The number and quality of saunas and cold water baths are top-notch at Karumaru Ikebukuro Store【S17】
※ Please note that the information may be incorrect.
【Visit Date and Time】
October 20, 2022 (Thursday) 13:00 - 15:00
【Crowd Level】
There were constant comings and goings, but not so much that there was a wait for the sauna.
【Amenities】
Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are available. Towels were also included in the fee.
【Impressions】
It was a pleasant autumn day.
Having a day off and no errands, I visited a sauna facility after a long time.
Just a few minutes' walk from the west exit of Ikebukuro, you can see "Karumaru".
I had visited once before, but it was on a weekend and very crowded.
I was finally able to revisit on a weekday.
You are greeted in a typical Ikebukuro-like bustling atmosphere and take the elevator up to the 6th floor.
It's famous for its sauna, but it's also a lodging facility.
While I was checking in, there was a phone call confirming a reservation for a stay.
Put your shoes in the shoebox, receive indoor clothes at the reception, and head to the locker room.
Change into the indoor clothes in the locker room, leave your belongings, and take the elevator up to the 9th floor dressing area.
Once on the 9th floor, undress in the dressing area, take a small towel, and head to the bath area.
I've been here before, but the bathing area is still spacious.
After washing your body and drying off, I headed straight to the sauna.
First, I entered the "Rock Sauna".
It has about five tiers and can comfortably seat five people, so it's spacious.
I sat on the top tier and was comfortably steamed, but the auto löyly timing overlapped, and I was knocked out.
After 8 minutes, I went outside, rinsed off the sweat, and headed to the cold bath.
The cold bath, named "Yasuragi", was true to its name, a gentle bath that you could stay in for as long as you wanted.
There were countless relaxation chairs available, and I spent about 10 minutes in a space where I could take in the fresh air.
Next, I went to the "Steam Sauna".
It's a single-person private sauna, so it's rarely vacant, but I tried it when the timing was right.
Before entering, switch the tag to "in use", set the timer yourself, and then go inside.
The small room was filled with intense steam, so hot it felt like it could burn you.
It reminded me of a herbal sauna with a bamboo mat.
I couldn't wait for the timer and went outside, only to find that only 6 minutes had passed.
After healing my body in the cold bath again, I took a break in the outdoor relaxation area on the 2nd floor.
For the third set, I entered the "Kelo Sauna".
The room is a bit narrow, but you can do self-löyly.
There was a lot of coming and going, so the room temperature didn't rise much, and I felt unsatisfied and left after 10 minutes.
After entering the cold bath, I took another 10-minute outdoor bath on the 2nd floor relaxation chairs.
While I was pondering the fourth set, there was an announcement that Aufguss was starting, and a queue had formed at the entrance.
I joined the queue, but I couldn't get in before it started.
Somehow, when I managed to get in after someone came out, Aufguss was already in progress.
It ended 2-3 minutes after I entered, but another staff member was about to start another Aufguss session.
I think most of the people who had been there from the beginning had left by then.
Having such a long Aufguss session gives many people a chance, which I thought was wonderful.
After spending about 12 minutes, I entered the eagerly awaited "Sand Tornado".
It's a single cold bath.
With its deep water depth and constant jet stream, the cold water hits you continuously, making it very effective.
My body chilled instantly, and I got out right away.
It was so cold that my toes were numb.
In this extreme state, I lay down on the reclining chairs on the 2nd floor and finally relaxed.
Although I was reluctant to leave, I wanted to leave within 120 minutes, so I washed my body and left the bath area.
I changed clothes in the dressing area, dried my hair, went downstairs, picked up my belongings, paid, and went home.
I knew from my previous visit that it's indeed a top-notch sauna facility.
This time, especially since it wasn't crowded on a weekday, I could go at my own pace, which made it even better.
Since it's newly opened, the entire facility is clean, and the drinking water in the bath area has fruit in it, making it high quality.
The fee is not cheap, but if you become a member, it becomes cheaper, so if you're considering visiting regularly, it's worth considering.
It's been featured in various media and is very popular, but I visited it myself and confirmed that it's indeed excellent.
It's genuinely popular, so I recommend going on a weekday if possible, as the fee is also cheaper on weekdays.
By the way, on weekdays, you can also experience whisking as an option.
| Facility Name | Sauna & Hotel "Karumaru" Ikebukuro Branch |
|---|---|
| Website | Homepage |
| Access | 2-7-7 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 6th floor |
| Price | 2,880 yen (120 minutes) |
| Payment Method | Suica |
