Herbal and yakuso saunas in Tokyo — 18 facilities
18 facilities in Tokyo could be confirmed, on their official site or an equally citable source, to use herbs in the sauna as a permanent part of what they offer. 7 of them can be used as a private or reserved room, 10 are shared only, and 1 does not publish which.
By style: Thai-style herbal steam (7), Yakuso (medicinal herb) steam (11), Herbal löyly (1), Vihta / whisking (1), Tent style (4) and Other herbal sauna (1). A facility that runs more than one style is counted under each.
The facilities listed are Re:La calme (府中市), salon Imacoco Tokyo (Herb Tent) (渋谷区), SAUNA KIKI (目黒区), Spa Wat (杉並区), SteaMs. (港区), Sauna Adam & Eve (港区), Sauna & Hotel Karumaru Ikebukuro (豊島区), SaunaLab Kanda (千代田区), Thai Massage Salon ecoubio (羽村市), Ruby Palace (新宿区), Inagi Tennen Onsen Tokinoirodori — Kusamushi Doro-Shio Sauna (稲城市), Oshiage Onsen Daikokuyu (墨田区), TAKANAWA SAUNAS (港区), Maenohara Onsen Saya no Yudokoro (板橋区), Rakutenchi Spa (墨田区), Natural Hot Spring Izumi Tenku no Yu Haneda Airport (大田区), Tokyo Ganbanyoku Herbal Tent Sauna (Asagaya) (杉並区) and Hottayu (足立区).
Look up the herbs themselves in the RootHerb Index, and the styles and terms in the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Are there herbal saunas in Tokyo you can book as a private room?
Yes — 7 of the 18 facilities listed in Tokyo can be used as a private or reserved room: Re:La calme, salon Imacoco Tokyo (Herb Tent), SAUNA KIKI, Spa Wat, SteaMs., SaunaLab Kanda and Tokyo Ganbanyoku Herbal Tent Sauna (Asagaya). Conditions and prices differ by facility, so please check the official site before you go.
What styles of herbal sauna are there in Tokyo?
Thai-style herbal steam (7), Yakuso (medicinal herb) steam (11), Herbal löyly (1), Vihta / whisking (1), Tent style (4) and Other herbal sauna (1). Thai-style herbal steam: Thai herbs such as plai, kamin (turmeric) and takrai (lemongrass) are simmered and the steam fills a sauna room or a tent. The room is usually kept at a low to middle temperature, around 40–50°C. Yakuso (medicinal herb) steam: The style found at bathing facilities across Japan. It covers rooms such as the kanpo yakuso salt sauna, where mugwort and kanpo crude drugs are turned into steam, as well as mushiyu and ishiburo — stone chambers warmed by hot-spring heat and lined with herbs. Herbal löyly: Water in which herbs have been steeped is poured over the sauna stones, so the scent rises with the steam. Vihta / whisking: Bundles of leafy branches — vihta, usually white birch — are hung in the sauna room, or used to whisk the body. Tent style: Steam from simmered herbs is fed into a tent, entered by one person or a small group. Other herbal sauna: Facilities whose use of herbs is confirmed but whose style is not published.
How are facilities selected for this guide?
Only facilities whose permanent use of herbs in the sauna could be confirmed in primary sources such as their official site are listed. Herb use at one-off events, herbal baths alone, and löyly with aroma water alone are out of scope. No facility has requested or paid for inclusion. Facilities wishing to be listed or corrected are welcome to use the contact form.
Only facilities whose permanent use of herbs in the sauna could be confirmed on their official site or an equally citable source are listed. The date of confirmation appears on each facility page; prices, hours and the herbs used are subject to change.