There are many difference in culture, between Western countries and Japan. They are understood, when you would see the lives of Japanese people.
Taking a bath is also difference. If comparing classic Japanese bath and Western bath, you can understand easily.
By the way, do you know a "sento”? I think it might be known very much. So, I will introduce a sento in this article.
1．What is a sento
First of all, I will introduce a sento.
1-1．Meaning of the name
The meaning of name sento, it might be a bit difficult.
The name sento is made from 2 characters of kanji. This characters are sen(銭) and tou(湯). Sen means money, and tou is hot water (taking a bath). So, sento is meaning the bath with payment.
1-2．Public bath
Sento is public bath. So many people take a bath together. Actually Lady's and Gentleman's are separated. However in each bath, everyone take a bath together. So boy and gentleman take a bath in the same time.
1-3．Relaxation
Japanese people are known as being like taking a bath. Because, with taking a bath, you can have relaxation. With heating body by hot water, you will have good conditions in body and mental.
1-4．For relationship
In sento, many people would meet in the same bath. So they have good relationship with conversation.
2．Kinds of bath in sento
There are some kinds of bath in sento. Then I will introduce some types of the bath.
2-1．Open-air bath
All sentos don't have a open-air bath. but some sentos have it. Usually, the area is not wide space. But you can take a bath with feeling comfortable wind.
2-2．herbal bath
In Japan, there are many herbal bath traditionally. I think citron bath is the most popular.
However, sento have many herbal bath, citron, lavender, peppermint, rose, chamomile, etc. It is needs confirmation, but you could feel various good smell.
2-3．Electronic bath
You might afraid to hear an electronic bath. Actually, it is used electricity, but it is not dangerous.
2-4．Onsen
There are onsen, hot spring, sento.
Maybe, the image of onsen is luxury hotel, good meal, and expensive payment. But you can take onsen insento, economically.
3．Super sento
Recently, big facility of sento opened. They are called "Super sento”.
Then I will introduce about super sento.
3-1．Various bath
Super sento has various bath. Especially open-air bath is more comfortable than common sento.
And bath size is very wide. So many people can take a bath together.
3-2．Good meal
Depending on the super sento have good restaurant. It has common menu. But you can Japanese dish in the restaurant.
Good bath, relaxation, and good meal. Perhaps it might not be as good as onsen hotel, in economic payment, you can have good feeling.
4．Important points
There are some Important points in sento.
4-1．Separated Lady's and Gentleman's
Usually, Lady's place and Gentleman's place are separated. And Lady's is onnayu (女), Gentleman's is otokoyu(男). It must not mistake.
4-2．Prepare the items
Usually, bath items, soap, towel are sold. However, I strongly recommend that you will prepare the items.
Because, I think sento's stuff can't speak English. Then if you explain to buying the bath items, you would be trouble, I guess.
4-3．keeping clean
You must keep clean bath equipment. Bath tab, washing place, and dressing room must be. Because, sento is not private areas. It is public space.
Then you have to wash your body before going into bath tub. And going into dressing room, you have to wipe your body. Keeping the bath tub and areas clean is the most Important.
4-4．Don't be noisy
You must not forget the sento is public bath, so you must not be noisy.
Actually the talking is good. But, speaking loudly will be trouble.
Anyway, wide bath tub, relaxation, are so good. Some rules there are, but sento's experience would be good memories of time. Enjoy！
