Sento woo tourists to keep baths afloat

[yuiyoshida]

Almost half the sento bathhouses in Tokyo that responded to a metropolitan government survey said they were considering shutting off their taps, and one in every three of those intended to close within five years.

Although the number of sento bathers has been declining every year, the baths are popular among foreign tourists.

Since public baths are one way to show the world the “good old days of Japan” during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the metropolitan government and an industry group are expanding public relations campaigns aimed at foreigners.

The guidebook effect

There always seems to be at least one foreigner soaking in the natural hot spring water at Jakotsuyu, a bathhouse in the heart of the Asakusa tourist district.

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