[Ogaki city] "Ogaki Sauna" A Water Bath filled with Underground Natural Water

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Ogaki City in Gifu Prefecture has long been called the "City of Water" due to its abundance of underground water. Ogaki Sauna (men only) has been loved by local residents for over half a century in Ogaki City and is praised as a "legend" by sauna lovers nationwide.

Well-equipped sauna room, mellow water bath, delicious sauna food, and the warmth of the staff, including "mama". It's a mediocre expression, but the word "oasis" couldn't be more fitting.

Inherited “Masakuni-ism”

Ogaki Sauna opened in 1966 and celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2021. It is characterized by a chalk exterior that suddenly appears in a residential area a little away from Ogaki Station.

We were greeted by President Masako Okada and Manager Toru Hayashi. They immediately showed us inside Ogaki Sauna. By the way, they are related to each other.

There are no lockers for shoes, so you can leave them directly at the front desk.

The history of Ogaki Sauna can be traced back to 1966, the same year the Beatles visited Japan, when Masakuni Okada, former president and husband of President Masako, opened the sauna. A little later, President Masako started helping him, and the couple has operated the sauna together ever since.

"My father (former president Masakuni). When he went to a corporate exhibition, he had an idea for a new business that would be accepted by Japanese people who love baths," said President Masako, explaining how the Ogaki sauna was born.
It was a time when there were almost no sauna facilities in Gifu Prefecture, or even in the whole country. This episode shows the foresight of Mr. Masakuni. When she talked about Mr. Masakuni, President Masako's eyes narrowed and she looked very happy. I, the interviewer, was drawn in by her smile before I knew it. With all due respect, from now on I will call her "Mama," as I do with my regular customers.

However, 10 years ago, former President Masakuni passed away after a long 6-year battle with illness. During Masakuni's illness, Mama spent her days traveling back and forth between the hospital and the sauna, cherishing the time they had together. The depth of their love for each other can be clearly felt. At one time, she thought about closing the sauna, but she says, "We had so many reservations for banquets that we couldn't even close the sauna, and before we knew it, 10 years had passed".

Mommy: "Your father was a sincere person. He was generous and kind to his employees. He was strict when things got tough, and he was the type to say things that would make people hate him. I think (laughs).”

Mr. Masakuni's sincerity is evident everywhere in Ogaki Sauna, and it is evident that "Masakuni-ism" has been carried on. For example, the towels and indoor clothes are amazingly beautifully stacked.

The Ogaki sauna has a structure where towels are placed on top of the lockers and replenished one after another as they are used. This proves that even the lockers, which tend to get dirty, are thoroughly cleaned.

The Ogaki sauna, which has been in business for over half a century, is naturally aging, but it has a clean feeling that makes you feel that.

Manager and sauna session!

Now, let's go to the bathroom! In order to convey the charm of the Ogaki sauna more, I decided to have a "sauna session" with Mr. Hayashi, who is also a sauna lover.

Before entering the sauna, cleanse your body first. Sauna pants are also prepared in front of the sauna room.

Finally, go to the sauna room. It is the size that about 10 people can comfortably fit in, and there is also a TV inside.

Manager Hayashi: "The temperature difference between the sauna and cold bath is about 100 degrees Celsius, which makes it easy to get 'Amami*'. Our cold bath is about 14 degrees Celsius, so I calculated backwards and set the temperature of the sauna to about 110 degrees Celsius."

* Red spots on the skin surface after sauna or water bath. Many sauna lovers think that “a sauna with sweet taste is a good sauna.”

When I actually entered the sauna room, the temperature was not only 110°C, but was pointing at 120°C ("you are in luck," according to the manager). A sauna this hot should be hard to find even if you look for a super public bath or sauna facility in the neighborhood.

You can enjoy the steam while watching the “We Sauna People” posted in the sauna.

Manager Hayashi: "Mr. Masakuni was impressed by a customer's copy of the 'Hot Bath Philosophy' of former Nakayama Sangyo (currently Metos), which manufactures sauna stoves, and made a part of it into a stone slab."

However, the fact that you don't feel a sense of entrapment or suffocation is probably due to the good setting, including the balance of humidity and other factors. You can sweat slowly and comfortably. However, after 7 minutes in the room, the setup is complete! By the way, the manager was in there for about 10 minutes*.

*Adjust the time according to your physical condition, as endurance is not the essence of sauna. When you think, "I want to take a bath in the water!" is the time to do so.

Then, the long-awaited water bath!

The natural underground water of Ogaki is poured into the water bath, which has a mellow texture that almost melts your skin, leaving you speechless. "I've been to various sauna facilities, but this water bath is the best!", the manager praises himself.

Manager Hayashi: "First experience the coolness of the water around the water outlet. If you gradually move to the sauna side wall (the black pattern in the center of the photo), you can stay in the water bath forever*!

* Sensation that the body is covered with a film when taking a cold bath

After getting out of the water bath, sit on a chair for washing* and take a rest. Many people think that taking a bath in the open air is the best! The sound of the bath tub clanking in the bathtub is also an invitation to "get in shape".

*Some people call it “Ashita no Joe Style” because they sit with their heads down.

"Amami" came out all over the body, and when it was completely over, the manager said, "Let's go to Komainu!" Wearing only under the clothes in the hall, I was brought in front of the entrance where there is a parking lot for some reason.

In Ogaki saunas, where there is no open-air space, regulars have developed a unique method of outdoor air bathing called "Komainu Style"! Chairs are set out in front of the entrance of the Ogaki sauna, and people bathe in the open air in pairs. Today, the manager and I are practicing the Komainu style together. (This is a precious picture.)

Even though it's on the premises of the sauna, it feels strange to be shirtless in the parking lot, but anyway, the wind is too comfortable!

The best sauna food after the sauna

I repeated the routine of sauna → cold bath → rest (tomorrow's Joe style + Komainu style) three times, and it was completely perfect (thanks to manager Hayashi for three sets). But the fun starts here.

There is a relaxation room with reclining chairs on the 2nd floor, perfect for a long break after the sauna. Newspapers are neatly arranged on the table, and you can feel the "Masakuni-ism" here as well.

There is also a restaurant on the second floor. I can't stand the slightly retro style of the gate.

The atmosphere at the counter seats is also great, and there are many bottles lined up that have been kept.

Manager Hayashi, who taught us "how to properly enjoy the Ogaki sauna," continues to join us. We changed into loungewear and relaxed.

First of all, when you taste the sashimi platter (market price), you will be surprised at how fresh it is. The secret to its deliciousness is the carefully selected fish from the Ogaki market.

The famous pork loin ginger-grilled set meal (1,400 yen). Unlike general ginger-fried pork, the loin meat is extravagantly thickly sliced. Garlic is effective, and the taste is similar to tonteki. As manager Hayashi says, "The right amount of salt is pleasant after a sauna, isn't it?"

There are seasonal menus such as oden (from 150 yen) and nabeyaki udon (840 yen). All the menu items were of high quality and I was really satisfied.

A "sacred place" that passes on the "prototype of the sauna" to the next generation

Manager Hayashi: "Recently, hot-spring facilities have been categorized as either 'theme park-type' or 'attraction-type' featuring aufgussen* and other attractions, but I think the fact that we have not swung to either of them and have stuck to the 'original sauna model' is the reason why people call us a 'sacred place'.

Manager Hayashi has a wonderful perspective of the sauna industry as a whole, and he understands very well what the Ogaki sauna is looking for. The best part of Ogaki sauna is that you can simply enjoy the sauna without chasing the ever-changing trends.

* A program that raises the sensible temperature by stirring the steam generated by pouring water on the heated stones at once by swinging a towel or the like.

Mama: "Those who like saunas can come all the way here by bullet train or airplane, right? I still can't believe it."

On the other hand, Mama seems to be surprised by the recent sauna boom, but it is very impressive to see regular customers and new customers with a smile. I also touched on the kindness of such a mother, and when I was on my way home, I was tormented by the feeling of being pulled back. It was really nice to have the Ogaki sauna within a day trip.

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