Many people believe that taking a bath should not only be a way to clean your body but it should also be a way to sooth and relax your mind, body, and spirit. After a long hard day at work or with the kids what is better than to sink into a warm tub of water and let your troubles float away. The Japanese have the right idea when it comes to bathing and relaxing, the way that they do it is like attending a health spa.
When comparing what we think of as a typical bathing room to what a typical Japanese bathing room would be there are some pretty significant differences. The tub is wooden, and while it is a rectangular shape it is quite a bit taller so that the water would reach up to your neck while you sit in it. Because of the height of the tub there are also wooden steps to help you get into the tub. The floor in a traditional Japanese bath is waterproof with a drain so that when water spills it can just drain out. The soaking tub is positioned in an area where the person soaking in it can have a scenic view. In this way the person bathing can take their time, relax, and enjoy the view. Much better than just the four walls of a bathroom in a traditional American bathroom.
The washing room is a separate room with a wooden stool and a wooden bucket. These two items are the most important items in the Japanese bathing process. This is actually referred to as the "shower room." Here there is a lot of soap and shampoo used along with hot water to wash. This is also done in a relaxed manner. After the washing is finished you slip into the wooden tub with hot water for the relaxing soak and fantastic view.
Due to the relaxation qualities of Japanese bathing there are several companies that have started manufacturing traditional Japanese bathing items. SeaOtter Woodworks is one of these companies. They do understand the Japanese tradition and make the materials as they should be made. Their website address is: www.woodentubs.com. The price of the items that they make depends on the wood that is used to make them typically it is between two kinds of woods, Alaskan Yellow Cedar (AYC) and Port Orford Cedar (POC). These are the two that are commonly used in Japan as well. POC is much more limited in its availability so it is much more expensive than AYC.
While the ways of bathing may be different they can both be relaxing. The most important part is warm, soothing water to let your troubles float away. A terrific view doesn't hurt either! So, if nothing else, decorating your bathroom accordingly would be appropriate.
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