Small Bathtubs

Much to my surprise while researching different types of bathtubs, I ran across a wooden bathtub! Have you ever heard of furo or ofuro bathtubs? I never connected wood with a bathtub only with boats! However, wooden baths have a long tradition worldwide. The Japanese have a strong tradition of using wooden or ofuro bathtubs.

Ofuro bathtubs are usually deeper than regular bathtubs. They are traditionally made from a wood which is virtually unique to Japan, called hinoki, a member of the false cypress family. This wood is golden in color with a medium grain.

Ofuro construction is quite simple and is shaped like a box with straight sides and bottoms. The uncoated wood relies on the swelling of the wood for waterproofing. This means that the bath must be left full of water even when not in use and is the downfall of traditional ofuro bathtubs in recent years.

In order to prevent bacterial and viral infections, the wooden tub needs the addition of chlorine or a like substance. This chemical attacks the wood and causes the baths to decay prematurely. Because of the concerns regarding disinfection, modern wooden ofuro bathtubs tend to use a system much like western baths, where the ofuro is filled for each use.

In order to protect the wood from the wet-dry cycle, which damages even the hardest of woods, a treated wood system is used. This provides bathers with the best of the traditional ofuro and the western bath.

For those requiring a traditional always-full type ofuro with the security of disinfection, modern plastic or fiberglass ofuro bathtubs have almost totally replaced traditional wooden systems in Japan.

The first rule of traditional Japanese bathing is that baths are not places where you clean yourself. Instead, you first rinse yourself before you enter the bath with a bucket of cold water; but a modern shower, although not too hot, will suffice.

Now, you enter the bath. The bath should contain a collection of bath salts dependant on the effect you are after but no soaps or bubbles. The water is as hot as you can take it. After about fifteen minutes, you will feel yourself drift away with the relaxing combination of salts and heat.

Next, you will next clean. You get out of the bath, without washing, and use the shower. Wash, rinse, and re-enter the bath for another fifteen minutes. Finish with a cold shower and you will feel great!

Privacy Policy |