Introducing “Sauna Lab Kanda,” which opened in April 2021. “Sauna Lab” is highly popular among Japanese sauna enthusiasts, previously with two branches in Nagoya and Fukuoka. The buzz escalated as it finally expanded to Tokyo. Notably, “Sauna Lab Fukuoka” has been featured on Tokyo Sauna Japan. While Fukuoka’s version offers an excellent women-only sauna, “Sauna Lab Kanda” takes sauna facilities to a whole new level! Wondering about the photo above? Curious if it’s a sauna? Let’s explore what makes this sauna facility extraordinary!
Let’s start with the location. “Sauna Lab Kanda” is approximately a 5-minute walk from Jimbocho Station on the Tokyo Metro. Conveniently served by the Mita, Hanzomon, and Shinjuku lines, making it easily accessible!
The area around Jimbocho is renowned as Japan’s largest book town. Centered around Jimbocho Station, it boasts 130 antiquarian bookstores. Even if reading Japanese books might be a challenge, experiencing the unique ambiance of Japanese secondhand bookstores is worthwhile.
“Sauna Lab Kanda” is just a short walk from the charming antiquarian bookstores street. Honestly, if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t guess this inconspicuous spot is a sauna facility, right?
Upon entering, it’s a vibrant scene with so much to take in – the excitement is palpable! According to the staff, it’s designed as a “market-like” space. You can enjoy coffee, buy sauna goods, and they occasionally host workshops. It’s a delightful space packed with enjoyable elements! The first floor is open to anyone, not just sauna-goers.
↑↑ On the first floor, they had this on display. Any guesses? It’s actually a mobile sauna! You can tow it with a car and enjoy a Finnish sauna anywhere! The fact that they showcase something like this adds to the excitement of the place!
The shop continues on the basement floor! The variety of sauna goods is off the charts – I’ve never seen a store with such an extensive collection. It’s pure joy for sauna enthusiasts! And here’s the entrance to the sauna. “Sauna Lab Kanda” operates on a strict reservation basis. For details on how to make a reservation, you can refer to the article on “Sauna Lab Fukuoka.” The pricing details are as follows.
¥2,980 for 120 minutes – strictly by advance reservation.
※It’s a comprehensive package! Rental of indoor wear, sauna hat, two hand towels, and a bath towel are all included in the price.
After confirming your reservation at the reception, you step inside. This locker room is beyond amazing! The wooden ambiance exudes warmth and tranquility. “Sauna Lab Kanda” truly respects the authentic Finnish sauna experience. This cozy locker room seems inspired by the warmth of Finnish saunas. In Finland, it’s apparently a tradition to have a chat in the locker room after a sauna session.
↑↑ Here’s the map of “Sauna Lab Kanda.” Saunas are divided into male and female areas, with a swap on Wednesdays. The upper-left space is a communal area accessible if you’re wearing a sauna poncho. Let’s start by exploring the men’s area!!
From right to left, we have the FOREST SAUNA, OKE SAUNA, KARAFURO, and the glass-walled space on the left is the ICE SAUNA. You can catch a glimpse of the shower booths on the left. It might not be a vast space, but the unique ambiance, recreating the essence of Finland, is simply delightful!
The shower booths have a charming setup, surrounded by cute tiles, creating a stylish atmosphere. The amenities are also noteworthy – they use “OSMiA,” a Finnish brand, and the scents are delightful!
Let’s dive into each sauna room one by one!
⬛︎FOREST SAUNA
This is the FOREST SAUNA. It’s a beautiful sauna room enveloped in wood, following the Finnish style with the stove placed lower. Self-löyly (adding water to the sauna stove) is also an option. It’s a standard sauna room but truly splendid!
⬛︎OKE SAUNA
Here’s the OKE SAUNA, shaped like a bucket (“oke” in Japanese). The name says it all! It operates at a slightly lower temperature of 84°C, but due to its compact size, the heat circulates well. Even a short stay here can make you break a good sweat!
⬛︎KARAFURO
This is the individual sauna room “KARAFURO.” It’s set at a temperature of 78°C. Slightly dim and tranquil, the room allows you to hear only the sound of steam when water is poured onto the stove for löyly, and the sound of your own breath. It’s a sauna where you can listen to your body and engage in a conversation with yourself, enjoying a moment of self-reflection.
⬛︎ICE SAUNA
After sweating it out, it’s time for the signature Ice Sauna at “Sauna Lab Kanda.” Experience the piercing cold breeze at minus 25°C against your skin. Unlike traditional cold water baths, this Ice Sauna offers a gentle and pleasant sensation of refreshment after the warmth of the sauna. While there’s no cold water bath here, the Ice Sauna provides a soft and enjoyable sense of exhilaration (also available in the women’s area).
Let’s now explore the saunas in the women’s area!
⬛︎IKE SAUNA
IKE SAUNA features a water basin in the sauna room. It’s dimly lit, with the tranquil sound of flowing water, creating a calming atmosphere. While many saunas have railings or handrails in front of the stove, here, water serves that purpose. It creates a spacious and inviting atmosphere without the imposing feel of handrails. I’ve never seen such a beautiful sauna room!
There’s one stove by the water basin side and two smaller ones. The smaller stoves are partitioned into booths, allowing you to enjoy löyly at your own pace, resembling private sauna experiences. Although set at a lower temperature of 72°C, as you gaze at the gently flowing water, lost in contemplation, you’ll find yourself breaking into a sweat from head to toe without even realizing it.
⬛︎FOREST SAUNA
The FOREST SAUNA in the women’s area is notably brighter compared to IKE SAUNA. When you add löyly to the sauna stove, heat rapidly circulates throughout the room. The slightly recessed space in the right back of the photo is recommended for a snug and warming experience. The temperature is set at 80°C.
⬛︎NKY
After the sauna, instead of outdoor exposure, it’s recommended to retreat to the private room “NKY,” where various herbs are planted. Inhaling the full-bodied aroma of herbs and taking deep breaths creates a sensation as if the body’s warmth and stress are being released together!
This is a shared space for both men and women. If you’re wearing a sauna poncho, you can access this area. It’s perfect for spending the post-sauna relaxation time. I recommend lying down on the stepped section for a truly soothing experience.
The shared space “Forest Library” at the entrance to the sauna area is available for sauna users throughout the day. You can even set up your laptop here and get some work done. Working after a sauna session sounds like it could be quite productive, doesn’t it?
What do you think? “Sauna Lab Kanda” is a sauna facility that would impress any sauna enthusiast. It’s a top-notch sauna facility packed with attention to detail. If you ever visit Japan, be sure to give it a try!
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