銭湯(せんとう、Sentō), スーパー銭湯(Super sentō)
Sentō
is a traditional neighborhood bathhouse open to the public for a fee.
Sentō
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| The Entrance of Sento |
flourished as public facilities necessary for a city and as places
of social exchange for local residents. Now that Japanese houses have baths,
they have been decreasing in numbers.
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| Sento |
Sentō are divided into two parts
according to sex, and each part is equipped with a dressing room and a
large bathtub along with one or two smaller ones. Though decreasing in
number, sentō are still popular as a gathering place, particularly among
senior citizens.
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| The Recreation of Grotta Azzurra at Spa World(Osaka) |
Today, bath houses with
less pristine buildings or settings change into so called "Super Sentō"
and try to offer a wider variety of services beyond the standard two or
three bathtubs. They may include a variety of saunas, reintroduce steam
baths, open-air-bathes include jacuzzis, and may even have a water
slide. They may also offer services beyond mere cleansing, and turn into
a spa, offering medical baths, massages, mud baths, fitness centers,
etc.,
