Spa World is a massive hot spring facility located near Tsutenkaku, one of Osaka's iconic tourist attractions. The baths are divided into Asian and European zones, which alternate monthly between men and women.
The Asian Zone exudes an exotic atmosphere that lets you indulge in a resort-like feeling, featuring Japanese-style hot springs and Balinese-style spas. The European Zone, on the other hand, is designed to evoke various European countries, with baths inspired by ancient Roman baths and Italy's Blue Grotto.
There's also a wide variety of restaurants, including many serving Osaka specialties and izakayas. With relaxation facilities and a fitness gym available, you can easily spend a whole day enjoying yourself here.
Address: 3-4-24 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:45 AM (next day)
Closed: Never
Phone: 06-6631-0001
Official website: https://www.spaworld.co.jp/
Towel rental: Available
Shampoo and body soap: Provided
Sauna & Spa Capsule Hotel Daitoyo
Source: Official website
Sauna & Spa Capsule Hotel Daitoyo is a hot spring facility with a capsule hotel located in Umeda, offering relaxing hot springs and saunas. The hotel is divided into male-only and female-only sections, making it comfortable for women to stay as well.
The baths feature a soothing white bath with fine bubbles, as well as a variety of options including a jet bath for muscle relaxation. The sauna area includes a high-temperature "Rocky Sauna" maintained at 90°C, a Finnish-style sauna, and a mist sauna.
The capsule rooms for overnight stays are spacious and comfortable, with well-equipped amenities including power outlets and USB cables. The accommodation fees are set lower than surrounding hotels, making it a great option for those who want to experience staying in a capsule hotel.
Address: Kanko Building Daitoyo, 2-1-9 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Hours: 12:00 PM - 10:00 AM (next day) (Sauna & Spa)
Closed: Never
Phone: 06-6312-7652
Official website: https://www.daitoyo.co.jp/spa/mens/
Towel rental: Available
Shampoo and body soap: Provided
New Japan Umeda
Source: Official website
New Japan Umeda is a male-only accommodation facility featuring a spacious spa and sauna, along with a capsule hotel. The bathing area is expansive enough to relax comfortably, including an open-air bath made with cypress wood and a heated swimming pool.
The sauna area offers a Finnish-style sauna, a low-temperature sauna with soothing background music and a starry sky effect, and a high-temperature Japanese-style sauna, making it an ideal facility for sauna enthusiasts. The cold-water bath is known for its refreshing coldness, and there's also a waterfall-like shower installed.
After enjoying the sauna and baths, you can receive various types of massages, including shiatsu and traditional Thai massage. You can also enjoy drinks and meals in the spacious restaurant, making it a perfect spot for those who want to indulge in baths and saunas all day long.
Address: 9-5 Doyama-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka
Hours: Open 24 hours
Closed: Never
Phone: Sauna 06-6312-0610, Accommodation 06-6314-2100
Official website: https://www.umedasauna-newjapan.jp/
Towel rental: Available
Shampoo and body soap: Provided
3 Recommended Private Saunas to Enjoy with Family, Friends, or Lovers
Communication Sauna OOO OSAKA
Source: Official website
Communication Sauna OOO OSAKA, located in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, is a private sauna with a modern Japanese aesthetic incorporating moon themes. There are three types of rooms, each named after different moon phases: crescent moon, waxing moon, and full moon.
All rooms are enveloped in tranquility and feature tatami-style relaxation spaces, private saunas, cold-water baths, and showers. In the sauna, you can perform self-löyly, freely adjusting the temperature to your liking by pouring water on the stones.
Amenities such as hair dryers and towels are available for free use. The facility can accommodate up to 8 people, making it ideal for groups of close friends, couples, or families who want to enjoy the sauna at their leisure.
Address: 2-1-18 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Hours: 8:00 AM - 0:20 AM
Closed: Never
Official website: https://ooo-sauna.com/osaka.html
SOU
Source: Official Website
SOU, located near Nagahoribashi in Osaka, is a private sauna offering gentle healing. You can enjoy the sauna in a quiet, private room where you can relax at your own pace.
There are two types of rooms: Nagare no Ma and Midori no Ma. Nagare no Ma features a ceiling with water surface panels, creating an inorganic space where you feel immersed in a water painting.
Midori no Ma is a dark room designed to evoke the image of traditional Japanese wooden architecture, where you can experience tranquility while listening to the sound of a waterfall.
The rooms play SOU's original, carefully curated healing music. It's perfect for those who want to soothe their mind while enjoying the sauna. As sauna use times are predetermined, be sure to make a reservation through the website before visiting.
Address: 1-5-11 Shimanouchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Hours: 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Closed: Never
Phone: 06-6226-8663
Official website: https://sou-sauna.jp/
IZA SAUNA osaka
Source: Official website
IZA SAUNA osaka is a reservation-only private sauna facility located near Osaka Castle Park. From the rooftop, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka city while indulging in the sauna experience.
The sauna can accommodate up to 4 people, and you can freely use the tent sauna, open-air bath, and cold-water bath for 3 hours. It's ideal for enjoying with close friends or family as you can relax without worrying about other people's gazes.
In addition to the sauna, you can also use the open-air bath and a bath made from a drum can. As it's an outdoor facility, wearing a swimsuit is mandatory, but swimsuits are available for rent for a fee, making it convenient to visit empty-handed.
Address: Higashimon Building, 4-12 Tsunashima-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka
Hours: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Closed: Never
Official website: https://go2iza.com/
3 Manners to Observe in Japanese Hot Springs and Sentou
When enjoying Japanese hot springs and sentou, you must observe the following three manners:
* Rinse your body before entering the bath
* Don't walk around the changing room while wet
* Don't let your towel or hair touch the bathwater
Before entering the bath, always rinse your body with hot water. This practice, called "kakeyu," is a manner to acclimate your body to the water temperature and wash off any dirt.
Walking around the changing room while wet will make the floor slippery, so always dry yourself thoroughly before returning to the changing room.
It's also prohibited to let your towel or hair touch the bathwater. This is because towels and hair can carry bacteria and dirt, which would contaminate the bath water.