“Sentō” Paradise: Ten Great Japanese Public Bathhouses

The light pink exterior of Taishōyu gives the bathhouse a stylish appearance.

Miyoshiyu is popular among locals as a place to bathe and enjoy a light meal.

Tsubameyu has been opening its doors to morning bathers for more than a century.

Following renovations in 2011, Fukunoyu was reborn as a fashionable sentō that attracts locals as well as young couples.

The bathhouse blends Western and Japanese design styles and boasts two distinct landscapes of Mount Fuji.

The traditional kidomon gate lends Shimizuyu a distinct Japanese air.

Patrons of Shimizuyu have a variety of soaking options, including an open air bath.

Myōjin’yu retains the curved gables that were a standard feature of sentō built in the early postwar period.

A mural of Mount Fuji painted by Maruyama Kiyoto overlooks the bathing area.

In 2003 Funaoka Onsen became the first sentō in Kyoto to be recognized as an important tangible cultural property.

The changing rooms are ornamented by large carvings on the ceiling and openwork screens.

During World War II Japanese military police attempted to remove the duplicates of the Statue of Liberty but abandoned the plan as the figures were set too firmly in place.

The entrance of Danjiriyu is as bold as the sentō’s namesake festival.

A close-up look shows the elaborate craftsmanship that is the hallmark of danjiri floats.

The bathing area sports a single oval tub.