Wim Wenders’ latest film, Perfect Days, is a languid sketch of a typical Tokyo toilet cleaner’s life. It shows the minutiae of the working-day rituals of its protagonist, Hirayama: wiping toilet bowls ...

From Koganeyu to Spa LaQua to Myojinyu, here are our picks for the five best "sento" public bathhouses in Tokyo. Shedding your clothes, sinking into a tub of steaming water and staring up at soothing ...

Does the thought of getting nude with other people in your local sento, or public bath, raise a smile or make you cringe? Whatever your personal take, the process of bathing in true Japanese form has ...

Onsen (hot springs) have been part of Japanese culture for centuries, but they’ve been seriously surging in popularity over the past 20 years. At the same time that there’s an onsen renaissance going ...

Covid accelerated a decline but a new breed of bathhouse is reimagining a Japanese tradition It is a Japanese ritual that stretches back centuries: stripping off in the company of friends and ...

This article is part of a collaboration between FT Globetrotter and Nikkei Asia. FT Globetrotter showcases the best journalism from Nikkei Asia writers about cities across the region, starting with ...

Recently restored by architect Kentaro Imai, Bunkayokusen (文化浴泉) is what’s known as a designer sento. Concerned about the survival of the sento tradition, Kentaro has become a specialist in renovating ...

The sento, or public bath, has long served as a place to pause for Japanese people. As part of the tradition, many sento feature large Mt Fuji murals on the walls, the iconic mountain of Japan ...