Japan firms offer bathing options to suit individual preferences

As winter arrives, many Japanese are turning to baths as a means of staying warm and rejuvenating both body and mind. In response to this trend, a new bath shop has opened in Tokyo where customers can tailor their bathing experience to their individual preferences. The shop, called Toji laboratory, allows visitors to experiment with various water qualities, scents, and textures to discover their ideal bathing ritual.

Toji laboratory's products are made with unique ingredients sourced from different regions across Japan. One such product is Yuyaku bath additives, created by Gifu Prefecture-based YoungVenus Co. The additives contain a proprietary yunohana extract, derived from mineral deposits in Beppu, a famous hot spring city in southwestern Japan. Priced between 660 yen ($4.20) and 2,640 yen ($16.80), the additives offer over 100 combinations, attracting a diverse clientele, including foreign visitors.

Natural Island Co., a skincare company based in Hokkaido, offers Aroma Bath Essence series made with locally sourced ingredients like lavender flower extract and birch sap. KOSelig Japan & Co., a fragrance brand operating in Fukuoka, has gained attention with its 9KOS Bath Powder, which incorporates ingredients from Kyushu's Oita and Nagasaki prefectures, such as mandarin orange essential oils and green tea extract.

In addition to these bath options, a bath sommelier certification exam is now available in Japan. Bathlier Co., a bath products company based in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, launched this program in September to help people learn about various bathing practices and create their own unique bathing experiences. The program covers topics such as bathing history, regional characteristics, etiquette, and the differences in water temperature and freshness, drawing parallels with food culture.

Successful participants receive a certification, indicating their ability to appreciate, suggest, and create bathing culture.