"Sauna Pia" (for men only), located on the outskirts of Toyohashi City, Aichi, has a "THE Showa" atmosphere, and everything inside is extremely clean and comfortable. Bathing in the open air in a spacious, well-kept garden is the perfect word to describe it as bliss.

Contrary to the retro appearance!?
clean and comfortable space

Sauna Pia" is located one street off the main road leading to Toyohashi Port. The building is located at the far end of a large parking lot, so you might easily miss it. The "sauna lover's hideaway" feeling is the first thing to love about this place.

"Sauna Pia" is a long-established place that opened in December 1982 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2022. From the entrance, it exudes a retro atmosphere.

Tomohisa Inukai, the fourth manager of the hotel, greeted me at the reception desk, his bow tie a perfect match for his appearance.

"We are particular about 'Showa Strong style' and cherish the concept and atmosphere from the time of our founding. On the other hand, we are also working on '100 improvements per year.' I think something in the building has been updated!" He said.

The first blue lockers you will see after completing the reception are new in 2021. On top of the lockers are sauna pants, which are replenished after each use. "Ogaki Sauna", one of the most famous saunas in Gifu Prefecture, also has towels on top of the lockers, but the fact that things can be placed on the lockers is a sign that they are well cleaned.

In contrast, the washbasin is Showa-style with a shiny stained glass window. The concept that "Sauna Pia" places importance on is evident everywhere, making you feel refreshed even before taking a bath.

Well-equipped sauna and mellow water bath

At any rate, I went to the bathhouse. Needless to say, the washing area is spotlessly polished and clean. Sauna pants and towels are also beautifully stacked.

After cleansing your body and warming it with hot water, go to the sauna room! Although it is a "dry" type sauna that does not allow loyly*, the moderate humidity will not make you feel suffocated. You will be able to enjoy a long and relaxing steamy experience.

* A method of bathing in a sauna bath in which water is poured over heated sauna stones to generate steam, raising the sensible temperature and promoting perspiration.

Light shines through the large windows in the sauna room, creating a very bright atmosphere. The stove is made in Finland. The sauna stone is also said to have been collected from the seabed off the coast of Finland, showing respect for Finland, the home of saunas. And if you look closely at the sauna stone, you can see Tonttu, a Finnish fairy who lives in the sauna room. You can see a glimpse of the playful spirit here and there.

The water bath you have been waiting for is set at around 14.5℃. The water is blended at a ratio of approximately 75% city water and 25% well water, so you can feel the softness of the water. The water is always overflowing and clean.

The essence of “Sauna Pia” lies in “outdoor air bathing”

Now, I would like to abruptly assert that "outdoor air bathing" is the essence of Sauna Pia. A door by the bathtub leads to a beautiful garden surrounded by trees and beautiful hedges. You sit down on an infinity chair and gently recline. I found myself saying to myself, "I don't remember the sky being this big". Feeling the wind blowing through the air, listening to the birds chirping, my ability to think is limited. (And then I fell asleep.)

It is probably rare in Japan for a facility specializing in saunas to have such a spacious and well-equipped space dedicated to outdoor air bathing. What is even more surprising is that this outdoor air bath space has existed unchanged since the establishment in 1982. This was a time when the routine of sauna → water bath → outdoor air bath was not as established as it is today.

According to the manager, in the past there was a proposal to turn it into an open-air bath, but it has been kept in its original form as an outdoor air-bath space. In the sauna world of 2025, there is even a tendency to say that outdoor air baths are a must for saunas. Did the previous generation have foresight, or has the times caught up with "Sauna Pia"?

The vibratory bath is another feature of Sauna Pia. The water temperature is set at a high 29.5°C, and together with the aforementioned main water bath (14.5°C), visitors can enjoy a "cold/cold alternating bath." After the third sauna, many regulars skip the outdoor air bath and finish with a combo of a water bath and a lukewarm vibratory bath.

Change into indoor clothes and relax

"Sauna Pia" has a lot of fun after getting out of the sauna! Change into the gown worn in the facility and spend some relaxing time.

The Comic Room has over 9,000 manga and magazines. The latest editions of popular series are also available for your reading pleasure. Enjoy yourself in the bright atmosphere of the restroom.

A spacious nap room is also available. The room is moderately dark, so you can fall asleep at your leisure. The service of the staff gently waking you up at your desired time is available. Staying overnight and enjoying the sauna is also a great way to relax.

The best thing to do after a sauna is to have a meal. Misato" in the facility is an izakaya-style restaurant with a full menu. The restaurant is run by energetic local mothers and has an at-home atmosphere.

Among the many dishes on the menu, the Neapolitan spaghetti (900 yen) is the most popular, and the sauce is handmade. The egg on the bottom of the teppan (iron plate) moderately tempers the rich flavor that is perfect after a sauna. The noodles are a generous 200 grams in weight!

Teppanyaki Horumon Set Meal (1,050 yen) is a classic dish called "THE Sauna Meshi (dish)". Horumon with a crunchy texture goes well with both beer and rice.

Oropo," a combination of Oronamin C and Pocari Sweat, has become a staple for saunas, but the best choice here is "Bulpo" (500 yen). The combination of Red Bull and Pocari Sweat provides a good balance of minerals and vitamins. It is sure to become a new staple after a sauna. Of course, Oropo (450 yen) is also available!

Expect further expansion of original goods!

Check out the original goods! The special T-shirt worn by the manager is 3,700 yen and available in three sizes (M, L, and XL).

Special stickers with a nice retro font are available for 650 yen each. Key chains with the Viking mascot are also available (900 yen each). Incidentally, Viking originated in the Scandinavian Peninsula, where Finland is located. Since the establishment of the company, there has been a strong desire to "faithfully incorporate Finnish sauna culture," which is why the mascot character became a Viking.

Look out for this Viking illustration, which will appear throughout the museum! Incidentally, as we approach our 40th anniversary, we are planning to expand our lineup of original goods," says the manager. Expectations are growing.

Flexibly changing while maintaining the “Showa Strong style”

Writer Yasuda enjoyed a sauna, an open-air bath, and a meal in good condition. With a pleasant lingering aftertaste, I once again interviewed Manager Inukai.

Yasuda: "I thought that Sauna Pia, which also has a nap room, was open 24 hours, but it is open "22 hours" from 11:00 to 9:00 the next morning. Is there any reason for this?

Manager Inukai: "We spend the hours from 9:00 to 11:00 for cleaning and maintenance, and we consider this time to be our 'life. We have been emphasizing the concept of 'cleanliness, health, and comfort' for generations, and 'cleanliness' is an absolute prerequisite for our guests to feel at ease.

Indeed, I visited the restaurant just before it opened for a special photo shoot, and I was very impressed to see the manager himself meticulously cleaning the mirrors and the kalan (Japanese-style bathtub).

Yasuda: "By the way, with more and more facilities such as Aufguss* offering events inside sauna rooms, do you dare to do so at 'Sauna Pia'?"

Manager Inukai:"We are faithfully carrying on the founder's wishes and maintaining the "sauna style" of the time when the company was founded. However, we are not saying that we won't change it. For example, we would like to remodel the garden, which is used as an outdoor air bath space, and put in a hut where we can hold a loyly session. We are still working on the concept."

The steam generated by pouring water on heated stones is agitated at once by waving a towel or other object to raise the temperature of the body.

How wonderful to be steamed in the sauna with a different wax style from the existing sauna rooms, and then to be regulated in that beautiful outdoor air bath space! I'm drooling just thinking about it.

"Sauna Pier" maintains its "Showa Strong style" while continually making improvements. I can't wait to see what updates will be made the next time I visit.

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