Japanese bath: types and subtleties of arrangement

 Japanese bath: types and subtleties of arrangement

Russian and Finnish baths (saunas) are known to all residents of Russia, but the same cannot be said about the Japanese baths. They are extremely exotic, even in appearance, hardly recognized. Such an approach to the bath business has its advantages, and it is necessary to understand them.

What it is?

Japanese bath for those who came there for the first time, it does not even look strange: it is difficult to get rid of the idea that this is not a bath at all. You will see a barrel filled with water. There are pebbles or warm sawdust next to the bath, but it’s impossible to guess how to use these things, what is their meaning. Subject to strict rules in the Japanese-style bath, you can get extraordinary pleasure. Although it is called a bath, there is neither the usual stove nor the benches in it.Understand all this is impossible, if not to take into account that the Japanese bath is represented by three different types.

Types and characteristics

For greater understanding, we consider in detail each type of Japanese bath.

Furaco

When the word “mysterious” furaco is pronounced, it means just a barrel, where hot water is poured. But if they talk about the furaco font, then this is already a whole bath with a wood-burning stove (and this bath necessarily has a round shape).

As a source of raw materials used:

  • oak;
  • larch;
  • cedar;
  • pine tree

The barrel is equipped with an internal bench for washing. Of course, the capacity of the product must be large enough. Furaco is made according to the tradition with a double bottom, so that you can put the oven inside. So that the unused barrel does not cool, it will be equipped with covers.

Ofuro

So called cedar boxes, in one of them they use sawdust, in the other pebbles, this system is necessary for one of the important stages of work. This scheme implies a rectangular shape ofuro, the box is almost always made from cedar or oak massif. The typical method of heating is lower. In modern products are widely used appliances for electric heating. As for the size, they should be such that it can be to the ofuro in full growth.Inside put at least 40 kg of sawdust. Heating depending on the size of the bath is provided by an electrical installation with a capacity of 1500 - 6000 watts.

Sento

In contrast to the two previous words, this is no longer a separate device, but the name of a public-type Japanese bath. It provides a pool with water, the temperature of which reaches 50 - 55 degrees. Before bathing usually take a contrast shower. After it, visitors go to comfortable lounges and participate in a tea ceremony. Modern Japanese baths can offer additional services, which include massage, cosmetic masks, medical wraps. Each client will be able to choose the program strictly according to his preferences.

With all the difference in the names in the arrangement, the key principles remain strictly unchanged. In contrast to the sauna, recovery and purification is achieved without the action of significant temperature or high humidity. Use warm water, sawdust and pebbles. The boxes in which visitors to a Japanese bath are immersed have thick metal walls, they must be equipped with electrical heating means.Relative to the Japanese bath with the Finnish, Russian, Turkish, only the use of wood heating. Everything else is different. The difference is due to different philosophies, traditional cultural norms. Buddhism has a negative attitude towards the killing of animals, which in the Middle Ages only allowed making soap (there was no other technology). Because the Japanese have gone the way of using the most hot water that can be used without soap, then the need for cosmetic and hygienic means will disappear.

Furaco and Ofuro became very popular for other reasons (due to the abundance of thermal springs typical of Japan). This circumstance made it possible to build many baths that consume natural hot water, and almost did not spend fuel.

It should be noted that even in such a small island country there is an internal cultural differentiation., in some regions, the names "furaco" and "ofuro" refer to the bath and the barrel, respectively. But the approach does not change: it is possible to use the capacity with sawdust only after swimming. To improve the result, natural components of plant or mineral origin are added to the water.Even experienced bathers with good health should not be in furaco and ofuro for more than 15 minutes, for beginners or people with a weakened body this time is three times less.

    Sitting in a barrel, you should avoid immersing your heart in water. If there is even the slightest discomfort, you need to immediately leave the container, not counting on adaptation in a few minutes. It will be good if a visitor to a Japanese bath takes a shower before a dive.

    The benefits will be as follows:

    • improvement of blood circulation and kidneys;
    • increased protection against physical and mental stress;
    • help in losing weight;
    • normalization of the skin.

    All this will be achieved only under one condition - the correct use of bath procedures and the elimination of typical errors. Usually, in Japanese public baths, they allocate a special employee who explains what to do and how. In addition to the shower before washing, it is advisable to steam out the legs, get a massage. The first barrel into which they are dipped is filled with water with a temperature of 45 degrees maximum. Then they go to the second tank, where the liquid is already heated to 45-50 degrees.

    In order to save space, water in commercial establishments and private homes usually use only one barrel, varying the heating of water in it with the help of specialized equipment.

    After bathing, wipe dry and go to dive into the bath. with cedar or aspen sawdust. This part of the bath procedure allows you to relax and sweat, in addition to receiving a solid portion of biologically active substances contained in wood. Additionally, use herbs and essential oils. The dry part of the bath is very hot, it warms up to 60 degrees. It is categorically unacceptable to go to a Japanese bath for children under three years old, as well as pregnant women. The ban applies to anyone who has disorders of the heart and blood vessels. It is unacceptable for patients with tuberculosis, any other acute infections.

    Location selection

    The equipment of the Japanese bath in open areas has its own intricacies. You need to choose a site 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 a dry mode for a long time. It is unacceptable to build a bath where it will create crampedness. It is impossible that she herself was close. It is important to make the room of a Japanese bath not too extensive: this would entail the need to heat an unnecessary area.

    Removing the building from other buildings and objects is also necessary because it increases the protection against fire. When there is not much space on the plot, it is worth combining a furaco with a residential house, and not to put it on the street or in a separate building. Additionally, the choice of a two-level solution helps to reduce the occupied territory. On the first tier is the bath itself, and the upper tier is taken away to the rest room. If desired, you can distribute the different parts of the Japanese bath in height, you can relax in the house.

    Features of construction

    In Japanese baths, most often use a wood-burning stove based on high-grade stainless steel. In case of independent work, special attention should be paid to the perfection of the barrel design and its dimensions. For three people who wash at the same time, they make furaco with a diameter of 150–160 cm, a height of 100–120 cm. The barrels produced at the factories have dimensions of 130–200 and 100–120 cm, respectively, the wall thickness ranges from 4.2 to 4.8 cm If you are going to build a Japanese bath with your own hands, you need to consider: this design will be quite heavy.

    On the ground will put pressure:

    • large barrel of water;
    • bake;
    • a box with a significant portion of sawdust;
    • visitors and the furniture they use.

    The foundation is usually made on a tape or column schemes, diligently achieve the horizontal placement of the building, the deviations should be minimal. Therefore, in the area where there are even relatively small irregularities, it is required to use piles. The holes are drilled around the perimeter, the gap between them is exactly 150 cm. The frameworks of the piles must be reinforced; after being placed in the pit, they are always poured with concrete. After drying the frame on it lay out columns of bricks, which must be protected from contact with moisture.

    Where the furnace will rise and furaco, a special foundation has been set up (necessarily monolithic). With a reserve of 10 cm in diameter, a special trench is dug with a carefully padded cushion of sand 10–15 cm thick. The next gravel layer is also supposed to be tamped with the help of improvised means. That the basis was rigid, apply the reinforcing framework filled in with concrete. Above the pillars of the main part of the foundation, this section should rise by 50-100 mm, it is impossible to do without waterproofing the pillars.

    When it comes to walls, you can apply:

    • round wood;
    • rounded logs;
    • timber;
    • prefabricated frames.

    The best and sturdy structures are those that are made of cedar or oak solid, but such products are not affordable for most people. The best replacement for them is the use of pine and larch wood. Otherwise, there are no differences in the construction of the walls of the Japanese and Russian baths. As for the roof, regardless of the presence of one or two ramps angle should be made minimal. For the construction of rafters, you can choose the wood that is most accessible, if only it was durable and served for a long time. The choice of roofing material is also unlimited.

    The inner space is much more specific. There is no need to equip a steam room. To maintain the water temperature at an optimal level, the room must be insulated very carefully. Traditionally, Russian builders choose linden or pine clapboard for this purpose.

    It is categorically unacceptable to use any synthetic materials when finishing., even if they are exceptionally well reproduce the appearance of a natural coating. In the Japanese bath, like any other, the room for washing can not be equipped with sockets.The electrical part (except for the moisture-proof lighting) is placed in the waiting room. Stainless steel stoves are best suited, high-quality cast-iron tub will help keep the heat for a long time.

    Recommendations

    Since Furaco is a rather complicated construction, and it is difficult for non-professionals to prepare it, it is better to order an individual project or buy a ready-made sample. For manufacturing it is worth using planks from trees which grew not less than 200 years. After completion of the surface of the barrel must be coated with wax (this will increase its service life). For the connection can not take metal structures. Be sure to make a couple of stairs of wood so that you can enter the furaco and leave it autonomously, without interfering with each other.

    If the barrel is placed on the stove from above, it is recommended to place a reliable thermometer inside: then it will be easier to control the temperature of the water. When choosing a design with an internal furnace, a vertical partition is used, due to which users will not be exposed to the risk of burns. The stove must be completely immersed in water: you need to take only constructions that can be sealed.Furaco, heated by external furnaces through the heating water supply system, is the most modern and safest solution.

    In the latter case, it will be necessary to provide an additional pipe for draining the cooled liquid (the valve at the bottom helps to dry the tank). Wood heating is preferable for street baths, inside the building where the electrical system is more often used. Compliance with the true Japanese tradition implies a large size of the rest room.

    Buddhist leisure and tranquility require the use of large tables, chairs and comfortable sofas, highlighting the place where you can make tea. Sanitary knot in the Japanese bath is strictly required. For the upper waterproofing of the foundation pillars, it is recommended to use liquid bitumen, overlapped with two layers of roofing material. When finishing the interior can not take the pine and spruce: these breeds are easily heated (the risk of burns is great). Any wood should be treated with antiseptic compounds. A ventilation system is always made, due to which the room will dry faster.

    Japanese-style sawdust bath is filled with sawdust heated to 50 degrees.Cedar sawdust with an admixture of rice bran and shredded medicinal plants is traditionally considered to be the most valuable by its healing properties. One should not think that using a Japanese bath in a city apartment is an unattainable dream.

    Its imitation is achieved through special techniques:

    • water is poured into the bath, heated to exactly 37 degrees;
    • in 12–15 minutes of bathing, you need to smoothly raise the temperature to 41–43 degrees;
    • heated visitors come out, put on terry robes;
    • sweating takes about 1⁄2 hours;
    • suitable drink - tea with the addition of raspberry or honey;
    • The procedure is completed by air drying and two hours in bed under the blankets.

    Having tried this mode of washing, it will be easier to understand - is it really necessary to have a Japanese bath or is it unjustified exotics. And if the decision turns out to be positive, all the subtleties and nuances are already well known. It's time to get down to business in a few months to touch one of the sides of the life of a distant Asian country.

    Review the Japanese bath in the next video.

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    Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

    Entrance hall

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