If you’re tired of hotel room bathtubs, try a local sentō.It is the most ritualistic part of the lives of Japanese people, and it is also an excellent window into the daily lives of ordinary Japanese.
The appearance of a sento is usually a Japanese-style building with a blue curtain hanging at the door.I opened the curtain, put on my slippers, paid at the counter (about 500 yen), and walked into the changing room.The Mount Fuji mural on the wall is the iconic decoration of sento in the Showa era.
Rules for bathing: sit on a small stool and rinse yourself before entering the bathtub.The temperature of the hot pool is usually around 42 degrees, and you need to take a deep breath the moment you sit in it.There are also open-air baths, Denki baths (weak current stimulates the muscles) and sauna baths. After soaking in the soup, you must drink a bottle of iced milk in a glass bottle (bottle milk).
This is a Japanese ritual.Sitting on the tatami in the lounge, I opened the bottle cap with a click, and the cold and sweet milk slid down my throat. My whole body was satisfied from the inside out.
🎌 Introduction to Japanese Culture Whether you live in Tokyo or a local city, search for a nearby sento on the map.No need to speak Japanese, just bring a towel and curiosity.This is the cheapest Japanese cultural experience and the warmest one.