FOCUS IT.] From auto waxing to craft beer and DJ booths. ⁉︎ New wave public bathhouse "Koganeyu" shows the shape of bathhouses in the new era.

Kinshicho is a town close to the Sky Tree where drunken people come and go at night. Although the area has a strong image as a downtown and residential area, it is also known as a hot spot for public bathhouse lovers. One of the most popular bathhouses in Kinshicho is theKoganeyuThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

With a stylish large bath, an authentic auto wax bath that will make sauners roar, and a 90-cm-deep water bath, it is a place that takes care of all the healing needs of the people of the city. Not only that, the space, complete with a DJ booth and beer bar, is truly a place of relaxation for a new age.

The man behind it all is Takuya Shimpo, who also runs Daikokuyu, a public bathhouse in Oshiage. Why did he decide to renew the bathhouse at this time, 88 years after its establishment, when many other bathhouses were in dire straits? Beyond his love of entertaining public bathhouses, he had a strong passion for the downtown area.

Mr. Shinbo is a hard-core sauna enthusiast with seven years of sauna experience. No matter how busy he is, he always makes it a point to get in shape at least once a week.

Koganeyu has been loved by the locals for 88 years, what was the reason for taking it over?

Many public bathhouses that have been in business for many years have gone through various owners, and this is one of them. We took over two years ago. It had been well-loved in the community since then, but the business was struggling a lot. The number of customers and the number of public bathhouses have decreased over time. But I felt that the attractive "Koganeyu" should be preserved for the next generation. My other business, "Daikokuyu," was also inherited from my grandparents, and it is for the same reason. I think that preserving the public bathhouse is also preserving the culture of the downtown area.

You have a strong feeling for the downtown area, don't you? This year, two years after you took over Koganeyu, you renovated the building. Why did you decide to renew it in the current style, which preserves the atmosphere of the old building while also incorporating various cultural elements?

We value the word "challenge. Even though public bathhouses are a traditional business, I think it is necessary to change with the times. That is what we call entertainment. We decided to renew the bathhouse in order to make it even more accessible to the public, while fulfilling our duty as a public bathhouse to "maintain the public's hygiene.

You did crowdfunding for this renewal, didn't you?

This was one of the challenges we took on, but in the end we received twice the amount of support we had set out for, and more than 1,000 people backed us.

It is encouraging that you already have that many fans.

I am truly grateful. First of all, we created the new "Koganeyu" with the desire to be loved by people in the local Kinshicho area, Tokyo, and even the world. However, it is difficult to maintain a style that will be accepted by everyone. In order to realize our ideal bathhouse, it was essential to have the sympathy of many customers. Therefore, we made detailed adjustments from the customer's perspective, such as the distance between the changing area and the bathtub, and between the sauna and the water bath. We felt that the best style for a public bathhouse is one that is not only stylish, but one that makes people want to go there every day.

I actually had the opportunity to use it once a few days before the interview. Not only was it new, but it still had a nostalgic, homey feel to it. I was interested in the DJ booth and craft beer, but I liked the public bath and sauna just as much.

We are only a bathhouse, so we are glad to hear you say so. We have four bathtubs in our public bathhouse, each with a different temperature. This is so that everyone can enjoy the baths no matter who comes. They all use soft water, which is gentle on the skin.

The soft water assembled from underground not only washes away dirt and grime from the skin, but is also highly moisturizing.

The Fuji picture scroll drawing by Yoriko Hoshi, author of the manga "Kyo no Nekomura-san" (Today's Nekomura-san), depicts a boy growing up.

I felt that the sauna was made with the user's feelings in mind. Do you often go to the sauna?

Lately I only get to go about once a week, but I am an unparalleled sauna lover, traveling all over the country (laughs). (Laughs.) This sauna is filled with my passion for sauna.

For example, barley stones stretched over the entire surface. This increases the heat retention and heat shielding properties, and also provides a far-infrared ray effect. Furthermore, since it is an auto-lowryu, humidity is maintained and the aroma is good.
On weekends, there are many customers who come for the sauna, and there is often a line.

Aromatic water is poured onto the sauna stones, which creates a pleasant aroma along with the steam.

The distance from the sauna to the water bath is quite close.

The leading line here is also arranged so that people can soak in the water bath right after exiting the sauna. It is 90 cm deep and spacious, so even if a large number of people enter, it is difficult to get lukewarm. The outdoor air baths have also been well received, and we created them with a sense of ventilation and scenery in mind.

I was wondering, is there any difference between the water bath for the sauna and the water bath in the main bathroom?

The sauna is set at 16 degrees Celsius, and the bathhouse is set at 22 to 24 degrees Celsius, and this is so that people can alternate between the two. if you soak at 16 degrees, then 22 degrees, you will not feel cold at all. So they can stay in there forever. After that, you can go back into the sauna or soak in the hot water. Our strength is that you can enjoy the hot water in various patterns.

The water bath located in front of the sauna is illuminated by lights to create a fantastic atmosphere.

I could certainly stay in there forever (laughs). I felt that not only the sophisticated design but also the space design that puts the users first could only be done by Mr. Tsune Nagasaka of Schema Architectural Planning, who also designed "Blue Bottle Coffee".

The creative direction was handled by an acquaintance of mine, artist Riko Takahashi. She suggested Tsune Nagasaka, and I had no hesitation in asking him to do it because he had the idea of connecting to the next generation, which I thought matched our ideal image.

The entrance is made of fair-faced concrete and the dressing rooms are all in beige.

What I thought was very impressive was the frontage of the entrance. Many public bathhouses have narrow entrances, making it a bit difficult for customers to enter, don't you think? Kogane-yu" has a glass frontage and a wide entrance, so I think we were able to wipe out the difficulty of entering.

That's for sure. I was curious to see the beer bar and DJ booth when I looked in from the outside.

That's right. We had a customer the other day who only used the beer bar.

So it's not just people who use public bathhouses?

Not at all. At that time, he told me that he would come back to take a bath next time. Whatever the reason for knowing about this place, I am grateful to be connected to the public bathhouse.

The bathhouse is one thing, but what really caught my attention was the DJ booth. I don't think a public bathhouse and a DJ are an unusual combination, but I thought it would fit in well at Koganeyoo. Where did you come up with this idea?

We have a staff member who loves records, and we thought it would be fun to play them in the baths, so we started a record market at a public bathhouse about a year ago.

I see that vinyl records are also booming among the younger generation nowadays.

When we held such an event in a space like a public bathhouse, where people of all ages come, it created a conversation that transcended generations. We were so impressed by this that we decided to set up a DJ booth this time. I hope that communication will become more and more exciting.

We are also planning an event that combines a public bathhouse and a DJ. It will be a true paradise to listen to DJs play while enjoying a drink after taking a bath.

I'm sure the conversation will be even more lively with the addition of alcohol.

We also have three kinds of alcoholic beverages and highballs. Especially popular is Koganeyu's original craft beer. It is based on pale ale, so it is fruity and easy to drink. And in November, an accommodation and rest area will open on the second floor, where light meals will also be available.

Koganeyu's original craft beer poured from the server. It has a light taste and is recommended for women.

The design of goods such as happi coats, T-shirts, and tenugui hand towels was supervised by artist Takahashi.

The thin but fluffy towels are made in Imabari. They are the most comfortable towels after taking a bath!

The goods are one thing, but I also sense a lot of ingenuity here and there to make it accessible to everyone, regardless of generation. Recently, public bathhouses and saunas have been attracting attention as a form of youth culture.

I am genuinely happy that public bathhouses are attracting attention among young people. I think that the culture of public bathhouses and saunas will not continue in the future unless young people become interested in them. People are still attached to the things they were familiar with when they were young, even as adults. So the current boom is a good opportunity for people to learn about the culture, and I am very grateful for that.

Today, too, there were young customers as soon as the restaurant opened.

Yes, the number of users has gradually increased compared to before the renewal. However, I feel that many people are using the facilities with an understanding of their essence, not just for the superficial reason of being trendy. Sauna bathing is also used for health purposes. Staring at a computer all day can be depressing (laughs). (laughs). I think it helps them to reset their mood.

I see that they are steadily taking root in people's lives. In this context, what is the ideal form of sento that Kogane-yu and Shinbo-san are aiming for?

The East Tokyo area, including Kinshicho, is very vibrant. This may be sparked by "Blue Bottle Coffee," which was created by Mr. Nagasaka. It would be great if "Koganeyu" became a reason for people to visit Kinshicho. I would like people to come to Kinshicho for sightseeing and fall in love with this town even more. I would be happy if this town is filled with enthusiasm through public baths and saunas.