Totonoi: how to do the Japanese sauna ritual
By Find Best stay in Japan Editorial
"Totonoi" is the blissful, floating clarity that follows the Japanese sauna cycle. Here is how it works and where to try it.
The cycle
- Sauna, 8 to 12 minutes.
- Cold bath (mizuburo), 1 to 2 minutes.
- Rest in the open air, 5 to 10 minutes. This is where totonoi arrives.
Repeat two or three times. Hydrate between sets.
Aufguss
Some saunas run an aufguss ceremony, where a staff member pours aroma water on the stones and fans the heat around the room. It is theatrical and intense, worth timing your visit around.
FAQ
- What does totonoi mean?
- It describes the calm, tingling, tuned feeling after alternating hot sauna, cold water and rest.
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