In the land of the rising sun there is a completely different approach to personal hygiene, unusual for a Western person. A striking example of this is the Japanese ofuro bath, which is unlike any other representative of the bath traditions in the world. Unlike the familiar Russian, Finnish or Turkish bath, heating in it occurs not with steam or hot air, but with water heated to 45 ° C. Such a hot bath may seem unbearable to many, but for the Japanese the norm is at least one, and traditionally two sessions a day. Maybe that's why the people of Japan look quite young even at an advanced age? One way or another, ofuro is a great idea for arranging a full-fledged bathhouse in your own home. And most importantly: it’s easy to create it with your own hands, and with minimal effort and materials.
- 2 Construction characteristics and main elements
- 3 Additional requirements
3.1 Options for a free-standing Japanese bath ofuro in the photo
- 4.1 Interior design of the ofuro bathhouse in the photo
Japanese approach to bathing
Bath font in Japanese
According to historians, the ofuro bath tradition owes its origin to the harsh Japanese climate. The Land of the Rising Sun is an island washed by cold seas and the Pacific Ocean. The weather here is always humid, the winter is chilly, and the rainy periods are quite prolonged with all the ensuing consequences. During the cold season, the air temperature in Japan drops to -40°C, which, together with the piercing sea wind, causes many diseases.
In such conditions, warming up the body after being outside becomes vital. And since firewood and coal, by Japanese standards, are quite expensive and very scarce materials, representatives of this eastern culture had no choice but to invent ofuro.
A Japanese bath is a wooden barrel of water placed on a stove that heats the liquid to the required temperature. The material chosen for the container is not at all simple - traditionally it was created from pine, cedar and larch, less often - oak and other valuable species that can retain heat. Inside the barrel there are seats on which you can sit relaxed or lie in a reclining position.
Font with internal benches
As a rule, a bath is taken for 5 minutes, which is quite difficult to endure if you are not used to it. However, more hardy lovers of bath procedures can easily afford to soak in the water for about 10-15 minutes. It is recommended to dive gradually to a level below the heart, and in the process of getting used to the water, incomparable physical relaxation occurs.
Since the temperature of the water in the barrel must be within the 45°C range of the stove on which it is installed, there is a risk of thermal shock. To avoid this, the person taking the bath must put a felt cap on his head, previously soaked in cold water.
Felt bath cap
Brief history
All known bath traditions and buildings in one form or another influenced the development of each other. The Japanese bath followed its own branch of development without interfering with other cultures at all. Japanese bathing procedures were divided into public ones in Sento and home ones in Ofuro. The Ofuro home bath is an interesting design with its own subtleties and rules of use.
A traditional Japanese bath is made only from natural materials.
The main difference between the Japanese Ofuro is that heating occurs not from exposure to steam or heated air, but from water. The water is heated to a precise temperature of 45 °
C. For an unaccustomed person, this may seem like boiling water, but the Japanese know the benefits of carrying out the procedure every day.
Japanese emperors loved the procedure and recovered their health in Ofuro twice a day, at least once before dinner.
The peculiarity and tradition of making Ofuro was born under the influence of the harsh climate of Japan. Rainy summers and long, damp winters, when temperatures can be below -35 °
C, spring and autumn cold and sharp winds from the sea cause weakening of the body. Therefore, it is important to constantly warm up, especially after a long stay in the air. And the high population does not allow large areas of land to be allocated for construction. All this led to the birth of Ofuro - a small and hot bathhouse with a special design.
Construction characteristics and main elements
It should be noted that ofuro is only one of the elements of the Japanese bath complex. In fact, this is not a bathtub at all, but a rectangular container filled with cedar, oak or linden sawdust, preheated to 60°C. The bath itself is called furako in Japanese. It is intended so that a person can relieve fatigue before immersing his body in the beneficial warmth of sawdust.
Ofuro: container with heated sawdust
As for the ofuro procedure, it is more of a massage nature, helping to improve metabolism and lose excess weight. Various phyto-ingredients are often added to sawdust, which not only provide the presence of a pleasant aroma throughout the session, but also enhance the healing effect of the procedure.
So, we have two main elements of the Japanese bath - ofuro and furako. The bottom of the first must be equipped with a special heating system that will maintain the required sawdust temperature. The font is placed on the stove, which must be made of stainless steel. Therefore, it is recommended to make its bottom from heat-resistant wood, for which Finnish technology is ideally suited.
Furaco font with internal water heating system
It is very difficult to make wooden containers for a Japanese bath yourself. It is better to purchase them ready-made, and before starting to design the bathhouse - this will allow you to better plan the interior environment. If you decide to make furaco and ofuro with your own hands, you should pay attention to their main parameters:
- As a rule, the volume of furaco is calculated for 3-4 people. Its height is about 110-120 cm, and its diameter (if the font is round) is at least 1600 mm. This container will hold 1300 liters of water.
Furaco hot tub for several people - Ofuro is a rectangular wooden box 80-110 cm high, about 2 m long and at least 90 cm wide.
- Both furaco and ofuro are made without the use of metal elements.
Peculiarities
The Japanese bathhouse is strikingly different not only from the usual Russian bathhouse, but also from the Finnish sauna and Turkish hammam. A visit to a Japanese bath is a leisurely ceremony in which a person goes through several stages in a certain sequence on the way to achieving harmony of body and spirit. Each stage has its own significance, so following the sequence is extremely important to obtain the maximum healing effect. The stages consist of two main types of treatments, interspersed with relaxation on the couch and massage.
Additional requirements
The most suitable option for arranging a Japanese bath is a separate building. It is very advisable to place it at some distance from other buildings on your site. If it is not possible to build a separate bath complex, the dimensions of the ofuro and furaco are selected in accordance with the size of the room chosen for this.
Options for a free-standing Japanese bath ofuro in the photo
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In a bathhouse, even if it is Japanese, it wouldn’t hurt to provide a shower. At the same time, as in the case of any other bath complex, you will need to plan and organize a lighting, water supply, sewerage and heating system.
If you want to build a Japanese bathhouse in which you are going to receive guests, you should organize an additional room for a changing room. You also need a dressing room or just a separate room where you can drink tea, talk with guests and just relax before or after bath procedures.
A ventilation system is a mandatory attribute of any bath complex. It must provide effective ventilation to avoid the accumulation of excess dampness in the premises.
Air circulation and arrangement of a ventilation system in a timber bathhouse
In many ways, the characteristics of a Japanese bathhouse resemble a Russian one. This means that during construction you can safely follow the same rules and construction techniques as for the latter.
Finally, it is not advisable to make a Japanese ofuro bath too cramped. Considering the volume of the furaco bath and the container for warming the body with sawdust, sufficient free space should be provided. Especially when it comes to a bathhouse complex designed to accommodate several people.
Placing the elements of the ofuro bath
When building a separate bathhouse or decorating a room allocated for it, it is necessary to strictly follow safety rules. This means that all heating elements must be insulated from the wood and securely fenced to avoid burns to visitors.
Japanese hot tub with external stove
What's the benefit?
The Japanese bathhouse ofuro is gradually entering European life. How can this be explained, fashion or the desire to try something new?
Like all thermal procedures of this kind, this one has a beneficial effect on the human body:
- accelerates blood circulation;
- Helps cleanse the body of toxins by increasing sweating;
- It is used to treat asthma, rheumatism and all kinds of diseases.
The healing properties of this bath differ little from a traditional sauna or steam room.
However, for the Japanese, furako ofuro - a bathhouse with special baths - is one of the ways to cleanse not only the body, but also the soul; it is not just a procedure, but a ritual.
The ofuro bathhouse is more of a bathtub in technology. A wooden container is installed in a wooden building - it does not necessarily have a round shape, like a barrel, but can be made in the shape of a parallelepiped.
Inside the container there is a bench on which people sit, comfortably taking a Japanese ofuro bath. The stove is lowered inside the font, carefully insulating it - to protect people from burns - or it is placed outside, and the water flows through the pipes.
Various healing additives are added to the water: essential oils, salts, tinctures of medicinal herbs. The procedure lasts no more than 15 minutes, since the water is quite hot - it is heated to 45ºC.
The head is not immersed in the font.
But according to Japanese traditions, furako ofuro consists of several procedures. After ablution, massage and warm up the body in another container filled with hot cedar sawdust or pebbles. In Japan itself, thermal ashes are still used to complete the procedure.
This is not surprising - first people bathed in thermal springs, and only then moved the fonts to their homes.
A little history
The ofuro bath in Japan began to spread among all segments of the population along with the introduction of Buddhism.
Buddhism rejects murder, and soap was made at that time from natural raw materials - lard. It is possible to thoroughly wash the body without using detergent only with very hot water.
In Japan, the climate is quite damp, and central heating appeared only in the twentieth century - by the way, it never came into use in the Land of the Rising Sun. The walls of the houses were thin, and there was not enough stove to heat the room. It is not for nothing that children began to be hardened from birth, trying to protect them from colds in the future.
Due to tradition, it is not customary to dress warmly - clothing made of wool and fur appeared in Japan relatively recently. Therefore, the healing and warming procedure helped restore immunity during the damp winter and off-season.
If you want to take this procedure at home, and not just when visiting the Land of the Rising Sun, then you can build it yourself.
If a separate area is allocated for the structure, then it is necessary to install a reliable foundation. It must be insulated. It is necessary to take into account that the structure will be quite heavy - it will have to install a stove for heating water, a volumetric tank - sometimes two, if the plans include traditional baths with water and sawdust - a room for massage. In this case, it is customary to install the foundation of a columnar structure.
The walls of the building are made only of wood. The ideal solution is cedar or pine. Economy option: oak or larch.
In the European version of the bathhouse, the stove is not placed in an ofuro barrel - it is mounted under the container. It is not necessary to buy a large wooden barrel or order it specially. The decision to replace the round container with a rectangular one will help reduce the cost of the project. In this case, it will be easier to install the seats along the walls.
It should be taken into account that this is not just a water procedure - inhalations are also carried out at the same time. Therefore, all cracks in the walls must be insulated.
The ofuro oven is made of stainless steel. It has a relatively complex stepped design. The approach to the furnace must be completely closed, preventing water from entering the hot surface.
A stove is not needed to heat sawdust. It is more expedient to heat the sawdust using a structure built into the box, reminiscent of a “warm” floor. It is installed quite simply.
It is very important to pay attention to the quality of sawdust. They should be small enough and not sharp. Currently, cedar sawdust for furo barrels is already on sale.
The most difficult thing to make is the ofuro bath itself. Its bottom is made of heat-resistant wood, since it is in contact with the heating device. Interestingly, the technology for making a Japanese bath was developed by the Finns.
The room is usually designed after the desired volume of the container has been determined, and the barrel has even been purchased. If you make it yourself, then it is advisable to calculate the volume for 3-4 people, the height of the sides should be at least 120 cm, and the diameter 1500-1700 cm. The volume of such a container is 1300-1400 liters.
If a stove, which is heated with wood, is brought from below under baths of a smaller diameter, then an electric stove is often installed to heat such an ofuro. It is placed at some distance from the barrel, and a “piping structure” is developed.
Water exchange is carried out as in a small pool. Cooled water leaves through one pipe, hot water enters through the other. Special ovens are necessarily equipped with temperature sensors. If there is no such sensor, and water is poured manually, then it is necessary to install a water thermometer directly into the container.
It is necessary to install regular shower cabins. Before sitting in a barrel with water and medicinal components dissolved in it, you need to wash yourself. It is especially important to follow these rules if several people are taking a bath at the same time.
Be sure to install a reliable lighting and sewage system.
The dressing room in the bathhouse should be warm, and not located in the vestibule. After the procedure, the body is not only warmed up, but also relaxed; exposure to cold temperatures can reduce all the benefits of visiting a therapeutic bath to zero.
Since in European traditions it is customary to drink strong drinks when visiting “religious” buildings, it is necessary to provide a separate room where guests can drink, relax and talk.
You should not drink directly in the bath. If the alcohol takes effect quickly, you can fall into the water and choke. To eliminate rotting of logs, a reliable ventilation system is installed.
However, the basic requirements for a Japanese bath are the same as for the construction of a Russian or Finnish one. Sometimes a barrel for ofuro is placed in the sauna room - for color. Some consider this supplement to be an excellent health treatment.
The classic ofuro ceremony is performed in several stages:
- First, ablution, when the body is cleansed of household pollution - a regular shower with detergents and a washcloth.
- Next, immersion in the first container in water heated to 35ºС - the person is immersed to the level of the heart
- After 10 minutes, you finally dive into the ofuro itself - you need to put a cap soaked in cold water on your head so as not to get heatstroke. The water should not reach the level of the heart, its temperature should not be lower than 45 ºС. Sea salt is usually added to the water for complete relaxation, and essential oils. It is recommended to stay in hot water for no longer than 5-10 minutes.
- The steamed skin is thoroughly rubbed dry and placed in a container with linden or cedar sawdust heated to 60ºC, which is mixed in advance with medicinal herbs. You can simply cover a steamed person who is lying on a sunbed with sawdust. The procedure lasts up to 20 minutes.
- Another 20 minutes are spent in the ofuro with heated sea pebbles - this prepares the body for the massage. The massage itself is performed using bamboo branches.
- Then a healing immersion into oneself. You need to wrap yourself in light clothes and lie down or sit in the relaxation room, drinking green tea and thinking about existence.
This is how healing is performed in a real Japanese fufako ofuro. Of course, it is impossible to create all the conditions for a complete imitation of the life of samurai, but a mini-version ofuro also has a beneficial effect on the body, rejuvenates, calms the nerves, restores the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and is a prevention of viral and colds.
Be beautiful and healthy!
We suggest you read: How to make ventilation in a steam room with your own hands
Construction and finishing
Any construction begins with laying the foundation. For a separate ofuro bath, it must be calculated in accordance with the soil characteristics of the site and the climatic conditions of the region.
To build a Japanese bathhouse on a site with maximum cost savings, it is best to choose a pile or columnar foundation. The support piles are installed below the soil freezing line using concreting, backfilling or a combined method. The grillage can be made of wood, metal or concrete. However, the last two options can withstand a much heavier structure.
Pile foundation for a one-story log bathhouse
The walls and roof of the bath complex are made of various types of wood, but it must be selected, that is, without the slightest defect. Cedar and oak are best suited for this, but larch, pine and other resin-producing species are not recommended. In most cases, aspen, poplar or linden are used to decorate the walls of an ofuro bathhouse, although other hardwoods can also be used.
Interior design of the ofuro bathhouse in the photo
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The roof of the bathhouse can have an attic space, and its shape can be single- or gable. First, the ceiling is always erected and only after that the construction of the roof begins. Work can be performed both on the ground and directly on the frame of the building.
Furaco, that is, a font designed for 1200 - 1500 liters of water, will weigh 200-250 kg. The same applies to ofuro - a container for heating with sawdust. Together with the latter, she will weigh about three times more than an ordinary person. This, as well as all other loads, should be carefully taken into account when constructing the floor. In the process, water supply and sewerage systems, as well as heating, are installed under the main elements of the complex. All engineering communications, including electrical, are laid in accordance with current standards. And most importantly: doors and windows in a Japanese bath should also be made of wood.
Laying the floor in the bathhouse
Materials
In the construction of Japanese baths, just like Russian ones, natural materials are used, the main part of which is wood. For ofuro and furaco, preference is given to cedar or oak. This type of wood is the most durable and also has healing qualities. Coniferous wood (larch or pine) is used in more economical options, but it should be borne in mind that at high temperatures, coniferous wood will release resin. Wooden coverings in the bathhouse are treated with an antiseptic, this increases their service life.
The bathhouse excludes any artificial materials, for example, the use of plastic for wall decoration. When heated, plastic coverings will warp and also release toxins.
Natural stones are used to decorate the room. They can be used to lay the floor in a recreation room or decorate a Japanese bonsai garden.
The exception is sento, where the floor and pool are most often tiled, and the walls may be decorated with mirrors.
Japanese bath procedures and their therapeutic effect
Unlike any other baths, the Furaco font does not relax, but rather tones the body. However, this is only in the first seconds, while getting used to 45-degree water occurs. In the next minutes, the body relaxes and you seem to dissolve in the bath, experiencing sweet languor and a feeling of real weightlessness. All this happens to the body because furaco:
- stimulates the functioning of the heart and kidneys;
- relieves rheumatic pain;
- restores immunity, promotes the removal of fats from the body;
- opens skin pores;
- smoothes the skin and rejuvenates the skin.
During a furaco session with sweating, a person can lose about a liter of fluid, which leaves the body along with salts, toxins and other harmful substances.
Ofuro bath with cosmetic effect
After taking a bath, the ofuro procedure follows. You lie down in the container and the bath attendant covers your body with a layer of warm sawdust. The temperature effect obtained here perpetuates the effect of the bath, with the only difference being that you feel the heat dry.
Ofuro procedure
This allows the body to get rid of toxins and disperse blood through the capillaries while simultaneously completely relaxing the muscular system. After finishing with ofuro, you will feel as if you were born again thanks to improved blood circulation filled with oxygen.
Before the bath and after the ofuro procedure, you should take a rinsing shower, after which it is a good idea to sit in the dressing room to allow the body to adapt to the normal ambient temperature and the lungs to adapt to the room air.
Decoration of the relaxation room in the dressing room of the Japanese Ofuro bath
As you can see, the construction of a Japanese ofuro bathhouse is in many ways similar to the method of constructing a Russian or Finnish bathhouse, with the exception of bathing containers and heated sawdust. Having such a complex at your disposal, you can not only improve your health and well-being, but also give such a chance to your household, friends and guests.
Bathroom in modern Japanese style: how to choose the color
The bathroom interior should be based on neutral pastel colors:
- beige, sand;
- milky, cream, ivory;
- olive;
- grey.
It is the calming calm of these tones that creates a special atmosphere of relaxation in the bathroom
It is the calming calm of these tones that creates a special atmosphere of relaxation in the bathroom. The following are used to enhance the color scheme:
- black;
- dark brown.
It is always appropriate to use combinations such as:
- white + gray or beige;
- brown + white or black;
- beige + grey.
Of course, modern design trends have not bypassed the Japanese style, so sometimes you can find bathrooms interspersed with purple, red, and plum tones
Of course, modern design trends have not bypassed the Japanese style, so sometimes you can find bathrooms interspersed with purple, red, and plum tones. But warm pastel shades are traditionally used, gloss and shine are absent, and this creates the impression of a room where priority is given not to brightness and a large number of colors, but to their naturalness.
Adviсe
In order to create the atmosphere of a Japanese bath, you should adhere to some rules and customs, without which the furako will be just a barrel of hot water. Taking a hot bath is designed to relax the body, relieve muscle tension and stress, and help the body get rid of toxins. Other cleaning procedures, the use of soap and shampoos are excluded from the bath. Aromatic oils, dry herbs and natural salts are added to the water.
Before diving, you should definitely take a shower, and then relax on the couch, allow your body to get used to the temperature difference, and calm your heartbeat. Taking water treatments and a bath with hot sawdust takes no more than 10-15 minutes for a trained person. You should get into the rhythm gradually, starting from a session of 5 minutes. It is not prohibited to arrange dives every day.
Construction project
The construction of the bath complex goes through several standard stages:
- laying the foundation;
- walling;
- roof decking;
- room decoration.
The main section of the Japanese bath is the room for ofuro and furako. If the area of the future building is limited, then the room for the bathtub is calculated taking into account only the volume of the bathtubs and the ease of access to them. You definitely need to allocate space for the dressing room, where you can take off your clothes and leave your shoes.
Construction should begin with laying the foundation. By the way, it is necessary even if the Furaco barrel is installed outdoors. Wooden containers with water that can accommodate several people weigh a lot, and therefore you need to make a stable base for them. The foundation for a bathhouse can be strip or pile. If you choose a strip foundation for the entire structure, a separate monolithic foundation should be poured in place of the water barrel. To do this, a hole is dug at a selected location, a “cushion” of sand and gravel is laid, reinforced with a metal frame and filled with concrete.
For the construction of the walls and roof truss system, high-quality wood that has been treated with antiseptics is used. It is worth noting that traditional Japanese baths are built from cedar and oak, which are 300-500 years old. However, in our conditions, such a luxury may not be affordable for everyone. Precious oak wood can easily be replaced by timber or galvanized pine or larch logs. The main thing is that the material is free of rot and wormholes.
The roof of a free-standing bathhouse can be single-pitch or gable. If you plan to attach a veranda to the bathhouse, then at the initial stage it makes more sense to immediately plan a common roof. This will significantly reduce the cost of roofing material and labor costs. The roofing material can be anything, but for a bathhouse it is most profitable to choose the economical option of metal tiles or galvanized corrugated sheets. In addition to their inexpensive price and fire safety, these materials are offered in a wide range of colors, which can make the bathhouse truly an adornment of landscape design.
For the interior decoration of bathhouses, only natural materials, mainly of wood origin, are used. The lining retains heat well and looks beautiful:
- from linden - durable material with a pinkish structure and a pleasant aroma;
- alder - the wood is resistant to heat, avoids burns, has a reddish tint;
- larch is a relatively inexpensive option with high performance properties.
Experts do not recommend choosing lining made from birch and aspen for a bathhouse, since this wood is not resistant to humidity and will quickly fail. Coniferous species are practically not used in the interior decoration of bathhouses due to the increased release of resins when heated. The most expensive, but also respectable finishes are cedar and oak.
Accessories
When purchasing or making your own bathtubs for a Japanese bath, you should keep in mind that wooden containers alone will not be enough.
The main element included in any bathhouse is the stove. Sauna stoves are made of high quality stainless steel. If the model is intended to be immersed in a furaco barrel, it must certainly be sealed. Furnaces for furaco and ofuro can be either traditional - wood-burning, or, in a modern style, gas or electric.
The Furaco barrel package includes:
- thermometer to regulate water temperature to avoid burns and heat stroke;
- steps for climbing into the barrel;
- seating around the perimeter inside the tank;
- a grate enclosing the internal stove;
- water drainage device;
- a lid that retains heat during idle time and protects against debris if the barrel is located outdoors.
In modern models offered by manufacturers, additional items are often included in the package: electric pumps, hoses, devices for water filtration, decorative hanging tables for drinks.
Hammam bath lighting
There are no trifles in a Turkish bath; everything must correspond to the oriental style and create a certain “oriental” mood. You should approach the lighting of the bathhouse from the same perspective - select lamps only of the appropriate design. What kind of lighting can it be?
- Wall-mounted. The lamp is fixed above each lounger and chicken room; you should not achieve too strong a luminous flux; it is recommended to use sconces with a Turkish design.
- Ceiling. It illuminates the entire room evenly; creating separate zones is not recommended.
- Projector. Original lighting, used when creating a “starry sky” or other light compositions. The projector illuminates stars on the ceiling or walls of the bathhouse, the walls of the bathhouse “disappear”, and visitors plunge into a unique atmosphere.
LED hammam lamp IP68
It is better to discuss the choice of lamps and their installation location with specialists; they will give specific advice taking into account the specific placement of various accessories.
Important advice to all developers - do not install 220 V electrical networks in the bathhouse, use LED lighting fixtures
In addition to saving energy and various original design solutions, they also have a very important advantage: they require 12-24 V for power supply, and this is a completely safe voltage. And one more important condition. All lamps in the hammam bath must have the highest degree of housing protection, this minimizes the likelihood of accidents
The relative humidity in the bathhouse can reach one hundred percent, and such air is already able to conduct high-voltage electric current
All lamps in the hammam bath must have the highest degree of housing protection; this minimizes the likelihood of accidents. The relative humidity in the bath can reach one hundred percent, and such air is already able to conduct high-voltage electric current.
Hammam in the country
Hammam (marble finish)
Your own personal hammam
Selecting a location
The equipment of a Japanese bath in open areas has its own subtleties. You need to choose an area where the sun does not heat too much. Otherwise, the wood will heat up and dry out. It is recommended not to leave furaco in dry mode for a long time. It is unacceptable to build a bathhouse where it will create crowding.
Separating the building from other buildings and objects is also necessary because it increases fire protection. When there is not much space on the site, it is worth combining furaco with a residential building, and not placing it on the street or in a separate building. The choice of a two-level solution helps to further reduce the occupied area.
