Reservations are hard to come by at the sacred place of sauna enthusiasts, Sauna & Capsule Hotel Nordic【S15】
※ Please note that the information may be incorrect.
【Visit Date and Time】
September 14, 2022 (Wednesday) 14:50 - 16:30
【Crowd Level】
The sauna room and relaxation chairs were never fully occupied.
【Amenities】
Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are provided. Towels and indoor clothing were also included in the fee.
【Impressions】
A sweltering day on September 14th.
I took a rare weekday off using my paid leave.
I visited "Nordic," a place I had wanted to go to even before watching the sauna documentary.
Due to the pandemic, it's strictly by reservation, so I hadn't had a chance. But on Monday, I happened to check the reservation site and saw two slots available, so I immediately booked.
I had a reservation for 15:00, so I headed to Ueno station around 15 minutes before.
I arrived at the shop about 10 minutes early, but they let me in when I gave my name.
I paid at the reception and received a wristband.
After the reception, a little further in, there were gowns and towels, so I took one of each and went to the lockers.
After changing in the locker room, I went upstairs where there's a changing area.
After leaving my gown and towel in the changing area, I headed to the bath area.
The bath area, filled with abundant sunlight, was overall bright, and I was getting excited about the sauna.
First, I washed my body and dried off before entering the sauna room.
The two-tiered room can accommodate more than 10 people.
The thermometer read 110°C, and I could feel the intense heat.
They offer self-service aroma löyly (steam), but it was already hot enough that not many people were doing it.
There's also a TV, but the heat was so intense that I couldn't focus on it.
I left after 8 minutes for my first set.
Right next to the sauna room is the cold bath, so I rinsed off my sweat and slowly dove in.
It was probably around 10°C, and it was super cold.
After about a minute, I got out and used a vihta (a bundle of birch branches) to beat my body.
There were three chairs inside and eight outside for air bathing, along with three reclining chairs.
Many chairs were vacant, so for my first set, I lay down on a reclining chair.
Looking at the blue sky of Ueno and feeling the pleasant breeze was absolutely refreshing.
After about 10 minutes of rest, I rehydrated at the water dispenser near the bath entrance and went for my second set.
Sauna for 8 minutes → Cold bath for 1 minute → Air bath for 10 minutes
For the second set, I enjoyed the air bath sitting on a regular chair.
For the third set, I followed the same 8-minute, 1-minute, 10-minute routine but sat on a different chair.
For the final fourth set, I stayed in the sauna for 10 minutes, the cold bath for 2 minutes, and the air bath for 10 minutes.
Feeling as if I could keep doing sets indefinitely, I finished my last air bath.
When you leave the bath area, there's a handwashing station, and many hairdryers were available.
I went back downstairs, changed, and after collecting my belongings, I returned the wristband at the reception and left.
Outside, the sun was still strong, but the breeze was cool and felt good.
On the way home, I did some shopping in Ameya-Yokocho and then headed home.
In summary, the sauna lived up to its reputation.
Firstly, it's bright overall.
Being on the 7th floor probably helps, but I think the building's design, which lets in sunlight, is excellent.
Next, it's not crowded.
The facility's size is average, but because of the reservation system, it's never crowded, allowing you to enjoy the sauna at your own pace.
Furthermore, it's cost-effective.
Being able to enjoy such a sauna in Tokyo for 2000 yen is undeniably good value for money.
While it's hard to get a reservation, considering the current sauna boom and the resulting crowds, I hope they continue this system. I even thought, why don't other popular facilities adopt a reservation system?
| Facility Name | Sauna & Capsule Hotel Nordic |
|---|---|
| Website | Homepage |
| Access | 7-2-16 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
| Price | 2000 yen |
| Payment | Credit Card |
