Grooming & Relax: Barbers, Sento and Sauna in Tokyo

A fresh cut and a hot bath are two of the best ways to recover from a long Tokyo night. Here's how to do both like a local.

Getting a haircut

  • Barbershop (理容室, riyoushitsu / tokoya) — classic men's cuts, often with a shave and shampoo.
  • Hair salon (美容室, biyoushitsu) — more fashion-focused cuts. Booking ahead is common.
  • Quick-cut shops — fast, cheap cuts in about 10–15 minutes, often near stations. Many use a ticket machine at the entrance.

Tip: show a photo of the style you want. It works better than any language.

Sento: the neighborhood bathhouse

  1. Take off your shoes at the entrance and pay at the front desk or ticket machine.
  2. Undress completely in the changing room. Swimsuits aren't worn in the bath.
  3. Wash your whole body at the shower stations before you get in. This is the most important rule.
  4. Keep your small towel out of the water. Many people fold it on their head.
  5. No swimming, no splashing, and keep your voice low.
  6. Dry off a little before you go back to the changing room.

Tattoos

Many traditional neighborhood sento welcome tattoos, but many hot springs, spa complexes and gyms still don't allow them. Check the rules before you go, or look for places that say "tattoo friendly".

Sauna culture

Japan has a huge sauna boom. Locals follow a simple cycle: sauna → cold bath (mizuburo) → rest, repeated two or three times. That deep relaxed feeling afterwards has its own word: totonou. Rinse off sweat before the cold bath, and drink plenty of water.

Words that work

  • Kono kami-gata ni shite kudasai — Please make it like this (show a photo)
  • Mijikaku shite kudasai — Shorter, please
  • Tattoo wa daijoubu desu ka? — Are tattoos OK?

Want John's favorite bathhouse? Ask John.

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