Sunday, August 24, 2014

Japanese Bath houses

Japanese public bathhouses, also called sento. From the outside, some of them look like Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. Inside, they have many features that help to create a space for retreat and relaxation. More than just a place to wash the body, bathhouses have long served as a social forum for the local community. This time on Japanology Plus, we'll explore the wonderful world of bathhouses with our guest Machida Shinobu, a sento expert. In Plus One: bathhouse etiquettes for beginners.


Why do bathhouses (in Tokyo) look like temples? When did public bathhouses become divided into a male and a female side, and why?

No comments:

Post a Comment