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sento (Page 2)

Anime crime alert – One-of-a-kind anime banner stolen from 72-year-old Tokyo public bath

Owners don’t think the Kageki Shojo noren thief was a fan, though.

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State of the sento — Tokyo’s public baths are disappearing, but statistics show a sliver of hope

It was a rough year for Japan’s non-onsen bathhouses, but a comeback might be on the way.

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Japanese sento bathhouse creates genius system to show how busy the baths are

Anxious over how many people will be seeing your naked body? This cute and clever system will ease your nerves.

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Iconic Kyoto Tower bathhouse closes due to coronavirus

Public bath loved by travellers and locals is Japan’s latest COVID-19 business casualty.

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This new Onsen Mask is here to help you soak in the steam, not the germs

A specially constructed mask designed for use in all kinds of public bathing facilities.

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Tokyo likely to reduce age limit on kids in opposite-sex public baths, report says

Current age limit is well above the cutoff line for embarrassment, survey says.

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Miniature sento bathhouse range is this season’s must-buy gacha capsule toy collection

Relieve stress with the soothing setting of a Japanese public bathhouse. 

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You can open a Japanese-style bathhouse for your pets or anime figures with the Bird Sento【Pics】

Miniature Japanese bathing culture right in your home.

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Indulge in this sumo, public bath-themed room during your next stay in Tokyo’s Harajuku district

“Dosukoi” is the next iteration of themed travel accommodations being offered by the fun and inventive Moshi Moshi Rooms.

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Naked waterslide found in Toyama bathhouse, all-you-can-slide for $5

The freedom of naked watersliding may be fun in theory, but in practice…

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Japanese sento bath will let you bathe with 10,000 Sanrio Gudetamas【Video】

Sanrio’s weirdly adorable lazy egg wants to have a soak with you and his 9,999 doppelgangers.

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Silent disco to be held at traditional Japanese bathhouse this summer

Experience the thrill of dancing with a crowd in the bathtub without disturbing the neighbours.

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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.

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Old Japanese bathhouse gets converted into an izakaya restaurant in Tokyo

Diners get to sit in the old bathtubs while enjoying their meals.

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Government begins study into tattoo bans in public baths

On 23 June the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) announced that it would be conducting a first-of-its-kind study into public bathing facilities such as onsen (hot springs) and sento (bath houses), and their rules regarding tattoos.

Visitors to Japan are often warned that if they want to visit one of Japan’s hundreds of natural springs or meticulously designed baths they can’t be inked up. But how widespread is this rule in Japan really, and is it doing more harm than good in this day and age? These are the things the JTA hopes to learn more about in the weeks to come.

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Onsen in Nagano will now welcome foreigners with tattoos, as long as they patch ’em up

Many foreign visitors to Japan are curious about taking a dip in one of Japan’s many hot springs or sento public baths, but are deterred by two factors: the embarrassment of being naked in public, and the worry that even having a small tattoo – very much taboo in Japan – might result in being ejected from the premises. While the first issue is something that can be overcome with a little bravery, the second issue is undoubtedly a problem.

However, a resort inn in Nagano has now publicly stated that they will allow foreigners with small tattoos to enter, providing they cover up the offending ink with a patch.

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Public baths in Japan add some extra fun with hundreds of rubber duckies

Rubber duckies make any bathtime lots of fun, but what does a tub full of one thousand tiny yellow quackers have the power to do?

We’ve found three public baths that provide guests with the unique experience of bathing in a sea of rubber duckies. Check out the surreal photos after the jump!

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Audi celebrates 200,000 likes with (almost) traditional sentō mural

To celebrate 200,000 likes on Facebook, Audi commissioned sentō (public baths) artist Mizuki Tanaka to paint a mural that could be enjoyed while relaxing in the hot water of natural springs. Our photographer went to check it out.

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Japan has been going through something of a hot spring renaissance over the past decade, but at the same time, things are tough for Japan’s other traditional venues for communal bathing, sento, or public bathhouses. Despite a recent uptick in their number of foreign customers, most Japanese have a pretty lukewarm reaction to the prospect of taking a soak with others if the water isn’t heated by geothermal sources.

For the current generation, a hot bath drawn from the tap is no longer a luxury nor something that necessitates leaving home for, and so sento have been shutting down around the country. But rather than close their doors for good, a few have converted their bathing facilities into dining spaces and been reborn as stylishly retro sento cafes.

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A guide to public bathhouses, the newest hot spot for tourists in Tokyo

When coming to Japan, there’s a wealth of things to do and see–even just staying within the Tokyo city limits, you’d be hard pressed to enjoy everything available in a week. On the other hand, if you just stick with the big sightseeing spots, you’ll be both crushed by crowds and probably bored in a few days. This has left a lot of overseas tourists with time–and incentive–to look for new or unique activities.

One of the things apparently gaining popularity is sento, or public bathhouses. While not quite as much fun as hanging out in hot springs in the mountains with monkeys, sento still provide a fun and different activity for anyone just looking to relax. The warm waters are especially welcome after a few days running around Tokyo! But you might want to check this handy guide before you head out for a soak in order to avoid annoying other bathers.

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