The premier sauna facility that is both a sacred place and a local favorite, Sauna Shikiji【S13】
※ Please note that the information may be incorrect.
【Visit Date and Time】
August 14, 2022 (Sunday) 14:00 - 16:00
【Crowd Level】
Had to wait for about 30 minutes at the reception. There were many groups of students due to the Obon festival and summer vacation.
【Amenities】
Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are available. Towels and indoor clothes were included in the fee.
【Impressions】
Second day of my trip to Shizuoka.
Had plans to meet a friend for dinner, but had some time to spare, so decided to visit the sauna sanctuary.
Took a bus from the south exit of Shizuoka station and got off at Totoro Coop Town entrance.
It's about a 10-minute walk from the bus stop to Shikiji.
As I walked, sweating profusely, it came into view.
This is my second time at "Sauna Shikiji".
Was informed at the reception that there was an entry limit, so I wrote my name on the waiting list.
Was told it would take about 30 minutes, so I sat and waited while looking at autographs of celebrities at the entrance.
When it's your turn, they contact you by phone. Some people were waiting in their cars.
While I was waiting, more and more customers kept arriving and adding their names to the waiting list.
While I was waiting, there was also an entry limit for women, and about five were waiting.
Once I received the call, I purchased a ticket from the machine at the entrance, handed it over at the reception, and received a set of towels and indoor clothes.
After changing in the locker room, I headed to the bath area.
At the entrance to the bath area, there are face towels stacked for you to bring inside, so you can take them freely.
The moment I entered the bath area, I could tell it was crowded.
I tried to wash my body, but all the spots were taken, so I had to wait a bit.
After cleaning my body and wiping off the water, I headed straight to the sauna.
First, I entered the herbal sauna.
I had experienced it once before, but it's incredibly hot.
The temperature is around 60°C, but the steam heat is intense.
It genuinely feels like my entire body is getting burned.
Especially the steam coming from the floor is so intense that I couldn't keep my feet down even on the lowest step.
Also, the steam I was breathing in was so hot that I had to cover my mouth and throat with a towel.
With all that, I only lasted 6 minutes the first time.
After rinsing off the sweat with a shower, it was time for the cold bath.
It's truly the best.
I've been to various other saunas since my last visit, but none can compare.
Recently, I've been getting information about Shikiji from TV, radio, magazines, and the internet, but once you actually experience it, you understand why it's considered a sanctuary.
I soaked in the water, drank some water, and probably stayed in for about 3 minutes.
After getting out of the cold bath, I sat down for some fresh air.
The windows were open, so the breeze felt good.
It's been a while since I felt so refreshed after just one set.
I rested for more than 10 minutes before going for the second set.
Next, I entered the Finnish sauna.
This one goes over 100°C and makes you sweat a lot.
The herbal sauna earlier felt too hot, making this one feel gentler in comparison.
There's a TV inside, and at that time, a baseball game of Osaka Toin was being broadcasted.
After 10 minutes, I went out, rinsed off the sweat, and entered the cold bath.
Stayed in for about 2 minutes, then rested and took in some fresh air for 10 minutes.
For the third set, I went back to the herbal sauna.
Earlier it felt too hot to relax, but this time, maybe because I got used to the heat, I was able to watch TV and stayed in for 12 minutes.
By the time I came out, my entire body was flushed and felt great.
After rinsing off the sweat, I went to the cold bath for the third time.
I might have stayed in for about 5 minutes.
When I sat down, I felt completely refreshed.
I don't know how long I was there , but when I realized, my entire body was dry.
Lastly, I went to the herbal sauna one more time for about 8 minutes, then to the cold bath and fresh air, and then left the bath area.
I dried my body with a bath towel, changed into indoor clothes, and dried my hair on the second floor at the washstand.
I changed back into my regular clothes in the locker room and then left Shikiji.
While waiting for a taxi at the entrance, I saw Miki Sasano, also known as the daughter of Shikiji.
I took a taxi back to Shizuoka station and had a lively conversation about Shizuoka with the driver.
I knew that Shikiji was the best sauna facility, but experiencing it firsthand was astonishing.
The cold bath gets a lot of attention, but I think the sauna, combined with everything else, is what makes it the best overall.
It's so hot that it feels dangerous and suffocating, but then you go from that to a soft cold bath, which feels like heaven. Experiencing this contrast and then taking in fresh air makes you feel completely refreshed without thinking about anything else.
I felt grateful to have Shikiji in my hometown and vowed to revisit during my summer vacation in 2022.
| Facility Name | Sauna Shikiji |
|---|---|
| Website | Homepage |
| Access | 2-25-1 Shikiji, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Price | 1600 yen (Holiday rate) |
| Payment | Cash |
