SentoGuide

Updating a list of unique sento….? What would be considered unique?

Updating a list of unique sento….? What would be considered unique?

That is an excellent question McAlpine. Unfortunately the answer isn’t straightforward. Unique after all is pretty much defined as “unlike anything else”. Let me however give you an example.

I visited Funaoka Onsen, number 6 on the list, partly because it was mentioned on the original list that I referred to. First of all, the sento is located in one of Kyoto’s pre-war inner suburbs. Not unique in itself, but the building looks very Japanese on the outside, with a little garden in between the gate and the entrance to the building. What struct me as one-of-a-kind though was the ceiling and the upper sections of the walls in the changing room. The upper sections of the wall are elaborately decorated with carved wood and the ceiling conceals a painting, almost like the ceiling of some of the historic temples in Kyoto. The changing room and bathing area are separated by another small Japanese garden which you cross by wooden bridge to get from one side to the other. A separate door connects the bathing area to a corner of the same small garden where I found a bath completely made of sandalwood. This combination of sento with a Japanese garden and an almost temple-like changing area are, in my opinion, quite unique.

That is an excellent question McAlpine. Unfortunately the answer isn’t straightforward. Unique after all is pretty much defined as “unlike anything else”. Let me however give you an example.

I visited Funaoka Onsen, number 6 on the list, partly because it was mentioned on the original list that I referred to. First of all, the sento is located in one of Kyoto’s pre-war inner suburbs. Not unique in itself, but the building looks very Japanese on the outside, with a little garden in between the gate and the entrance to the building. What struct me as one-of-a-kind though was the ceiling and the upper sections of the walls in the changing room. The upper sections of the wall are elaborately decorated with carved wood and the ceiling conceals a painting, almost like the ceiling of some of the historic temples in Kyoto. The changing room and bathing area are separated by another small Japanese garden which you cross by wooden bridge to get from one side to the other. A separate door connects the bathing area to a corner of the same small garden where I found a bath completely made of sandalwood. This combination of sento with a Japanese garden and an almost temple-like changing area are, in my opinion, quite unique.

I’m not sure what counts for unique beyond Shikoku because I’ve only frequented bath houses here, but a lack of any Shikoku places on the old list surely counts as a crime…..

….although Kagawa IS somewhat lacking in hot springs….

If just one Shikoku name can get on the list, I’d be delighted….cause so many damn guides skip Shikoku

I’m not sure what counts for unique beyond Shikoku because I’ve only frequented bath houses here, but a lack of any Shikoku places on the old list surely counts as a crime…..

….although Kagawa IS somewhat lacking in hot springs….

If just one Shikoku name can get on the list, I’d be delighted….cause so many damn guides skip Shikoku

Hi Craig. Shikoku and you might just be in luck. I did some digital digging and it turns out the oldest still operational bath house in Japan is in Shikoku, Matsuyama to be more specific. It’s got some interesting aspects and it might just make the list. Keep an eye out for the finished list in about a week. Thanks for your input!

Hi Craig. Shikoku and you might just be in luck. I did some digital digging and it turns out the oldest still operational bath house in Japan is in Shikoku, Matsuyama to be more specific. It’s got some interesting aspects and it might just make the list. Keep an eye out for the finished list in about a week. Thanks for your input!

@Craig: get the Rurubu for whatever prefecture your in. There’s bound to be a 日帰り温泉 section there. In Kotohira city there’s a bunch. Shiori Onsen south of there is great:
http://www.shioiri-onsen.jp/onsen/index.html

@Wouter: That’s Dogo Onsen. The bathhouse in Sprited Away (千と千尋) is said to be somewhat based on it. Great old building, so-so water.

@Craig: get the Rurubu for whatever prefecture your in. There’s bound to be a 日帰り温泉 section there. In Kotohira city there’s a bunch. Shiori Onsen south of there is great:
http://www.shioiri-onsen.jp/onsen/index.html

@Wouter: That’s Dogo Onsen. The bathhouse in Sprited Away (千と千尋) is said to be somewhat based on it. Great old building, so-so water.

Hi David. Thanks for your input. You’re right, I was talking about Dogo Onsen. I didn’t know about the movie, but that’s a fun little fact. I’ll include that if it ends up being on the final list.

I noticed you’ve been around Japan bathing as you go. Have you come across any unique sento during your travels?

Hi David. Thanks for your input. You’re right, I was talking about Dogo Onsen. I didn’t know about the movie, but that’s a fun little fact. I’ll include that if it ends up being on the final list.

I noticed you’ve been around Japan bathing as you go. Have you come across any unique sento during your travels?

[...] an earlier post I asked your help to update a list with unique sento written in 2005. Some of the sento on the list [...]

I have been to iya onsen in Shikoku. It is really unique as u can go down into the valley by monorail and enjoy the outside rotemburo while watching monkeys on the other side of the river climbing the steep rocks. Very beautiful!

I have been to iya onsen in Shikoku. It is really unique as u can go down into the valley by monorail and enjoy the outside rotemburo while watching monkeys on the other side of the river climbing the steep rocks. Very beautiful!

Wow, that sounds awesome! I haven’t been there yet, but it sounds like I might have to check that out when I have some travelling time again. Thanks Robert!

Wow, that sounds awesome! I haven’t been there yet, but it sounds like I might have to check that out when I have some travelling time again. Thanks Robert!