LOUNGE /
TRAVEL
November 20, 2025
Every action is mindfulness. Journey to Finland, a land of profound balance.
FINLAND
The sunlight in Finland is entirely different from that in Japan. Everything visible to the eye seems to glow with a pale blue light. The air is so clear that even in the urban city of Helsinki, there's a remarkable sense of crispness. With every deep breath, you feel a sense of clarity spreading from within your body. It's strange how your lungs fill, and you even feel a sensation as if every single cell is being cleansed.
Text by TSUCHIDA Takashi
The Secret to 8 Consecutive Years as the World's Happiest Country
Finland is the country that has ranked first in the World Happiness Report for eight consecutive years.
Japan is also a country rich in nature. However, it feels distant from our daily lives. Living in Tokyo, reaching a forest or a lake requires multiple train transfers and several hours of driving. While there are certainly large parks, the constant presence of people is unavoidable due to the high population density. In contrast, even in Finland's capital, Helsinki, forests are found everywhere. "Nature close at hand" is felt more acutely not only due to geographical proximity but also because of a sense of unhurriedness in life. This "unhurriedness" is the wellspring of "totonoi" (a state of balance and well-being).
What you experience in Finland isn't "something special," but rather returning to your "true self" through the "totonoi" found in everyday surroundings. Taking a sauna, gazing at a lake, entering a forest to gather mushrooms or berries. There, the light that meets your eyes is different, the air you breathe into your lungs is different, and above all, the flow of time is different.
Therefore, every action becomes mindfulness.
Finnish Sauna Experience at Furuvik Seaside Sauna
Located on a quiet sandy beach about a 30-minute drive from Helsinki, Furuvik's beach sauna offers a place to relax with pleasant steam while gazing at the beautiful sea. Here, certified sauna therapist Anna Velten welcomes guests (reservations required).
"Today, you will experience a traditional Finnish sauna," says Anna. "We will go through three rounds. First, we will awaken the body, then focus on the mind, and aim to reach the soul level in the final session."
In Finland, for thousands of years, the sauna has been a place of healing, supporting the body, mind, and soul. Indeed, a sauna bath is more than just relaxation. An authentic Finnish sauna experience is about feeling the power of the Finnish sauna to heal the body, mind, and soul.
Memories of the Forest Awakened by Birch Branches
With Anna's löyly, the steamy air envelops the sauna room.
The first round is about activating the body. It lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. "In Finnish sauna culture, listening to your body is the first rule," says Anna.
In the second round, you experience a sauna ritual using authentic birch branches called "vihta" (whisk). Hold the vihta in front of your face, breathe slowly through the leaves, and exhale. Then, place it against your chest. "Feel the hug from the forest," says Anna.
When you sweat in the sauna, blood circulation is activated, metabolism is boosted, and skin pores open. At this time, the essential oils from the birch leaves have a beneficial aromatherapy effect on the body, and the massage effect opens the pores, allowing the essential oils to be absorbed into the body. Birch is known to improve metabolism and blood circulation. It also contains saponins, which have a cleansing effect on the skin.
Invoking the Sauna Spirit: "Löyly"
The third round is a more spiritual experience. Anna performs a small sauna ritual to invoke the sauna spirit, "löyly."
Water, infused with birch, is poured onto the hot stones of the sauna stove. With a "hissing" sound, intense steam rises, and the room reaches a new level. Humidity and temperature soar, and your vision quickly blurs.
Anna begins to sing a traditional song that has been passed down for 200 to 300 years. "This is the story of löyly. We believe that every element has its own spirit. We want the sauna spirit to be lively and not to harm us or burn us."
This is a form of prayer. For Finns, the sauna is also a place like a church. It's a space to face one's inner self and practice various forms of healing. After sweating all over, you plunge directly into the sea. Even in summer, the water temperature is surprisingly cold, sometimes not even reaching 15 degrees Celsius. But after getting out of the water, feeling your body chilled, you feel incredibly refreshed.
Swimming leisurely at the same eye level as the ducks swimming by the water's edge makes you feel like a part of nature, which is wonderfully pleasant. Even if you don't go into the sea, it's nice to cool off by looking at the trees and the sky. Enjoying the hot sauna, the outdoor bathing, and the cool-down allows you to strongly feel your presence in the here and now.
Furuvik Seaside Sauna (Japanese website)
TERHEN
Allas Pool: Authentic Sauna and Outdoor Bathing in Helsinki
Allas Pool is located next to the Market Square in the heart of Helsinki. This garden-like oasis features spacious pool areas and five excellent saunas. It's a facility where men and women can enjoy together while wearing swimwear.
There is a cold pool filled with Baltic Sea water, but also heated pools with regulated temperatures, making it safe even in winter. You can experience the extraordinary sensation of swimming in a heated pool amidst falling snow. The convenience of experiencing authentic sauna culture in the city is Allas Pool's charm.
Helsinki has several such day-use sauna facilities. Kotiharjun Sauna, with its history; Löyly Helsinki, with its modern design; Sompasauna, nestled by a lake – each has its own unique character. If your trip is centered around saunas, visiting each one and experiencing their distinct sauna cultures would be fascinating. From urban saunas to lakeside saunas and traditional smoke saunas, you can enjoy a variety of sauna experiences based in Helsinki. Experience the rhythm of "heat and cold" in the middle of the city. For Finns, the sauna is a part of daily life, and for travelers, it's an accessible place for "totonoi."
Allas Pool
Foraging in Finland: "Moving Meditation" Taught by the Forest
"Totono" isn't limited to saunas. Even around Helsinki, stepping into Finland's enchanting forests allows you to experience the bounty and magic of nature.
"Hello, my name is Anna Neuman. I am a biologist, a wild food guide, and a forest mindfulness guide."
She holds a traditional Finnish basket. The holes are said to improve air circulation and help mushroom spores fall and spread.
Finland boasts an astonishing abundance of edible plants. Approximately 200 types of edible mushrooms, 37 types of edible berries, and 300 types of edible herbs.
"Today, we will head into the forest to look for mushrooms, berries, and perhaps some herbs."
Finland has a wonderful system called "Everyman's Rights." It's a customary law that allows anyone to enter another person's land and gather natural resources, as long as they do not cause damage to the landowner. "However, of course, you must act politely and be careful not to enter too close to someone's garden or home," says Anna.
Why Go Foraging When You Can Buy Them at the Supermarket?
As we walk through the forest, Anna stops. "Oh, this is a good edible mushroom!" she exclaims. It's a mushroom called Copper Brittle Gill. "I'll carefully harvest it, taking the whole mushroom from the base of the stem."
The underside is coppery in color. It's quite large. When cut, a beautiful cross-section is revealed. "It has a few wormholes. It might be from a snail or something. It seems to be someone's home. Let's remove this part."
Many Finns go mushroom picking and berry picking, even though they can buy them at markets or supermarkets. Why? "People prefer to forage themselves," says Anna. It's because they can feel the joy of obtaining sustenance from nature. Berry picking and mushroom foraging are "a form of meditation," she adds. The joy of being able to focus without distraction. The sense of accomplishment from finding so much. And, of course, the harvested items are delicious.
Touching the Wisdom of the Forest
We found Rowan berries. "These berries are certainly sour, but just one or two can provide a day's worth of Vitamin C." The berries have a star-like shape, exuding an almost magical aura. Rowan trees are known as protective trees that guard other trees.
There's also Juniper. In Finnish, it's "Kataja." This is also a type of protective tree, believed to have the power to ward off negative energy. "In Finland, Thursdays were traditionally cleaning days. On that day, juniper was burned to ward off and purify negative influences."
When smoking meat or fish, adding juniper branches can make them more tender and flavorful. Juniper is also a symbol of longevity and strength. "Because juniper can live for over 1000 years."
Engaging in such conversations, we focus our eyes on the details of the forest. This is a form of immersive experience. You encounter Finnish folklore, the wisdom of herbs, and the secrets of the forest. You learn the names of plants, their properties, and observe where they grow. Then, you reach out and pick them. The entire sequence of actions becomes mindfulness.
As we leave the forest, our basket holds the day's harvest. It's not just food, but a testament to our dialogue with the forest.