SHIAGARU SAUNA 神田×秋葉原店, the first men's-only public sauna in Tokyo's Kanda/Akihabara area, is set to grand open on April 13, 2026. With two sauna rooms engineered for different physiological effects, three ergonomically designed floating cold plunges, and an immersive relaxation space, the facility aims to push the sauna experience beyond the commonly pursued "totonou" state.
Reservations are available at: https://shiagaru-sauna.com/tokyo-kanda-akihabara
What Is "Shiagaru"?
During Japan's ongoing sauna boom, the overall quality of sauna facilities has risen dramatically — fresh-air circulation, well-chilled cold plunges, and ample relaxation spaces have all become expected features, making "totonou" (the state of deep relaxation achieved through sauna) almost a given. SHIAGARU SAUNA goes further, pursuing what it calls "shiagaru": a state in which the body and mind are optimally primed for whatever comes after the sauna session — whether that's eating, sleeping, or returning to work.
Examples of "shiagaru" include:
- Food tasting noticeably better after a sauna visit
- Deeper, higher-quality sleep following a session
- Improved focus and productivity at work after using a sauna
To reach this state, simply "totonou" is not enough. The facility is designed around scientific evidence gathered from medical professionals and wellness specialists, applied to every element: sauna room temperatures calibrated to body temperature science, cold plunge water temperatures calculated to affect core body temperature, original background music built around the 174 Hz solfeggio frequency linked to stress reduction, and scents selected by a dedicated perfumer to suit the time of day and season.
Facility Features
1. Two Sauna Rooms Designed to Complement Each Other
The facility offers two types of sauna rooms — a "Deep Body Temperature Sauna" and an "Extremity Temperature Sauna" — each designed to warm the body in different ways. Used together, they work toward a more thorough and restorative heat experience.
① Deep Body Temperature Sauna
Auto-löyly and a continuous humidifier maintain optimal humidity at all times, while an auto-aufguss system distributes warmth evenly through the room to raise the body's core temperature. The interior uses Yakushima cedar (yakushima-sugi), which is rich in α-cedrol — a compound associated with relaxation. Background music is an original composition based on the 174 Hz solfeggio frequency, historically used in Gregorian chant and linked to mental calmness and stress relief.
② Extremity Temperature Sauna
Drawing on a Finnish tradition, this room features a footrest positioned at the rim of the stove casing, allowing guests to rest their feet close to the heat source. Warming the extremities thoroughly is associated with improved sleep quality. The walls incorporate a diatomite-blended material, and humidity is managed through auto-löyly and a humidifier. Scents in this room shift between refreshing (daytime) and relaxing (evening) to suit the time of visit.
2. Three Types of Floating Cold Plunges
The cold plunges are built around a "floating" (buoyancy) theme, with three tubs designed at ergonomically optimized angles and shapes:
① An ergonomic curved design shaped to the natural contours of the human body
② A backrest angle of 110°, considered the ergonomic ideal for a bath
③ A traditional Japanese bathtub form long familiar to Japanese bathers
3. Relaxation Space
A strong ventilation system keeps the air continuously fresh. The relaxation space — called the "Shiagaru Room" — features lighting, background music, and aromatherapy all calibrated to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, along with multiple types of relaxation chairs. From sauna-specific drinks available inside the room to the room's lighting design, every element is grounded in evidence-based thinking.
Opening Information
Grand Opening: April 13, 2026
Hours:
Weekdays: 12:00 PM–midnight (last admission 11:00 PM)
Weekends & holidays: 10:00 AM–11:00 PM (last admission 10:00 PM)
Open year-round (subject to change without notice)
Pricing (varies by day and time):
60-minute plan: from ¥1,600
90-minute plan: from ¥2,000
120-minute plan: from ¥2,300
Extension (per hour): ¥1,000
Reservations: https://shiagaru-sauna.com/tokyo-kanda-akihabara
Grand Opening Special Events
To celebrate the April 13 opening, daily special events are held through the opening week. In addition, a lemon cold plunge — with lemons floating in the water — is available every day during the period.
April 13 (Mon) — Vihta Löyly / Drinks at ¥370 / Tattoo-OK Day
Staff perform löyly using vihta (bundles of young birch twigs with leaves), a Finnish aromatic tool traditionally used in saunas. Water is poured over heated sauna stones and the fresh, woody-spicy steam fills the room, evoking the feeling of being deep in a forest. This day is also designated tattoo-OK.
April 14 (Tue) — Ginger Sweat Day
A homemade ginger ale made with five spices is available as a free drink before entering the sauna, warming the body from within to encourage perspiration. Inside the deep body temperature sauna, a "ginger steam" — made using ginger processed by steam distillation — is released throughout the room.
April 15 (Wed) — Chinese Herbal Warm Treatment / Drinks at ¥370 / Tattoo-OK Day
Herbs selected by SHIAGARU SAUNA's dedicated perfumer for their body-warming and circulation-improving properties are slow-simmered in a dedicated pot and released as steam in the sauna room. This day is also designated tattoo-OK.
April 16 (Thu) — Meditation Löyly
A specially crafted löyly experience designed for deeper sensory immersion. A different scent is used with each ladle of water poured over the stones, and a fine-mesh ladle slows the pour for a gentler, more gradual steam. The experience is intended to help guests focus on sensation rather than simply "getting warm."
April 17 (Fri) — Japanese Cypress Steam
Domestically sourced cypress chips are processed with a custom distillation unit, delivering cypress fragrance throughout the sauna room. The primary aromatic compounds in cypress — α-pinene and bornyl acetate — are associated with improved sleep quality, relaxation, stress reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects.
