Japanese baths in the U.S.?

February 28, 2006 10:24 AM

Where can I find Japanese-style baths in the U.S.? In Europe?

My husband and I spent a week in Maui last December and stayed at a Japanese-style hotel. It featured traditional Japanese baths (communal, separate sexes). You would wash thoroughly at a little washing station before you got in the hot baths. It was incredibly relaxing before bed.

I live in Washington, D.C., and travel to Europe occasionally. I swear, I'd build a trip around baths like this. Since I'm not planning a visit to Japan (yet!), please help me out. They are sometimes called Sento. If heated by hotsprings, they're called Onsen.

posted by WyoWhy to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

The Gentle Art of Japanese Bathing
posted by matteo at 10:48 AM on February 28, 2006

Kabuki Springs in San Francisco does this, alternating days for men and women.

I just went and found it very fun and relaxing; various online sources say the guys-only days tend to turn into a skeevy pick-up scene.
posted by occhiblu at 12:13 PM on February 28, 2006

I'm not sure what they're like now but about 15 years ago we went to visit some hot springs in White Sulfer springs West Virginia. I'm sure it is not quite as exotic as a japanese bath but it does have an interesting history and is situated on a geothermal hot spring in West Virginia. Definitely worth a visit as it is so much closer than Japan or Europe.
posted by aisleofview at 12:31 PM on February 28, 2006

There's a Japanese-style spa with baths in Chicago that's very nice. It's called Thousand Waves Spa.
posted by smich at 1:17 PM on February 28, 2006

I think you'd love the hammams in Paris. They offers steam rooms, wading pools, scrub-downs and massage. You get to sip mint tea afterwards, too. The mosquee de Paris offers an unforgettable hammam experience.
posted by hazyjane at 1:44 PM on February 28, 2006

Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe New Mexico -- Japanese spa and baths
posted by Soulbee at 6:23 AM on March 1, 2006

For the SF Bay Area-Penninsula, the comments in matteo's link mention Watercourse Way in Palo Alto which I consider a New Age/Oriental themed hot tub place -- private rooms with small tubs. Not at all like the Japanese sento, the public bathing experience I've enjoyed a couple times. I hear there's a Korean place in Santa Clara which more approximates that, but I've never been -- it's the Lawrence Health Center on El Camino Real.
posted by Rash at 11:24 AM on March 1, 2006

Seconding Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe. We were regulars when we lived in Albuquerque and never miss a chance to stay there -- or at least visit -- when we travel back to New Mexico.
posted by Lazlo at 10:36 PM on December 4, 2006