Last time, I introduced the fantastic sauna facility in Fukuoka, “WELLBE Fukuoka” However, unfortunately, this sauna facility is exclusively for men. For the disappointed female sauna enthusiasts out there, I have good news! Right near “WELLBE Fukuoka” there is a sister establishment that is exclusively for women. Allow me to introduce you to “Saunalab Fukuoka”!!!!!
“Saunalab Fukuoka” is located a 10-minute walk from JR Hakata Station! It’s approximately a 20-second walk from “WELLBE Fukuoka.” The two are nearly in the same location. For couples looking to enjoy the sauna together, a great plan could be for the male partner to use “WELLBE Fukuoka” while the female partner enjoys “Saunalab Fukuoka” Oh, how envy-inducing!
The entrance is right here!! An incredibly charming entrance! You have to squat down to enter due to its height. At this point, the excitement doesn’t stop—it’s like you’re about to enter a whole new world!!
And before that, Saunalab Fukuoka is a fully reservation-based women-only sauna facility. Reservations can be made through their website. First, you’ll navigate to the site as shown above, then proceed to the reservation page. It’s important to note that their reservation system requires one reservation per person. If you’re going with multiple people, make sure to each have a separate reservation. (I’ll reiterate, it’s exclusively for women; individuals with a male gender cannot enter.)
The pricing is as follows:
3hours：2,200yen
Free time：3,300yen
↑↑ On the next page, you’ll choose the time slot. You can select either a 3-hour slot or opt for the Free Time option. On the subsequent page, you’ll choose the starting time. As you can see, evenings are often quite booked up.
ou’ll be directed to the reservation confirmation page. Please review the date and time. Additionally, the cancellation policy is stated. It’s mentioned that cancellations are possible up to 1 hour in advance. By the way, the reception begins 30 days in advance.
Finally, you’ll input personal information: name, pronunciation, email address, and phone number. The only potential hurdle here might be providing the pronunciation of your name in Japanese, and that too in katakana! You can convert English to katakana using this website on the site.
And with this, your reservation is complete!!!!!
Once the reservation date and time arrives, you can finally proceed beyond this door! Walk through the door and start by checking in at the reception. This is where you’ll receive rental items like bath towels. By the way, considering the reservation page is available only in Japanese, you can understand that it’s primarily intended for Japanese customers. So, it’s a good idea to have a translation app or similar tools on hand when you go!
As mentioned above, the rental of bath towels, face towels, sauna ponchos, waist wraps (used in place of a sauna poncho), and sauna hats is included in the price, so you can come empty-handed! This makes things really convenient, doesn’t it?
Next, you’ll change in the locker room. Saunalab Fukuoka is not a facility where you enter completely naked; you’ll either wear a sauna poncho or wrap a waist cloth around your body. It’s similar to the description mentioned above. Enter in a style that allows you to relax comfortably.
There is also a makeup area available. You can remove your makeup before entering and redo it before leaving. It’s truly tailored for women, and the consideration is fantastic.
Also, there’s a shower room available, so as a courtesy, make sure to take a shower before entering the sauna!
This is the relaxation room! Feel free to unwind here after your sauna session. The charming space, inspired by Nordic themes, seems to have the power to soothe both your mind and body.
Alright, now it’s finally time to introduce the sauna!
First up is this one! It’s a small sauna with a dome-like structure reminiscent of an igloo. Its unique appearance is quite charming and intriguing. I wonder what it’s like inside.
Wow!! It looks just like a cave inside!! What a wonderfully calming space. All the saunas at Saunalab Fukuoka offer the option for löyly. With the dome-shaped ceiling in this sauna, using löyly seems like it would bring down some great steam!!
Next up is this one! It’s a forest sauna, designed for 6 to 8 people, and it’s the largest sauna in the facility. When there are fewer people, you can even lie down. In regular Japanese saunas, lying down is often considered against etiquette, so this is quite a treat!!
Next is the individual sauna. There are three individual saunas in total: two on the ground floor next to the dome sauna, and one on the second floor. It’s quite surprising to find three solo saunas in a single facility!!
This is the Zen sauna, a single-person sauna. It’s a space where you can enjoy the sauna while in a seated meditation posture, and there are cushions provided for that purpose. This concept is very Japanese indeed! Since it’s for one person, you can enjoy löyly at your preferred timing. I encourage you to try sitting in a meditation posture, closing your eyes, and perhaps even meditating! (Just remember, no falling asleep—it’s not safe!)
This is the Loft sauna. As the name suggests, it’s a loft-style sauna with individual saunas on both the first and second floors. ↑↑ The photo shows the first-floor sauna. It looks incredibly relaxing~.
The steam generated from löyly on the first floor travels up to this second-floor space ↑↑. It’s an interesting setup! Keep in mind that you can’t perform löyly from the second floor, so you might need to ask the person below to provide it for you or take the minor inconvenience of going downstairs once to perform löyly. Bringing along two friends and splitting up between floors would be ideal! Sounds like a lot of fun!!
Now, after getting all heated up in the sauna, you might want to cool down in a cold water bath… but unfortunately, Saunalab Fukuoka doesn’t have cold water baths! However! In its place, there’s an amazing ice sauna!!
The temperature inside the ice sauna is an astonishing -25 degrees Celsius!! It’s designed to replicate the environment of Finland’s Lapland region. After all, in Finland, they practice outdoor exposure to the elements instead of using cold water baths! So, make sure to give the ice sauna a try and experience a taste of Finland here! Personally, I find the ice sauna more approachable than a cold water bath, making it a great choice even for beginners.
After cooling down, feel free to relax in the relaxation room as you please! Various seating options are available, including regular chairs, sofas, benches, and even hammock-style setups. Find your favorite spot among the different spaces provided.
Water, coffee, and tea are available for unlimited consumption, so enjoy the sauna while staying hydrated. With amenities like these, you might just want to stay here all day long!
If you enjoy this sauna, be sure to consider purchasing some merchandise before you leave! The logo is adorable, and they have items that could be useful for everyday use. It could also make a great souvenir from your trip to Japan.
In this instance, I introduced Saunalab Fukuoka, a women-only sauna facility in Fukuoka. Not only is the sauna itself fantastic, but the overall atmosphere, including the interior design, is truly unique!! I encourage you to pay a visit and share your thoughts after experiencing it firsthand!
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