Just as hot springs are a part of Japanese culture, sauna is a significant cultural element for Finns. Most homes have a private sauna, and they use it daily instead of taking a bath. Currently, there's a booming trend in public saunas. Some are 'classy' and public-oriented, similar to Japanese sento (public baths), while others are like super sento, offering dining and relaxation for half a day. Of course, in the Lakeland region, there are also lakeside saunas at villas where you can 'dip into the human pond'! In this article, I aim to explore sauna culture and introduce the types of saunas available in different regions. Your next travel destination is Finland. Let 'sauna' be your reason for the trip!

Alongside 'Lemonkalkki Resort' in Lahti, introduced in the previous article, another recommendation is 'Petäys Resort' in Hämeenlinna. This establishment is more like a resort hotel than a private villa. Therefore, for a small group, this resort might be more convenient. Unfortunately, it was cloudy on the day of my visit, so I couldn't capture ideal photos, but it boasts multiple saunas facing the lake and is well-equipped. It also featured a traditional smoke sauna.

Its accessibility from Helsinki is just as good as Lahti's. Furthermore, Hämeenlinna offers numerous attractions beyond saunas, such as the castle built by the Swedes in the 11th century and the Iittala factory, which should not be overlooked. Additionally, there are Viking saunas and sauna buses...

First, the Viking sauna. This is an outdoor sauna, later added as an annex to a manor house restaurant known as a 'manor house,' which was once owned by the upper class. It was likely named 'Viking' due to its boat-like shape. However, Finns are not a Viking people. Vikings refer to the ancestors of Norwegians and Swedes, distinct from the Asian ethnic group that Finns belong to... yet the owner enthusiastically sports a cosplay. Perhaps Finns have a strong appetite for humor.

Urpolan Kartano
Address | Perkiöntie 14 31640 Humppila, Finland
TEL | +358 500 121 160
https://www.urpolankartano.fi/in-english/

Taking that appetite for humor even further is the sauna bus. It's a tour bus with the rear half converted into a sauna room. What's astonishing is that this sauna is heated with firewood. Considering safety, one would expect an electric sauna, but the experience of a mobile sauna is so unique that such objections fade away. In fact, it's often used for corporate events or group entertainment. It's akin to the Japanese concept of 'yakata-bune' (houseboats). You enter the sauna in swimwear, and after cooling down, you wear a bathrobe and relax in the seating area.

Härkätien Sauna Express saunabussi
http://www.elamysporras.fi
https://www.facebook.com/Härkätien-Sauna-Express-saunabussi-491643664224559/

Incidentally, other representative examples of 'peculiar saunas' in Finland include the gondola sauna on the Ferris wheel 'Sky Wheel Helsinki' in the capital, Helsinki. It's available for hourly rental, comes with champagne, and allows you to enjoy the Helsinki cityscape for multiple rotations while in the sauna. I wonder what one does if they feel unwell during the ride? There's also a Burger King sauna. A sauna is attached to the restaurant, and staff deliver orders placed from within the sauna. Additionally, a winter-only 'ice sauna' appears. It's a sauna experience within a structure built like an igloo from ice blocks. Surrounded by ice, the temperature doesn't get excessively hot, allowing for enjoyment of mild steam.

In the next article, I'll elaborate, but the Finnish Tourist Board is currently running a 'Sauna Goshuincho' (Sauna Stamp Book) campaign to encourage Japanese tourists to visit multiple saunas.

They really are greedy for humor.


What is Hämeenlinna?
Located about 100 km north of Helsinki, Hämeenlinna is famous for its distinctive red-brick Häme Castle, the Vanajavesi Valley, designated a National Landscape, and the Aulanko Nature Reserve, offering scenery typical of Finland. It's also known to classical music fans as the birthplace of composer Sibelius. About a 15-minute train ride from the city center is the popular Iittala factory, where you can observe artisans crafting glass products.