Summer has come and almost left in the Northern Hemisphere, and in Tokyo, it’s still in full swing. At the time I started writing this post, temperatures were at or exceeding 40 degrees with full humidity (97 degrees Fahrenheit, real feel with humidity is between 106-107 degrees). Typhoons have come and gone.
And through it all, I have been…. visiting the sauna more than ever! No, I’m not crazy (well, maybe I am for other reasons, but that’s a different story). Summer time is possibly my favorite time of year to sauna! Here are a few reasons why:
Author’s Note: Tokyo is preparing for an unusually hot September at the time of this writing. If you are going to enter a sauna, PLEASE HYDRATE ACCORDINGLY. Heat stroke is a very real risk, and not taking the proper precautions to sauna safely can be disastrous.
You’re already gross and sweaty…
If you’re anything like me, spending any more than 5-10 minutes outside in the summer (particularly in Tokyo) is all it takes for me to break a sweat. After a full day of work, sightseeing, or exercise, you are likely to benefit from a shower. That’s where the sauna comes in. You do a quick shower, a few rounds of sauna and cold plunge, wrap it up with a longer shower and clean up, and voila! You’re refreshed, clean, and (if you did it right), extra hydrated! Which leads me to my next point.
Motivates you to hydrate
I aim to drink two liters of water for every sauna session I do (start to finish, not per round). I typically buy a two-liter water bottle from a convenience store before I arrive at the sauna. While hydration goals may vary, I also make sure to hydrate appropriately thorough the day in order to get the most out of my sauna experience. I find on a hot day where I have sauna plans, it’s a great extra motivator to drink the proper amount of water during the day to ensure I can sauna safely and avoid dehydration.
Shorter Lines:
Here in Tokyo, sauna lines are increasingly common, and with sauna’s increasing popularity here in Japan, they are only getting longer. I’ve found this to be the case outside of Japan as well.
When it’s cold out, people naturally flock to a heated sauna. Logically, it makes sense. This means the inverse is true as well. When it’s hot out, very few people think going into a hot, sweaty room has any sort of appeal. However, I think this is an issue of perspective and poor marketing. The focus just shifts (more on this later) to a cold-plunge centered experience!
Lucky for you, most people don’t know this, and you’ll get to skip the long lines. I’ve regularly seen upwards of two hours during peak hours in the winter at some of the most popular venues (and waited in them myself), so getting to forego the lines and get straight to the action is a huge plus.
Leads to… tighter knit community:
In my experience, the people going to the sauna in the summer understand the value of sauna in the summer. Shorter rounds, more cold plunge time, and lots of hanging out and chit-chatting with fellow sauna-folk. Those in the know about this are typically the enthusiasts! I find since the saunas are less crowded, those who are at the sauna in the summer months are generally dedicated saunners, and are eager to bring you into the inner circle. In Japan (a notably quieter sauna culture than say Russia or the United States), I’ve noticed a rise in special events during the summer, such as DJ parties or sento collaborating in local summertime festivals. As a result, some of my best sauna experiences in Japan have been in the summertime months, which was not something I saw coming!
If you’re interested in learning more about the numerous sauna communities in Japan, the summer months could be a great opportunity to start!
COLD PLUNGE
The REAL secret here…. It’s not about spending as much time in the sauna as you can in the summer… it’s about the sweet relief of the cold plunge! This is what it’s really all about. After a hot day of walking around, nothing sounds more appealing than jumping into a cold pool.
Here is the little mental comparison that I do for my summer sauna sessions:
Sauna in the summer is akin to cleaning a dirty sponge. You’re already gross and kind of wet and stinky. To clean off, you need to wash off, add a bit of water (a cleansing shower and quick sweat in the sauna should do the trick) and jump in the cold plunge (soak the sponge in water) to get clean and get refreshed. After this, a second sauna round will feel like squeezing the sponge in the sink- getting the last little bit of dirt out of your system. Add a second cold plunge in and you’ll feel completely clean and refreshed. Add a bit of totonou/sit down time (letting the sponge dry), you’ll feel good as new!
And if you finish walking into a warm summer night, with a nice Pocari Sweat or Oropo (オロぽ) in hand, there’s nothing better…
Safety Tips:
Here are a few tips to ensure you stay safe
- Hydrate throughout the day
- If you know you’re going to sauna, plan your day around hydrating accordingly.
- DON’T ENTER THE SAUNA DEHYDRATED. It’s common sense, but seriously, it’s not worth it. This is doubly true if participating in an intense sauna event like Aufguss.
- Cut your sauna rounds down
- If you sauna regularly, your heat tolerance is likely going to be much lower than normal during the dog days of summer. That’s okay- don’t let your ego get in the way here. Just get warm enough to want to get in the cold plunge- it won’t take long. Personally, I’ve been cutting my sauna rounds in half, and taking my time in the cold plunge. It’s been nothing short of fantastic.
- Leave your ego at the door
- You might not be able to sauna quite as long if you’ve been in the heat all day and your body is going through water faster than normal. That’s entirely okay. Remember, sauna isn’t a contest to last longer than your friend, or hit a certain time. It’s about a plethora of other things, including relaxing, appreciating sauna as art, and chasing that elusive sauna high: ととのう
Conclusion:
With that in mind, I wish you the best in your summer sauna endeavors! I hope you all find some ととのう in the coming months, whether in or outside of Japan.
Sauna Sensei 