In Japan, saunas have long had an association with middle-aged, male clientele but that’s changing. Thanks to the use of saunas by celebrities, social media influencers, and trend-conscious millennials, more young people than ever are finding saunas, creating sauna businesses, and embracing the activity for the many health benefits it brings.
A complete sauna experience awaits
In Japan, there are many saunas in spas that are full-service, full-experience. Inside, you’ll find shampoos, conditioners, massage therapists, restaurants, and more. You’ll find all sorts of interesting businesses that grab onto sauna culture, exploiting it through connected products or services.
The history of saunas in Japan
The first sauna in Japan ever was created over 50 years ago by a Japanese businessman. Ujitoshi Konomi first came to learn about saunas from Finnish Olympic athletes in the 1956 Olympics in Australia. When Konomi returned to Japan, he build a sauna in a public bathing facility he operated. It wasn’t long before they spread across the country. Today, there are more than 11.5 million Japanese who visit saunas at least once every month. Needless to say, sauna culture’s grown so much!
Saunas in Japanese media and culture
Much like what you will find in places such as Finland where traditional saunas are most popular, Japan’s media and culture regularly features saunas in different television shows, magazines, literature, and more. There are entire TV serials build around sauna users – affectionately known as ‘saunners’ or ‘sauna junkies’.
More women coming to Japanese saunas
When someone talks saunas in Japan, the image that comes to mind is often men. Thankfully, women-only saunas are popping up and women are being welcomed into sauna environments for the first time in a while. In fact, women are estimated to make up approximately 10 percent total of the sauna users in Japan. This is how male-dominated the world of Japanese saunas is.
International influence on saunas
Any country worldwide using saunas – except maybe Finland – is probably taking from different cultures. Japanese saunas are no different, with Nordic and German sauna ritual influences. Essential oils and steam baths are being blended together in some facilities. There are more traditional saunas established in Japan and then, there are more experimental saunas, such as sauna tents set up along riverfronts, collaborations with outdoor recreational activities, and more.
The rise of infrared technology
Western influences also have played a role in Japanese saunas, particularly with infrared technology. Infrared heat has made it so that virtually anyone can have their own sauna, potentially why so many are seen in hotels, condos, and gyms. Infrared heat therapy uses penetrative heat to warm someone from the inside out, unlike a traditional sauna which will engage in heating the air. As Japan doesn’t have the same sort of centuries-old history with saunas as other regions of the world do, there’s profound foreign influence which has helped to diversify the sort of experiences one can find here.
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