Shimokitazawa Tsukasa (Public Bath Guide Meister)
Shimokitazawa Tsukasa is a public bath enthusiast who has visited over 3,500 public baths across the country. She is the organizer of "Tokyo Public Bath Night," an event to promote new public bath culture.
Relax and experience the extraordinary in both body and mind
When you work in a city, you inevitably end up settling into the same daily routine. Even if you want to experience something out of the ordinary, traveling takes time and money, so many people end up spending the same days in the same way.
However, even if you're in the city, there's one spot where you can easily experience something out of the ordinary with just a little change in your pocket: the public bath. Although the number of public baths has decreased in recent years, there are still over 400 in Tokyo alone. They come in a variety of styles, from retro Showa-era temple-style baths to ultra-modern, stylish baths.
The facilities available are now also diverse, with some public baths equipped with the recently popular saunas and cold baths, others with natural hot springs, medicinal baths, jet baths, electric baths (!), open-air baths, and more. There are also traditional public baths with the usual mural of Mt. Fuji, or gardens and ponds on the verandas, complete with koi fish.
Some people may be afraid of getting naked in an unfamiliar public bath or of what regulars might say, but as long as you follow the etiquette posted on the wall, anyone, regardless of age or gender, is welcome, and as long as you don't cause trouble for others, you can strangely enjoy the feeling of being "naked and alone" even when there are a lot of customers.
Soaking in such a hot spring will give you a sense of being away from the ordinary and truly relaxing from your body. Once you've visited, it will feel like normal again, and this sense of freedom from the everyday may add depth and flavor to your life.
Hisamatsuyu
Standing in front of it, no one would guess this building is a public bath; its splendid exterior resembles a modern art museum. The clean bathroom features projection mapping visuals. The facilities are also luxurious, with an open-air bath filled with strong saline natural hot spring water, as well as a sauna, a cold bath, a warm carbonated spring, an electric bath, and more. This is a satisfying public bath that can be recommended to anyone.
Address: 4-32-15 Sakuradai, Nerima-ku | map
Imperial Bath
This is a bathhouse for slightly more enthusiastic visitors. As the name suggests, it has been around since before the war, and the noren curtains give it a sense of class, but once you step inside, you'll feel like you've traveled back in time to the Showa era. There's the usual painted picture of Mt. Fuji and tiled paintings of carp. It's a simple bathhouse with just a bath, but the water is as hot as you'd expect. If you want to soak in something out of the ordinary, this is the place to go. They also have a slightly warmer medicinal bath.
Address: 3-22-3 Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku | map
Tatsumiyu
The exterior is plain, but somehow it's a mysterious space. The tile murals are also mysterious landscape paintings. In addition to the sauna and cold bath, there are various other facilities. There is a large open-air bath, and once you pass through it, you'll find a magnificent resting room, like a hideaway?, on the back side, which is a large manga library. Recommended for those who want to relax and soothe their fatigue.
Address: 1-2-3 Miyoshi, Koto-ku｜map
Kamata Hot Springs
This downtown public bathhouse is full of Showa-era vibes, and features pitch-black natural hot spring water with a strong alkaline feel that leaves your skin smooth. There are both low-temperature and high-temperature baths, with the high-temperature baths offering hot water for enthusiasts. There is also a sauna and cold bath, and the baths are open from 10am. The second floor is a nostalgic large banquet hall, and there is a karaoke stage where customers become friends, even if they don't know each other.
Address: 2-23-2 Kamata Honmachi, Ota Ward | map
Tsukimiyu
This popular, clean public bath is loved by many locals. Relax in a long bath in the warm water of the natural hot spring while looking at a large picture of Mt. Fuji. For those who prefer a more intense bath, there is also a 45°C hot bath, and going back and forth between the cold bath and the hot bath will give you a feeling of being in another dimension, and will leave you feeling rejuvenated. The spacious sauna is also clean, and the veranda is also popular as a place to relax.
Address: 5-36-16 Akatsutsumi, Setagaya-ku | map
Showa Bathhouse
The building is a Showa-era public bathhouse, but the owner is actually a world-renowned magician, and it's surprising that you can occasionally see professional magic shows in the bathhouse. The mural depicts a giant Mt. Fuji, and the bathtubs, which use smooth natural well water, are arranged to suit everyone, from lukewarm to hot, and even a cold bath. The baths are open until 1:30am, and there is also a sauna.
Address: 5-21-12 Chuo, Nakano-ku | map
