In Japan, saunas have a strong image of being like an ascetic practice, but in fact that is not the case. In order to fully convey their appeal, we would like to propose a sauna trip that women can also enjoy like a trip to a hot spring.
Our host is Daisuke Akiyama, a professional sauna user known as the "Sauna Master," who is one of the "sauna lovers" who led the domestic sauna boom in 2019 and is also a Finnish sauna ambassador. In addition to the appeal of Finnish saunas, we asked him about notable saunas, hotels, gourmet food, tourist information, and more.
Text: Hideaki Nakayama
Why Finland is the sauna capital
First, let's get a basic understanding of Finnish saunas. Why is Finland considered the mecca of saunas? There must be some unique feature that is unique to the country.
"A sauna is a Finnish-style steam bath, and is said to have originated in Finland. It is also extremely popular. With a population of about 5.5 million, there are about 3 million saunas. This is due to the large number of facilities, as well as the fact that many households have saunas in their homes. What is called a bathtub in Japan for warming the body is simply a sauna in Finland. The general style is to wash the body in a shower and then have a sauna bath afterwards." (Akiyama, same below)
Another big difference between Japanese and Finnish saunas is that the saunas attached to Japanese public baths are generally dry saunas. In Japan, they are dry saunas, where you sweat in a heated room, while in Finland they are wet saunas, where you enjoy a steam bath created by pouring water onto heated stones.
"This Finnish style, known as 'löyly,' is a major factor in igniting the recent sauna boom in Japan. You sweat just like in a dry sauna, but it's not as intense as enduring it. It's moist and comfortable, and similar to a mist sauna or a bedrock bath."
Akiyama also mentioned the richness of Finnish sauna facilities. There are many facilities where you can bathe together while wearing a swimsuit, saunas with prominent entertainment elements, and cool designs. Finland is a place where you can enjoy saunas as a tourist destination.
"For example, there is a Ferris wheel with one room converted into a sauna, and a Burger King where you can eat and drink in the sauna space. These are some particularly striking examples, but one of the charms of Finland is that you can enjoy experiencing nature through the sauna, such as outdoor saunas that are heated using natural materials without using electricity or gas, and facilities where you can dive into an adjacent lake as a cold bath."
The wooden box-like gondola at the bottom left of the photo serves as a sauna.
Introducing a selection of the best saunas in Finland
What kind of sauna spots are there in Finland? From here, Akiyama recommends four saunas in Finland, especially in Helsinki, that he has experienced, divided into categories. (The following comments are all from Akiyama.)
1. Speaking of saunas in Helsinki, this is the place to go! KotiharjunSauna, a major sauna for tourists
This is the second oldest public sauna in Helsinki, and its appeal is that it allows you to experience the traditional Finnish version of bathhouse (sauna) culture.
The sauna room has a stepped platform (a space to sit on) with different heights, creating an open space. The outdoor bath is in an outdoor street space, where you can rest with a bath towel wrapped around you. It was so freeing that I thought, "This is the real sauna!"
It's also great to be able to mingle with tourists and locals whilst drinking craft beer or gin and tonics.
| Kotiharjun Sauna | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Harjutorinkatu 1, 00500 Helsinki |
| web | ： | https://www.kotiharjunsauna.fi/ |
2. Kuusijärvi, a Finnish sauna where you can dive into the lake
It's located halfway between the airport and Helsinki, so it's relatively close to both and easily accessible. Many people go there right after they arrive or on their last day.
The best thing about this sauna is the magnificent location in the middle of the forest where you can jump into the lake right in front of you. Another attraction is the smoke sauna. This is a sauna where stones are heated over a bonfire for about 8 hours, and then the smoke is removed over an hour, allowing you to enjoy the sauna with a loyly. The residual heat is comfortable and the temperature is very mellow.
The heat sources for saunas are smoke, wood, and electricity, but smoke is the softest. The lingering aroma of the smoke is also delicious. There is also a cafe attached, and if you order a highball there, the marriage with the smoky aroma is the best!
| Kuusijärvi | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Kuusijärventie 3, 01260 Vantaa |
| web | ： | https://www.cafekuusijarvi.fi/ |
3. Even professional sauna users were surprised! Helsinki's newest sauna, Uusi Sauna
"Uusi" means "new" in Finnish. This is the latest spot created with a new concept by the owner of Helsinki's oldest sauna.
One of the new features is the fusion of a bar restaurant and a sauna. While sauna patrons can enjoy the restaurant in their bath towels, it can also be used just for eating and drinking, so people with clothes and those without can coexist.
The atmosphere is like a stylish cafe, and the food is excellent. They mainly serve local staples like sausages and salmon soup. They also have a wide selection of drinks, including natural wines, so this is truly a new type of sauna.
| Uusi Sauna | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Välimerenkatu 10, Jätkäsaari, 00220 Helsinki |
| web | ： | https://uusisauna.fi/ |
Loyly: A luxurious sauna popular among women
Lev Karavanov (Image credit: iStock)
Finnish architecture has been getting a lot of attention lately, and this sauna is popular for its sophisticated design. It's called "löyly."
The facilities are well-equipped, and the sauna is natural with smoke and firewood. In addition, the ocean view is also attractive, and the Baltic Sea is right outside. Yes, you can enjoy the experience of "jumping into the Baltic Sea". Moreover, in the summer, there are white nights, which makes it even more romantic.
There is also a restaurant and bar, so this is the place to enjoy a sauna in a luxurious atmosphere.
| Loyly | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Hernesaarenranta 4, 00150 Helsinki |
| web | ： | https://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/ |
Other Helsinki information recommended by Akiyama
If you visit Helsinki, the capital of Finland, you'll want to know about saunas and other information as well. So we asked Akiyama-san about his recommended hotels, gourmet food, and tourist spots. (The following comments are all from Akiyama-san.)
1. Lapland Hotels Bulevardi: A hotel where you can enjoy the beautiful world of the northern country
Stones, animal bones, and horns are used to decorate the interior of the building.
Finnish Lapland is known for its rich natural beauty and high chances of seeing the Northern Lights. You can enjoy this mystical world view right in Helsinki.
The elegant design is a perfect mix of luxury and local nature, and the price is also reasonable. If you stay here, we recommend you choose a room with a sauna so you can enjoy the sauna experience to your heart's content.
View of the bedroom from the sauna
| Lapland Hotels Bulevardi | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Boulevardi 28, 00120 Helsinki |
| web | ： | https://laplandhotelsbulevardi.com/ |
2. The world's most delicious gourmet food according to professional sauna lovers Friends & Brgrs
I can say with confidence that this is the best burger shop in the world. This shop is a chain with several restaurants in Finland, but it is only available in Finland.
Not only do they display the ingredients in the open kitchen, but they also upload videos of how the food is made, which is a cutting-edge idea. The bakery and cooking kitchen are separated by booths, and the food is prepared by specialized chefs, and served together.
The flavor is deep yet extremely light, and there is no stomach upset. The patties are made with Finnish beef, making them organic, healthy, and delicious. The creative branding and philosophy are also wonderful, and I always think it would be great if they could come to Japan.
| Friends & Brgrs | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Mikonkatu 8, 00100 Helsinki |
| web | ： | https://friendsandbrgrs.com/en/ |
Helsinki Central Library Oodi, chosen as the world's best library
This library opened in December 2018. It's not just new, it's also amazing, having been selected as the 2019 Public Library of the Year by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
The first thing that will surprise you when you arrive is the stunning architectural design. Not only is it beautiful from the outside, but the space has been carefully designed to naturally foster connections between people and foster community.
The concept is "for everyone." It is an open place where you can immerse yourself in reading, hold meetings, meditate, let your children play freely, and let their parents relax. As is typical of a country where genderlessness is progressing, the sense of diversity is excellent, with men's and women's toilets being shared.
Although it is a library, it is also equipped with online game consoles, a kitchen, and a 3D printer, making it an amazingly cutting-edge spot that serves as a co-working space where a wide range of creative endeavors can be shared.
| Oodi | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | Toolonlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki 00100 |
| web | ： | https://www.oodihelsinki.fi/en/ |
Finland was ranked number one for the second consecutive year in the 2019 World Happiness Report published by the United Nations. Among the reasons for this are the comprehensive social security system and the widespread adoption of work-life balance, but Akiyama believes that "saunas may also be a factor."
Taking off your clothes means getting away from your smartphone and other information devices, which can be considered a kind of stress relief. Warming your body with steam and taking an open-air bath allows you to become one with nature, and in some places you can experience the mystical world of being illuminated by the beautiful glow of the Northern Lights. Akiyama says that Finland is the place in the world where this rich culture is enjoyed most.
By the way, while you might think that Finland is far away, the flight time is only about 9 hours. Don't you think it's actually a surprisingly close country? As mentioned at the beginning, JAL's flight from Haneda to Helsinki will begin in March 2020, making travel to Northern Europe much more accessible. We hope you will use this article as a reference and enjoy a stay that will leave you feeling completely happy.
Daisuke Akiyama
While producing various events including "Tokyo Girls Collection," she also founded the sauna specialty brand "TTNE PRO SAUNNER" and events such as "Sauna Chelan" and "SAUNA FES JAPAN" due to her love of saunas that first arose in her 20s. Currently, she is working to popularize saunas in Japan as a sauna master.
■ Reference books
Saunner Book (by Dai Matsuo)
This book is a guide to saunas that will bring you into perfect harmony in your mind, body, work, and life, from Dai Matsuo, a professional sauna user known as "Totonoe Oyakata," the man behind the sauna boom. Akiyama appears on the interview page with Matsuo.
Weekend Finland (by Ryoko Iwata)
A travel guide by Ryoko Iwata, an official Finnish sauna ambassador for the Finnish Tourist Board. This book is full of the latest information to help you enjoy your trip to Finland to the fullest, whether it's your first time, a short trip, or your second time.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
