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The Best Books on Japanese Bathing Culture

January 27, 2022

  There is nothing like enjoying a good book before a soak. Here are my favorite books on Japanese bathing culture. Many of these may require a bit of a search, but I assure you that they are worth...

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Tools of the Way

May 05, 2021

There is a term that I love that is used in chado (the way of tea) as well as many other classical Japanese practices, crafts, and arts: dogu. Dogu translates to “tools of the way” or “tools of the...

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How to Take a Japanese-Style Bath at Home

January 12, 2021

I am often asked about taking a Japanese-style bath at home. Bathing in the Japanese manner is life-changing. I hope that the info you will find below inspires you to bathe with intention on a regu...

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An Interview with Mark Edward Harris

May 03, 2020

 We recently welcomed the addition of one of my favorite books to the Amayori store: The Way of the Japanese Bath by Mark Edward Harris. I recently had the chance to interview Mark. We discussed hi...

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A Peek Inside a Japanese Bathhouse

February 06, 2020

Walk into any bathhouse in Japan, and you are sure to find the same basic things, whether you are bathing at a Tokyo sento or a remote rural onsen.  Men’s and women’s baths are almost always separa...

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Ashiyu: Effortless Relaxation from Japan's Hot Spring Towns

September 25, 2019

Ashiyu are foot baths that are found in some of Japan’s hot spring town. They are beloved for their lighthearted atmosphere, as they are an easy way to enjoy Japan’s mineral-rich waters with little...

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Two Ways to use the Aromatic Body Wash

April 22, 2019

The Aromatic Body Wash is more than a skin cleanser—it is a mood-shifting skin nurturer. Based on the Japanese ritual of showering before taking a bath, there are two ways to use the Aromatic Body ...

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Japanese Bathing Wisdom for the Entire Family

March 13, 2019

In a traditional Japanese home, the bathwater is shared among family members. This practice perhaps comes from the Japanese tradition of the sento (public bathhouses) or bathing in public hot sprin...

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