Japan is known for its communal bathing culture, and you won’t have to look far to find it in Tokyo, with countless public bathhouses and onsen scattered across the capital. Before heading to a nearby sento for a refreshing soak, be sure to brush up on bathhouse etiquette – and if you’re staying at a hotel or hostel, check whether your accommodation offers a special ¥250 discount coupon valid at Tokyo’s 63 certified ‘tourist-friendly’ sento. As standard adult admission to Tokyo’s bathhouses costs ¥550, tourists can enjoy a soak for a paltry ¥300 with this one-time coupon.
Amid a decline in the number of public bathhouses – driven by ageing facilities, an equally ageing operator base, and a slow post-pandemic recovery in patronage – the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in partnership with the city’s sento association, has stepped up efforts to attract bathers from all over the world.
The Kotobukiyu bathhouse near Ueno, for instance, has increased its focus on international visitors, with owner Ryozo Naganuma noting that his sento now welcomes nearly 100 foreign guests a day. To support this push, the city government has created an official list of tourist-friendly bathhouses equipped with multilingual signage, translation-supported services, cashless payment options and more. And now they’ve added the aforementioned discount coupons, which can be used from September 1 to February 28 2026 at these designated sento.
Many sento date back to the early post-war years and retain a retro charm with traditional miyazukuri architecture inspired by temples and shrines, high wooden ceilings, and handpainted Mt Fuji murals, which are indicative of a Tokyo-style sento. A refreshing soak in one of these baths is sure to transport you back in time while immersing you in Japan’s public bathing culture.
Flyers with the discount coupons are distributed from September 1 (while supplies last) at designated hotels throughout Tokyo, tourist information centres and the recently renovated Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories. When using a coupon, be sure to complete a short survey to receive a free tenugui towel, while supplies last. Check the event website for more details.
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