Temple Saunas” are Hot to Tone the Body and Mind! The latest “temple sauna” in Japan, the original “steam bath kingdom
近年にわかに盛り上がりを見せているフィンランド式サウナの愛好家を「サウナー」と呼ぶらしい。彼らは、蒸し風呂と水風呂を繰り返して、ディープなリラックス状態になることを、恍惚な表情で「ととのう」という。だがしかし、寺社Nowはここであえて問いたい。日本のサウナ（蒸し風呂）は、千年の歴史を誇るのだと！
It is said that enthusiasts of the Finnish sauna, which has suddenly gained momentum in recent years, are called “saunas. They are ecstatically called “toto-to” when they repeatedly take a steam bath and a water bath to reach a state of deep relaxation. However, Terasha Now would like to venture to ask a question here. The Japanese sauna (steam bath) has a history of 1,000 years!
仏教では、古くから沐浴の功徳が説かれている。病を退けて福を招来するものとして入浴を奨励してきた。寺院は伽藍の一角に浴堂を備え、人々に蒸し風呂を開放して入浴を施した。これを「施浴（せよく）」という。光明皇后が1250年前に奈良・平城京の東北に建立した法華寺には、今も「浴室（からふろ）」が残され、国の重要有形民俗文化財に指定されている。
Buddhism has long taught the merits of bathing. Bathing has been encouraged as a means to ward off illness and bring good fortune. Temples built bathhouses in the corners of their buildings and opened steam baths for people to take a bath. This was called “seyoku (bathing). At Hokke-ji Temple, which Empress Komyo built 1,250 years ago in the northeastern part of Nara’s Heijo-kyo Capital, the “kara-furo” still remains and is designated as a National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property.
こうした寺院による施浴の文化は、けっして過去の遺物ではなく、実は今も脈々と伝わっている。そればかりか、最近全国各地の寺院で新たな動きが出てきていることを寺社Now編集部はキャッチした。私たちはそうしたニューウェーブの蒸し風呂を「寺サウナ」と呼ぶことにする。ということで今回の特集は、サウナーもそうでない人も必見、タイプの異なる全国3カ所のユニークな「寺サウナ」を紹介する。それぞれの寺院は、身も心もととのう「寺サウナ」を通じて、いったい何を伝えようとしているのか!?
This culture of temple bathing is not a relic of the past; in fact, it has been handed down from generation to generation. In fact, it is still alive and well today. In addition, the Terasha Now editorial staff has recently caught wind of a new movement emerging at temples across the country. We call such new-wave steam baths “temple saunas. In this feature, we introduce three unique “temple saunas” of different types in Japan that are a must-see for sauners and non-sauners alike. What are these temples trying to convey through their “temple saunas,” which are so relaxing for both body and soul?
【目次】
＜1＞【北海道・旭川】自称サウナー住職が仕掛ける「サウナ寺ス」の“お寺らしさ”とは!?
＜2＞【高知・四万十町】ポップに生まれ変わった四国遍路宿坊の「地元体感サウナ」
＜3＞【静岡・河津町】寺院境内に温泉宿!？ 身も心も癒やされる「禅サウナ」
<1>Asahikawa, Hokkaido: What is the “temple-like” nature of the “sauna temple” run by a self-proclaimed sauna master?
<2>Simanto Town, Kochi: A “local experience sauna” at a Shikoku pilgrimage lodge that has been reborn as a pop-up.
<3>Kawazu Town, Shizuoka: A hot springs inn in the precincts of a temple! A “Zen Sauna” that Heals the Body and Soul
