The entrance of a ‘sento’ public bathhouse is seen in Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward on Feb. 2, 2026. (Mainichi/Satoshi Kubo)
KYOTO — To preserve Japan’s unique “sento” public bathhouse culture, the Kyoto Prefectural Government has decided to make admission to communal bathhouses free for children of elementary school age and younger during fiscal 2026.
The aim is to help children become more familiar with local bathhouses and encourage greater use. The Kobe Municipal Government in neighboring Hyogo Prefecture has launched a similar effort, but such initiatives at the prefectural level are rare.
As baths have become the norm in Japanese homes, the number of sento has declined. Within Kyoto Prefecture, there were 502 public bathhouses in fiscal 1975 and 278 in fiscal 2003, but the number has fallen to 83 recently. The total number of users has also dropped by about 6 million since fiscal 2003. Increasingly, bathhouses are closing due to financial difficulties.
Regarding the role of sento, the prefectural government explained, “They help revitalize local communities and also support residents during disasters.” By first helping children learn about the appeal of these bathhouses and encouraging repeat visits, the prefecture hopes to also foster continued use among the next generation.
Currently, sento admission fees in the prefecture are 200 yen (about $1.28) for children of elementary school age and 100 yen (around $0.64) for infants and toddlers. For one year in fiscal 2026, children will be able to use public bathhouses for free an unlimited number of times. The prefectural government has included 56 million yen (roughly $357,200) in related expenses in a supplementary budget proposal for fiscal 2025.
(Japanese original by Satoshi Kubo, Kyoto Bureau)
AloJapan.com