JapanSugoi

If you’re making holiday plans to visit Japan this summer, remember to try and fit in a trip to the local Sentō 銭湯, Sentō, a type of Japanese communal bath house where customers pay for entrance and which were quite common until modern Japanese residences started having their own baths.

The traditional Sentō continues to exist because many Japanese still live in small and cramped housing without private baths and some people go to relax in the saunas or jet baths that often accompany new or renovated sentōs.

Although onsens 温泉 can also be a public bath, the differentiator is that an onsen uses hot water from a natural hot spring. A sentō can also be called an onsen if it derives its bath water from naturally heated hot springs.

There are strict rules of etiquette when using a sento. Remember, as a tourist or visitor, you need to be aware of some of the rules as pictured below.

Basically, follow what the others are doing and you’ll be fine.

For the those who want to experience something even more out of the ordinary, try the spa that lets you bathe in champagne.