Japanese Sento

The age-old question in Japanese bathing culture: is it an Onsen or is it a Japanese Sento?
Swiftly followed by “what’s the difference” and “why does it matter”?

Simply put, Onsen are legally defined as bathing facilities with natural volcanic spring water.
Meanwhile, a Japanese Sento is a communal bathhouse that used heated tap water – more like the “living room” of your local neighborhood.

While Onsens might sound more romantic, Sentos have several benefits too – there is significantly more flexibility around type of baths and other service they provide, such as massages, saunas, arcade centers and much, much more.

As a tourist in Japan, it’s actually notoriously difficult to experience authentic, daily Japanese life.
I believe the Sento is perhaps the best gateway to this, as well as an amazing place to relax your tired feet and rest in town. Not to mention the low price!

You’ll find two main types of Sento in Japan:
1. Local Sentos: often smaller, more traditional establishments, but perfect time-capsules of showa-era Japanese life.
2. Modern wellness complexes resembling large spas – featuring jet baths, large relaxation lounges, restaurants and multiple saunas.

If you want to rub shoulders with the locals (literally) and see an authentic side of Japan that most tourists miss – don’t skip the Sento!