When it comes to baths, nothing beats Japan! I was born and raised in the Kanto region, so I grew up going to public bathhouses. To me, taking a bath meant going to a public bathhouse. In the old days, there were public bathhouses all over Suzuka, too. It wasn’t just somewhere we went occasionally—it was part of our daily routine. Maybe I’ve never grown out of that habit, because I still go to bathhouses quite often.
I also love saunas, and I’ve gotten to know many people there. At the sauna, they hold a special event every couple of hours, I think. They add aromatic oils and wave huge fans to circulate the hot air. Everyone gets really excited, shouting “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” and clapping their hands.
Last night, the staff member ended the event by saying, “You guys were the best crowd today!” I couldn’t agree more! I think I’ll go again tonight!

I heard there was an event in Kumamoto over the weekend and that a lot of people gathered, as shown in the photo. Thank you.