SENTO 101
What is a sento?
A sento is a neighborhood public bath. For a long time most Tokyo homes had no bath of their own, so the whole street met there every evening: same hot water, same painted Fuji, same chat at the counter.
About 400 are still open in Tokyo today, and no two are alike: temple roofs, koi ponds, tile mosaics, hidden gardens, murals repainted by hand every few years. A few close every year. Going there is the best way to keep them alive.
400sento still open in Tokyo
¥600for a bath, the same everywhere
1,000+sento visited by Stéphanie
