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Japan is converting disused city buses into mobile saunas

The new Sabus in Himeji will bring the sauna experience to you instead

Kaila Imada
Written by
Kaila Imada
Associate Editor, Time Out Tokyo
Sabus
Photo: Reverse Co., Ltd.
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Japan is famous for its ancient hot spring baths, but the country isn't afraid to break the mold, like at this reinvented bathhouse in Sumida complete with a craft beer bar and DJ booth. Now, saunas are going mobile as Himeji, a city in Hyogo prefecture, has converted a retired public bus into a moving sauna.

Giving an old bus a new lease on life, the mobile sauna is run by Shinki Bus, a transportation company operating local bus services around Hyogo prefecture. The new-concept vehicle is called the Sabus and it’s scheduled to be up and running by February next year – perfect timing as temperatures are still chilly at the beginning of the year.

Sabus
Photo: Reverse Co., Ltd.

The Sabus is divided into two areas: a sauna room with a wooden heater and a separate resting space which also doubles as an office. Some of the bus details have been retained in the redesign, such as the hanging rings and the bench seats. The bus buttons, which you’d normally use to request a stop, will now spray water instead when pressed to generate steam in the sauna room.  

Sabus
Photo: Reverse Co., Ltd.

The front of the car is where you'll find the office space and resting area, which can be used for remote work or just for hanging out.

Details are still scarce on how you can experience the bus. However, the company states that it will likely be available as rental services, especially for customers who have their own parking space or outdoor facilities to accommodate the bus.

For more information, visit the website.

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