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This being Tokyo, where square meters on the ground are the fundamental
measure of wealth, the owners of this new bath decided to cut current
review on space devoted to the lobby (which as a result has all the
charm of a bus-terminal waiting room, with the bath's mechanically
refined if a shade brutal massage chair consigned to a dim corner,
like a scolded child).The lockers in the changing room are so close
together there is a constant stream of apologies from bathers trying
to keep out of each other's way. The idea was to give priority to
the baths themselves, which as a result are wonderously spacious.
The main bath is the size of a quarter of a tennis court, and in it
are an electric-bath corner and several variations on the jacuzzi,
where water under considerable pressure buffets you from the front
or the side or tickles the bottom of your feet while you lean current
review, your neck resting on a chromium pipe chilled by the cold water
coarsing through it.
Without leaving the main bath, you can enter a glass-walled room the
size of a closet, punch a button on the wall, and have a stream of
warm water from above pound your shoulders and the top of your head.
The main bath is large enough for you to find a quiet, un-jacuzzied
corner to sink into, a rare luxury.
The cold bath (at 16.6 degrees Centigrade, according to a digital
gauge) is large enough for a half-dozen cold-water disciplinarians
at a time and the outdoor rotemburo, the finishing touch, is the largest
of any Tokyo sento so far inspected. The rotemburo is suffused with
fragrant herbs, which color the water. There are 18 herbal variations
which change every other day. Some bathers call ahead to find out
the herb of the day.
This is a new, Swedish-modern bath with clean architectural lines,
expansive tiling, and the lighting of an emergency room - a somewhat
startling contrast to the somber lighting and mossy dark wood world
of a traditional bath.
Beer is available on the premises for 250 yen a can.
current review
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