Saunas are all the rage in Japan these days, and it’s no wonder the Japanese love spas so much. From VIP rooftop saunas, weekend events, and even mobile saunas, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a steam bath, and now you can even enjoy a sauna yourself at the upcoming Roku Sauna, which opens on April 2.
The new facility, which features private saunas and takes its name from the sauna’s six features (Roku means six in Japanese), is just a two-minute walk from Yokohama Tama Plaza Station, which takes about 35 minutes to reach Tokyo by train. The sauna hasn’t officially opened yet, but our Japanese-speaking reporter Masanuki Sunakoma got a sneak peek. Let’s see how he likes it!
Roku Sauna offers a truly private experience. From pre-booking your sauna to leaving the sauna, you won’t have to interact with anyone unless you want to. Everything you need is waiting for you to come and pick it up.
The price of the treatment includes a free drink and free rental of a sauna cap from Imabari Towel, a famous Japanese towel brand.
The sauna experience also includes aromatherapy, so you can choose from six different scents to use in your personal sauna. Masanuki wasn’t sure which one to choose, so he asked the staff. They said “citrus scents are popular with men,” so Masanuki chose “Grapefruit White.”
When you book, you will receive a special code for your room. When you arrive at the appointed time, simply enter the code to enter. Masanuki found his room…
“Wow!” Masakatsuki couldn’t help but exclaim as he walked in. It was very spacious inside.
There are also three towels – two large and one small, as well as various types of shampoos and skin care products. Of course, you can come to the Roku sauna empty-handed.
And then there’s the infinity chair!! These chairs are designed to make you feel weightless. Masanuki couldn’t wait to try them.
It’s a beautiful and luxurious space, built entirely from cypress wood. The benches are large enough to lie on, and the sauna heater is from the renowned Finnish company MISA. But the best part is that since it’s a separate room, Masanuki can adjust the lighting and temperature to her liking.
The sauna is a hot rock sauna, meaning you pour water over hot rocks to create steam. The Roku sauna also benefits from aromatherapy. You can add a few drops of essential oil to the water you pour over the rocks to make the experience even more aromatic. Of course, you can do this since it is a private room.
Additionally, the sauna comes with a Bluetooth speaker that you can connect to your phone and play any music you like, which is perhaps the best thing about Masanuki.
After the sauna, Masanuki took a cold shower to cool down. The shower was a real downpour, and the water poured down on Masanuki like a waterfall. It reminded him of the “heat column” at the Do-C Ebisu capsule hotel and sauna, and the feeling was really pleasant.
Masanuki then excitedly tried out the Infinity Chair. You can adjust the chair’s tilt as you wish, but Masanuki immediately reclines the backrest to its maximum position to achieve a state of complete weightlessness and total relaxation. Of course, you can also listen to your favorite music here.
Roku Sauna offers 80- and 100-minute treatments starting at ¥3,960 (US$33.36) per person. There’s also a free dressing room for women, where you can spend some quality time getting dressed. If you’re traveling with friends, you can also rent a room for up to three people of the same gender, with the room spacious enough to accommodate each group.
By the way, do you know the six main features of Roku Sauna? It offers spacious rooms, freedom to choose the temperature and lighting, a self-service stone stove, acoustic space, unlimited chairs, as well as free drinks and free sauna cap rental. These are all great features of Masanuki’s book!
Roku Sauna will open to the public on April 2 and is currently accepting reservations, so if you’re feeling a little stressed, consider booking one. The experience will definitely make you feel like a capybara in a hot spring!
About ROKU SAUNA FUJIKYU Biru 1F, 2-2-2 Shinishikawa, Aoba-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Uæ2°åœåY ビル1階 Opening hours: 7:20 to 12:40 Open every day Website
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