SAUNACHELIN is an annual award recognizing 11 innovative facilities meticulously selected from over 12,000 across Japan.

The facilities that have survived this rigorous selection process stand as the vanguards of the Japanese sauna scene, captivating Saunners far and wide. But who are the visionaries behind these steam-filled sanctuaries? How did they first encounter sauna culture, and what journey led them to build and operate their ultimate ideal facility?
We go behind the scenes of Japan's "best saunas" to uncover their untold stories.