Whether you’re a backpacker looking to clean yourself up or just want to experience this aspect of traditional Japanese culture, hundreds of options are at your fingertips.
Public baths, or sento, as they’re called in Japanese, used to be an ubiquitous part of Japanese cityscapes. Since the 1950s, though, infrastructure advancements have made private bathing facilities a part of almost every modern residence in Japan, and as a result the number of operating sento has been steadily declining.
After taking a long look at the writing on the wall, some public baths have decided to call it quits and convert themselves into other sorts of businesses. However, there’s been an uptick in sento interest recently, with some young adults being drawn to their retro atmosphere and the affordable luxury of a quick soak without having to travel out of the urban environment.
So to make speedy sento forays more convenient, Japanese Twitter user @mangetsu1129 began compiling a list of all the sento, super sento (larger-scale public baths), day-use hot springs, and saunas in Tokyo.
ついに完成しました!!
— 銭湯/公衆浴場研究家♨️ (@mangetsu1129) February 5, 2017
東京都のすべての銭湯、スーパー銭湯、日帰り温泉、サウナの情報をマップにまとめていました。たぶん初めて!
都内23区内、都下の市町村、伊豆諸島も追加し、約700軒の最新営業情報がグーグルマップ上で見られます♨https://t.co/TtIO2RD6k2 pic.twitter.com/QhdAXBJ4jw
Earlier this week, @mangetsu1129 announced that the list was complete, and contained information for roughly 700 facilities, covering not just within the 23 wards that make up central Tokyo, but also the cities, villages, and islands that are also officially part of Japan’s capital. And to make it easier to sort through all those sento, @mangetsu1129 has made the information available through Google maps.
Each location is shown by Japan’s traditional onsen (hot spring) mark (though not all sento source their waters from natural hot springs). Yellow marks indicate a sento, red marks a super sento, day-use hot spring, or sauna, and blue marks a facility that’s gone out of business or for some other reason isn’t currently in operation.
Clicking on a facility brings up a wealth of information in a column to the left of the map, including the sento’s name, address, hours of operation, and website. While prices are also listed for super sento and day-use hot springs, no mention of cost is given for regular sento, since almost all standard public baths in Tokyo have agreed to a uniform charge of 460 yen (US$4) for adults.
@mangetsu1129 plans to eventually expand the interactive sento map to a nationwide scale. For the time being though, if you’re interested in experiencing this part of traditional Japanese culture in Tokyo, you can find hundreds of options by firing up the sento Google map right here.
Source: IT Media, Twitter/@mangetsu1129
Insert images: Google Maps
Follow Casey on Twitter, where hopefully he’ll have something clever to say as soon as he gets out of the bath.



Sapporo lowers age at which kids are barred from opposite sex’s bath at hot springs, public baths
New hot spring found in Tokyo as 80-year-old bathhouse makes a happy discovery
State of the sento — Tokyo’s public baths are disappearing, but statistics show a sliver of hope
Tokyo changes age limit for kids going into opposite sex’s bath at hot springs and sento
How not to bathe at a public bathing facility in Japan
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Why you shouldn’t call this food “Hiroshimayaki” if you’re talking to people from Hiroshima
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno opens up about his latest bout with depression, movie delays
Naruto ninja village theme park area, Kyubi coaster being added to Parc Spirou Provence【Pics】
Green onion baths return to Japanese bathhouse to celebrate Labor Day
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Let’s take a tour of the best sushi in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market with Mr. Sato! (Part 1)
Japanese train-themed karaoke lets you belt out announcements without being a public nuisance
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
Japanese woman mistaken for bear
Return of Totoro sequel short anime announced for Ghibli Park
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
More Shinkansen trains being added to Japan’s “golden route” to meet traveler demand
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Tokyo likely to reduce age limit on kids in opposite-sex public baths, report says
How old is too old for a boy to go into the women’s hot spring bath in Japan?
The perfect budget-friendly hot spring hotel near Narita Airport
Government begins study into tattoo bans in public baths
Japanese sento bath will let you bathe with 10,000 Sanrio Gudetamas【Video】
Natural hot spring bathhouse in Tokyo’s Kabukicho is a super-cheap place to stay
Sapporo police arrest 50-year-old man for entering women’s public bath
This new Onsen Mask is here to help you soak in the steam, not the germs
Onsen hot spring with Mt Fuji views has one of the best rotenburo in Japan
We visited a “terrible” Japanese hot spring hotel near Narita Airport
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
Five awesome hot springs in Taiwan (one of them has been on fire for 300 years!)
Bathing with Pokémon? Healing species’ powers tapped for Pokémon Recovery public baths in Japan
Our Japanese reporter checks out a public bath in Budapest
Take the “Public” Out of Public Bathing and Make a Natural Hot Spring in the Comfort of Your Own Home
Leave a Reply