Cover From bustling Tokyo to remote Hokkaido, these three Japanese saunas awared at Saunacheline 2025 showcase a range of experiences, from rooftop terraces and specialised heat rooms to tranquil riverside baths (Photo: Gpointstudio/Freepik)
From bustling Tokyo to remote Hokkaido, these three Japanese saunas awared at Saunacheline 2025 showcase a range of experiences, from rooftop terraces and specialised heat rooms to tranquil riverside baths (Photo: Gpointstudio/Freepik)
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Discover the top three saunas in Japan recognised by Saunachelin 2025 for design, heat and guest experience
In Japan, sauna culture has evolved far beyond the utilitarian heat box. The annual Saunachelin 2025 list highlights facilities that approach the practice with efficiency, balancing atmosphere, craftsmanship and ritual without excess. This year’s top three entries—spanning Saitama, Tokyo and Hokkaido—demonstrate how distinct environments can shape the experience. Each presents a different interpretation of sauna life, from large-scale architecture and sensory design to the quiet integration of nature. Here’s a closer look at the top three Saunachelin 2025 awardees.
Read more: Bath and beyond: 7 onsen destinations in Japan for a splashing good time
Onsen Balcony King & Queen (温泉バルコニー King & Queen), Saitama
Above A multi-level onsen and sauna complex in Saitama, blending natural hot springs with rooftop barrel and tent saunas (Photo: king_and_queen_282828 / Instagram)
A multi-level onsen and sauna complex in Saitama, blending natural hot springs with rooftop barrel and tent saunas (Photo: king_and_queen_282828 / Instagram)
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Located in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Onsen Balcony King & Queen opened in 2024 as one of the most extensive new sauna and onsen facilities in the Kanto region. Recognised in Saunachelin 2025, it covers several floors and combines natural hot spring bathing with multiple heat and rest environments. The water source is drawn from roughly 1,300 metres underground and feeds a network of indoor and open-air baths. The main King and Queen saunas employ lava stones in their löyly systems to retain and disperse heat, and each room varies in temperature and humidity to suit different preferences.
The rooftop Sky High terrace expands the experience outdoors with tent and barrel saunas, a –20 °C ice box for cooling and wooden decks for air baths and rest. Other facilities include ganbanyoku (heated rock-bed) zones, relaxation lounges and dining areas featuring local ingredients. Designed to encourage longer visits, the complex accommodates both day guests and overnight stays. Free parking for around 400 vehicles and shuttle buses from Kotesashi, Shin-Tokorozawa and Tokorozawa stations provide straightforward access from central Tokyo, roughly an hour away.
Sauna Tokyo (サウナ東京), Akasaka
Above A purpose-built urban sauna in Akasaka, Tokyo, featuring multiple heat rooms, automated löyly and a 60-seat relaxation lounge (Photo: sauna_tokyo2 / Instagram)
A purpose-built urban sauna in Akasaka, Tokyo, featuring multiple heat rooms, automated löyly and a 60-seat relaxation lounge (Photo: sauna_tokyo2 / Instagram)
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Situated in Akasaka, Minato‑ku, Sauna Tokyo opened in 2023 and is a purpose-built facility dedicated entirely to sauna culture. Recognised in Saunachelin 2025, the complex houses five distinct sauna rooms and three cold-water baths at varying temperatures, offering a concentrated experience focused solely on heat, cooling and rest.
The main Auto Löyly Sauna, also known as the Steam Dance room, can accommodate up to 40 visitors and features programmable lighting, integrated sound design and automated steam throws. Additional options include a Self Löyly Sauna constructed from Finnish kelo wood, a Meditation Sauna for lower-temperature, higher-humidity sessions, a far-infrared Showa Era dry sauna and a near‑freezing Cool Sauna designed for rapid cooling. The water-baths are set at roughly 8 °C, 15 °C and 20 °C to complement different sauna cycles.
A dedicated rest area with tatami beds and reclining chairs can seat around 60 guests, providing space for recovery and relaxation between sessions. The venue currently operates as a male-only facility. Its central location, just a one-minute walk from Akasaka Station (Exit 1), makes it highly accessible for Tokyo residents and visitors alike.
Yuyado Daiichi (湯宿だいいち), Hokkaido
Above A riverside Hokkaido ryokan with integrated saunas, natural hot springs and outdoor baths for a quiet, nature-immersed experience (Photo: yuyado_daiichi / Instagram)
A riverside Hokkaido ryokan with integrated saunas, natural hot springs and outdoor baths for a quiet, nature-immersed experience (Photo: yuyado_daiichi / Instagram)
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Set in the Yōrōshi Onsen valley of Nakashibetsu, eastern Hokkaido, Yuyado Daiichi is a traditional ryokan whose sauna facilities form part of a wider hot-spring network. Recognised in Saunachelin 2025, the property integrates two saunas for men and two for women alongside indoor and outdoor baths fed by natural underground hot springs. The water, a sodium‑calcium‑chloride‑sulphate type, circulates continuously through the baths, offering a consistent temperature and mineral content.
Outdoor bathing includes a rock-lined mixed bath beside the river, while indoor options feature a log bath crafted from Canadian spruce. The men’s sauna rooms are maintained around 70 °C with automatic löyly intervals, complemented by cold water baths at approximately 13 °C. Guests have noted the consistent temperature control and well-considered water-bath design.
Located roughly 30 minutes by car from Nakashibetsu Airport, Yuyado Daiichi offers a serene, nature-immersed experience, contrasting sharply with urban sauna complexes. Its design prioritises integration with the surrounding landscape and the natural rhythm of hot-spring bathing, which earns it the Saunachelin 2025 top spot.
The venues recognised by Saunachelin 2025 outline the current spectrum of Japanese sauna culture: the high-capacity leisure model in Onsen Balcony King & Queen, the urban specialist in Sauna Tokyo and the rural retreat in Yuyado Daiichi. Each interprets the sauna process through its own context over luxury tropes or extremes of design. Whether in a bustling city, a regional hub or a remote natural setting, these venues show that sauna culture remains versatile, immersive and attuned to the rhythm of both body and environment.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
