This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
Although public baths have existed in Japan for over 1,000 years, sento first became widespread in Tokyo (then called Edo) during the Edo period (1603-1868). At the time, it was forbidden for private homes to heat bath water, in order to protect the densely packed city from fires.
One architectural style often used for Tokyo's sento is miyazukuri; the name indicates a style similar to that of Japan's shrines and temples. Following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, many miyazukuri sento were erected in Tokyo as carpenters more familiar with buildings for prayer helped rebuild the capital's bathhouses as well. Many such sento still remain in operation today. One prime example of the miyazukuri style, the sento Kodakara-yu, has been moved, restored, and is now exhibited at the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum.
Sento bear some similarities to onsen, hot springs historically valued for their health benefits; however, there are also key differences. While to be officially recognized as onsen a facility must use water that is at least 25℃ at the source or that which contains certain designated minerals, sento are free to fill their baths from the public water supply. They are more likely to be found in local neighborhoods rather than ensconced in lush nature like typical onsen resort facilities.
In Tokyo, sento use peaked in the 1960s but began declining as more homes and apartments became equipped with baths. As such, the number of sento has gradually declined since then, and roughly 430 remain as of December 2024, explains Saeki Masatoshi, vice chair of the Tokyo Sento Association.
In the modern day, sento have gained a new raison d'être as a place to relax amid bustling city life. In fact, Saeki says sento use is on the rise in Tokyo—especially among young people—thanks to the popularity of sauna in recent years. "Sauna facilities tend to be a bit more expensive, and recently people are realizing they can get a similar experience for less at a sento," Saeki says. Many sento do, in fact, include a sauna room.
Sento may also help urbanites make it through Tokyo's steamy summer months, as research has found that hot baths can help the body acclimatize to heat. In particular, carbonated baths are said to be effective in helping people get used to heat. Saeki notes that the Association is working to raise awareness of heat stress in general.
"Above all, we believe it is important to thoroughly wash away sweat and dry off properly," he says. Some sento also contain cold-water baths, which may seem tempting during the hot summer. However, Saeki cautions that cold-water baths actually prompt the body to sweat more—perhaps not the ideal finale for a summertime sento visit.
Reception at the sento Myohoyu. Photo: courtesy of Myohoyu
Myohoyu's "silky, soft-water carbonated bath." Photo: courtesy of Myohoyu
The rest area at Myohoyu displays works by local artists. Photo: courtesy of Myohoyu
The interior design of Hasunuma Onsen is based on that of Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's three oldest hot springs. Photo: courtesy of Hasunuma Onsen
Entrance to the bathing areas at Hasunuma Onsen. Photo: courtesy of Hasunuma Onsen
The sauna room at Hasunuma Onsen. Photo: courtesy of Hasunuma Onsen
Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu showcases beautiful, traditional architecture.
Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu boasts a traditional sento atmosphere with a painting of Mt. Fuji. Photo: courtesy of Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu
The outdoor baths at Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu contain a view of the sento's Japanese garden. Photo: courtesy of Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu
The rocky sauna at Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu. Photo: courtesy of Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu
The changing room at Komaeyu. Photo: courtesy of Komaeyu
The bath at Komaeyu. Photo: courtesy of Komaeyu
Komaeyu contains the café and bar "Side Stand" within its premises. Photo: courtesy of Komaeyu
Reception at Hisamatsuyu. Photo: courtesy of Hisamatsuyu
The baths at Hisamatsuyu. Photo: courtesy of Hisamatsuyu
The bathing area at Hisamatsuyu contains projection mapping. Photo: courtesy of Hisamatsuyu
In Tokyo, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of sento: some retro, some modern, and some with additional facilities alongside their baths. The following are a few examples.
1. Myohoyu
Established in the 1920s, Myohoyu is located a two-minute walk from Shiinamachi Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line—easy access for visitors to the metropolis. Following renovations, the sento reopened in 2019 under the concept of "specializing in bathwater." Among its various baths, Myohoyu was the first sento in Japan to introduce a "silky, soft-water carbonated bath."
Website: https://myohoyu.com/*Japanese language site
2. Hasunuma Onsen
Located a 10-minute walk from JR Kamata Station on the Keihin Tohoku Line or a 2-minute walk from Hasunuma Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line and with easy access to Haneda Airport, Hasunuma Onsen first opened its doors in 1944 and underwent renovations in 2017. With a retro design based on Japan's Taisho era (1912-1926), all of the baths use natural hot spring water, hence the use of onsen in the facility's name.
Website: https://www.hasunuma-onsen.com/*Japanese language site
3. Nakanobu-onsen Matsunoyu
Established in 1948, Matsunoyu is accessible via a two-minute walk from Nakanobu Station on the Toei Asakusa Line or a three-minute walk from Nakanobu Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line. The facility boasts a traditional, Tokyo-style sento design complete with a painting of Mt. Fuji, and its baths include high-concentration carbonated water and open-air baths with natural hot spring water.
Website: https://matsunoyu.com/*Japanese language site
4. Komaeyu
Located a three-minute walk from Komae Station on the Odakyu Line, Komaeyu was established in 1955 and renovated in 2023 under the direction of architect Jo Nagasaka. The sento offers a light, retro-modern atmosphere alongside its high-concentration carbonated spring water and other baths. Visitors can enjoy craft beer and food at the café and bar "Side Stand" contained within the facility.
Website: https://www.komaeyu.com/*Japanese language site
5. Hisamatsuyu
A five-minute walk from Sakuradai Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Hisamatsuyu has been in operation since 1956. Its elegant interior and exterior follow a design concept of "a sento amid light, wind, and forest" and its bath area even features projection mapping. Visitors can enjoy natural hot spring open-air baths, carbonated baths, and seasonal baths.
Website: https://www.hisamatsuyu.jp/*Japanese language site
Not all countries have a public bathing culture, so some visitors may initially feel hesitant to enter a sento. Although a handful of hot spring resorts do allow swimwear in the bath, visitors should not expect the same at a sento, Saeki says.
"Japanese sento—especially our type in Tokyo, which has gradually developed since the Edo period—have a culture in which everyone bathes naked together. No one will stare at you," he emphasizes, encouraging international visitors to treat sento as a new cultural experience.
In fact, sento may be more accessible than onsen for some: While most onsen will not allow guests with tattoos to enter the baths, sento are generally more tolerant. "We have a long-standing culture of allowing everyone in the community to enter, without exception," Saeki explains.
The same applies to visitors from overseas. "We welcome international visitors in the same way we welcome locals, without either special treatment or particular warnings," he says.
The Tokyo Sento Association is implementing a campaign that aims to help international visitors enjoy sento. It is distributing noren hanging curtains with the words "Welcome! Sento," to be hung from September 2025 to February 2026, to bath houses that can easily welcome overseas visitors, such as those that can handle payment by credit card or communicate in other languages in addition to Japanese. The Association also provides English signage, such as stickers that say "shoes off" and other reminders, to its members.
Going forward, sento will continue to play a role in Tokyo neighborhoods, helping residents and visitors alike relax and refresh. Saeki envisions that Tokyo's sento will continue developing their unique character, ensure that their facilities are squeaky clean, and keep their doors open to all for years to come.
