When you come to Japan, you want to experience a public bath at least once. There are also public baths in Minato-ku, central Tokyo, where you can fully enjoy the bathing culture unique to Japan. This time, we will introduce "Minami Aoyama Kiyomizuyu" in the fashionable town Minami Aoyama in Minato Ward. We will guide you through a variety of baths along with how to enter the bathhouse.

Minami Aoyama Kiyomizu-yu is located in a good location in the city center, a 3-minute walk from Omotesando Station and just off Aoyama Street. It is a popular public bath visited not only by locals but also by men and women of all ages from afar. According to Masataka Okura, the fourth generation, its history is quite old.

"It was already there when my grandmother, who was born in Meiji 36, was born, so there is no doubt that it has a history of more than 100 years.

It was originally located in Sendagaya Village (now Jingumae, Shibuya Ward) in the middle of Killer Street. Later, due to the development of the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964, it was moved to the current Minami Aoyama. At that time, it was an ordinary public bath that could be found everywhere, but 15 years ago, the fourth generation, Mr. Okura, unexpectedly renovated it into a special public bath.

"It was aging, and we thought about closing the business, and since it is Minami Aoyama, it is the trend of the world to make it a commercial building. But if you stop here, you will never be able to use a public bath again. I thought it would be interesting to have a public bath in Aoyama, so I decided to stick to it thoroughly, so I decided to use the current facility."

The renovated Minami Aoyama Kiyomizu bath was all novel. The guard stand has been changed to the front desk to provide a rest space for a comfortable space. The most important thing is the quality of the spring. All hot water was made soft, and high-concentration carbonated springs and silk baths were also provided. The sauna also gives plenty of steam, so it has a reputation for being gentle on the body. It became a driving force behind the sento boom. Now that the sauna is booming, it is so popular that 60 people can wait for numbered tickets on Saturdays and Sundays. It is fully equipped and provides us with a relaxing time.

Let's take a look at the attractive bath facilities of Minami Aoyama Kiyomizuyu.

●Soft water is used throughout the building
All bath water and water bath water are soft water. The benefits of soft water include:
・Moisturizes hair and skin, no skin squeaky feeling after bathing.
・Soap and shampoo foam well, and the amount used is small.
・Less irritating so safe for people with sensitive or dry skin
・ The body warms up well and does not cool down easily.
・ Ion balance close to sodium hot springs, which are generally said to be "hot springs for beauty"

●Kakeyu

Use before taking a bath or before a sauna. Kakeyu is also soft water, so it is gentle and smooth on the skin.

●Silk bath

While the emulsifying action of milky white water cleanses deep into the pores, micro bubbles massage the whole body. High moisturizing power for beautiful skin all over the body. The metabolism is activated, which promotes health.

●High-concentration artificial carbonated spring

It is hot water in which carbon dioxide gas is dissolved as fine bubbles. In addition to improving blood circulation, it has a high fatigue recovery effect with little burden on the body. It warms from the core of the body and has a lasting thermal effect. It is a slightly acidic hot water that is gentle on the skin.

●Whirlpool bath

It is a whirlpool bath with 3 types of variations to choose from. The stimulation of the bubbles is comfortable and refreshes your body and mood.

●Sauna

Men's comfort saunas emit steam and have a lower temperature, so they are gentle on the body. The women's rocky sauna is slowly warm with far-infrared rays from the stones. An auto-row ryu is installed, so you can enter it gently. Both men and women have TVs.

●Water bath

Refresh by using it in combination with a hot bath or sauna. Since it is soft water, it provides moisture.

●Epsom salt hot water

On Saturdays and Sundays, in collaboration with Nehan Tokyo, Epsom salt hot water is held in a silk bath. You can aim for beautiful skin by taking a magnesium bath.

- Empty-handed is OK
Empty-handed sets (320 yen), rental towels (bath towels/face towels 310 yen), and colored towels (260 yen) are available, so you can take a bath empty-handed.

● Amenities and original goods

In addition to towels, pumice stones, lotion, hairbrushes, razors, socks, pants, etc. are also available. Be sure to check out Minami Aoyama Kiyomizuyu's original stickers!

●The owner's specialty beer

Beer is also available after the bath. In addition to the Japan beer, there are also two types of Belgian beer recommended by the owner, Mr. Okura.

●Rest Room

There are benches and tables at the back of the front desk. You can drink soft drinks or beer to rest your body after a bath.

It is not difficult even if it is the first time to enter a public bath. We will guide you on how to enter the bathhouse.

(1) Take off your shoes at the entrance and put them in the shoe box.

Don't lose your locker keys.

(2) Give the bathing fee or bath ticket at the stand or front desk.

Public baths have a number stand type and a front desk type for the reception. Most of the bandai baths have separate men's and women's baths from the entrance.
You can pay at this front desk or at the stand. You can pay in cash by public bath, or buy a bath ticket at a ticket vending machine and give it to you at the front desk. In most cases, you have to pay an extra fee for the sauna.
Here are the bathing fees for public baths in Tokyo.
Adults (12 years old and over) 500 yen (tax included)
Junior high school students (6 to under 12 years old, elementary school students) 200 yen (tax included)
Child (under 6 years old, preschooler) 100 yen (tax included)

(3) Take off your clothes in the dressing room

Go through the goodwill of the men's or women's bath and take off your clothes in the dressing room. Bathing with pants on or in a swimsuit is NG. Take off all clothing. After leaving your clothes and luggage in the locker, be sure to lock it, wrap the key around your wrist, and head to the bathroom.

(4) Splash the bath

Washing area

When you enter the bathroom, the first thing you do is pour hot water. It is a rule of thumb to flush your body in the washing area before and after soaking in the bathtub. Pour hot water into a tub and cover it over your head or take a shower to remove dirt. The purpose of kakeyu is to get your body used to the hot water. It is recommended not only to take a hot bath, but also to wash your body before taking a bath. If you take a bath without washing your body, please thoroughly pour hot water to remove dirt.

(5) Soak in the bathtub

Take a bath in the bathtub. Avoid soaking long hair in hot water and do not put towels in the bathtub. It is traditional that the water in public baths is often hot, but if you can't resist it, ask the person taking the bath to dilute it with water.

The proper bathing time is about 5-10 minutes for hot water and 20 minutes for lukewarm water. The degree to which sweat comes out of the forehead is a guide. When it is well warmed, wash your body in the washing area. Many places have separate hot water and water, so use it while adjusting the hot water in the tub. When showering, make sure that hot water does not splash on the person next to you.

(6) Wear clothes

When returning to the dressing room from the bathroom, wipe your wet body with a towel. Feet also take moisture with a mat. After wiping your body with a towel, put on your clothes. There is a hair dryer in the dressing room, so you can dry your hair. Make sure you haven't forgotten anything before leaving.

(7) Stay hydrated

I sweat a lot while bathing. Before and after bathing, use a vending machine to rehydrate.

Be sure to check out public baths other than Minami Aoyama Kiyomizu in Minato Ward.

Hours: 15:30-22:00
Closed: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, temporarily closed

Hours: 15:30-23:30
Closed: Mondays, Fridays

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 15:00-23:00, Sun-Holiday 14:00-23:00
*January 2: 9:00-13:00
Closed: Mondays (if Mondays fall on January 2, January 5, May 5, and the third Monday in September, they will be transferred to the following day), year-end and New Year holidays (January 1, January 3, January 4)

There was a public bath in the center of Minato Ward, and it was fully equipped. Experiencing the sento culture in the middle of Tokyo is also a memory of your trip. Why don't you visit a public bath in Minato Ward?

Opening hours: Weekdays 12:00-24:00 (last entry 23:30), Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 12:00-23:00 (last admission 22:30)
Closed: Fridays
* Due to congestion on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, we do not offer changing clothes or luggage storage for running use.