TOTOPA 都立明治公園店 — Local services in Tokyo

I recently visited Totopa Sauna and Spa in the city. Overall, the experience was okay—it’s a small facility, but for a city location, it’s manageable.

I used a coupon to get in, which was convenient, but there was a strange misunderstanding at the entrance. Guests are supposed to wear a special dress for the sauna and relaxation areas, but I wasn’t given one. The staff member didn’t explain anything, so I just went in as I was. Inside, I noticed everyone else had the dress, and it definitely seemed more comfortable and practical. That part of the experience felt a bit off and could’ve been handled better.

As for the space, the whole facility feels like it can comfortably hold around 20 people—any more than that, and it would start to feel too crowded. The heated pool itself is quite small, maybe just enough for 5 or 6 people at a time. I went late at night, and even then, it was a bit busy. I imagine peak hours, like right after work, might get really packed. If you’re looking for a more relaxed experience, I’d recommend visiting during the daytime when it’s likely to be quieter.

One nice touch is that they use good products for hair and skincare. You’ll find quality shampoo, conditioner, and facial cleansers even a face mask available, which adds a little luxury to the visit.

In the end, it was still a nice atmosphere, but just be aware of the space and make sure you ask for the proper gear if you’re...

Today, I found out that this place was celebrating its one-year anniversary, so I decided to visit again, hoping things had improved since my first visit, which I didn't fully enjoy.

First, the steam sauna, Suchiko, had been updated. The temperature and humidity were much higher, and the lighting had been dimmed, which created a better atmosphere. I enjoyed it more than before. However, I still couldn't get comfortable in the provided loungewear. After relaxing in the steam sauna, the clothing became completely soaked, leaving me feeling cold and uncomfortable.

If it were possible to enjoy the steam sauna without clothing, the experience would have been far more pleasant. I understand this choice is part of their design concept, but I still struggle to see the benefit of requiring guests to wear clothes in such an environment.

Secondly, I was disappointed to see no noticeable improvements in the bathing area. The floor was slippery and unclean, and unfortunately, the behavior of other guests made me feel uneasy. Typically, when someone enters a sauna, others will instinctively shift to make space—a small act of kindness I often see in traditional bathhouses. But here, in this new, upscale facility in central Tokyo, that warmth and consideration seemed to be...

Although the facilities are rather new and there is a soft drink corner, the staff make the experience regrettable and uncomfortable by starting to clean for closing long before the closing time. The customer is forced to subscribe to LINE app to enter and this is uncomfortable. The payment system is designed to cheat the customer with only hour by hour rates rather than by minutes. With only 10 seconds past one hour, they charge you almost double to fee of one hour even though you did not use the facilities for that amount of time. Of course, they should only charge by the minute for overtime but the staff is inflexible and rather rude. The system was not working well and makes you spend your time calculating what time to leave rather than having a relaxing time in the sauna facilities. Then there is only one small warm bath and one smaller cold bath. The three sauna rooms are not cozy and not designed with comfort for the guests. The whole experience is not worth the price. We do not recommend unless Totopa change their fee scale to a pay-by-minute...