A step-by-step Sento Guide (how to enjoy Japanese Public bath)

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About SENTO

- Take off your shoes before stepping up.
- Put your shoes in the shoe locker.
- Don’t forget to take the shoe locker key!
- Pay the bathing fee.
- If you don’t have a towel, buy or rent one from the staff.
- Time to go to the changing room!
- Make sure you don’t go to the wrong one!
- Take off all your clothes and put them in one of the lockers.
- Take the key and put it on your wrist (or ankle).
- Don’t forget to take your towel and other bath goods.
- No swimwear allowed.
- Grab a wash basin and stool, find an open shower, and sit down.
- Wash your body well before going in the bath.
- Don’t put your towel in the bathtub.
- Soak in the tub and let all your worries and stress float away!
- Return the wash basin and stool to their original locations.
- Dry yourself well before returning to the changing room.
- If you’d like, cool down with a bottle of coffee flavored milk before you leave.
- Putting your hand on your waist as you drink is the Japanese style!
- Learn more about sento rules with the handout available at every sento!

Cast : Alfred Guballa

Filming Location : KOSHIN-YU

Born in the United States, Alfred has been living in Japan since 2011. He is working as a high school English teacher.
He entered a sento he happened upon while walking around Tokyo, and instantly fell in love with it. He was completely captivated by the conversation of regulars, warm waters, high ceiling, and the big mural of Mt. Fuji. Today, he not only visits various sento but also serves as a guide at events for foreign nationals and tourists held by the Tokyo Sento Association. Here is a message from Alfred. “During your time in Japan, you can have an excellent bathing experience without having to go to a distant hot springs resort, just by going to your local sento! The sento is a part of Japanese culture that most travelers tend to look over, but I definitely would like visitors to Japan to experience it! There, you will experience the spacious tubs, folksy atmosphere, and most of all: the refreshing feeling as all your worries and stress melt away in the waters! This is what sento is all about!”

[aliciaandro]

The "hand on waist" part sent me. Still giggling.

[MainlySpoons]

Idk why I’m here. I don’t live in Japan nor do I have plans to visit any time soon. But still, great informative video! Kind of makes me want to go.

[reverend]

Thank you for the simple guide. I don’t think I’ve made any mistakes previously and next time I will be a little more sure that I’m not doing anything incorrectly.

[mambodiehard]

Thank you! While staying in a Japanese hotel in Japan, that had baths but no showers, I decided to learn and your video helped me. I confidently went taking my bath and now I came back and I'm saying thanks.

[jachf]

That Push Pull effect/ dolly zoom with the Fuji mural is awesome.

[sserpxee]

Thank you, perfect guide! 😊 I am visiting Japan next week and I don't want to make mistakes or be disrespectful.

[donm]

I have tried and enjoyed this a few times. One challenge for me is how one washes one's privates while sitting on a tiny plastic chair. I stand up to do that but my fellow sento or onsen users seem to never stand up or they have some crazy secret way of washing themselves down there. No worries, I am not about to stare at naked people to find out, nor ruin the mellow mood to gather empirical evidence.

[omarreyes]

is it ok to bring a larger towel to completely dry yourself out in the dressing rooms I'm visiting this upcoming march but I only have experience using large towels to dry myself completely I saw a japanese youtuber that said that you can use a bigger towel in the dressing room to dry yourself better on Onsens I would like to know if this is also the case on sentos as I honestly cannot picture myself coming out dry with just a small towel.

[jwisit]

How long can or should you stay in the hot bath?

[kaptenlemper]

So do you only get one towel for the entire bath? Or should you bring an extra towel to dry off afterwards

[peppie]

Can you wear slippers? Or do you walk around barefoot?

[missj.]

Do you use the same towel to wash yourself and to dry yourself after? Are there other rules to follow (for e.g., no loud speaking)?

[SophieJackson]

I think this is the one with the electric bath right? The one that shocks you haha.

[DeeEfSea]

What is the name of the pink / purple bath?