" kobatoisa " in Mimasaka City , Okayama Prefecture is a special facility that combines an authentic Finnish-style wood-fired sauna with a cafe. With cuisine made from local ingredients and a refreshing experience surrounded by nature, it has attracted attention as a hidden gem where you can enjoy sauna culture and the charm of the region at the same time.
2025.06.10sauna are becoming increasingly popular throughout Japan. From urban spa facilities to regional hot spring resorts, many people are visiting in search of a sauna experience that will refresh their mind and body. sauna were previously seen as entertainment for middle-aged and elderly men, but now they are gaining popularity among the younger generation, both men and women, and are garnering attention as a relaxation facility that can help restore balance to the mind and body.
Meanwhile, there is a special place in Mimasaka City , Okayama Prefecture , that offers not only a place to work up a sweat, but also time to connect with nature and reflect on yourself. kobatoisa , located along the Yoshinogawa in Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture Mimasaka City , is a base for proposing a new lifestyle rooted in the local community, combining an authentic wood-fired sauna with a cafe.
The building's appearance is somehow nostalgic, yet exudes a modern atmosphere. Looking back at the building's history, it was once used as a sales store for a local sake brewery. After sake brewing ended and the space became vacant, it was the local housing company Kobayashi that breathed new life into the space.
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Table of Contents
- A new hub for exchange between the local community and lifestyle and culture
- An authentic Finnish sauna where you can feel the warmth of firewood and the blessings of nature.
- A menu using local ingredients to refresh your body after a sauna session
- The warmth of handmade products made by family members
- A place of exchange rooted in the local community that continues to attract repeat visitors
- "We want to spread sauna culture even further" - A continuously evolving information dissemination center
A new hub for exchange between the local community and lifestyle and culture
"kobatoisa " was born as part of a sauna project that Kobayashi in Mimasaka City started as a new business. Utilizing the technical know-how it had cultivated in residential construction and based on its experience as a distributor of wood stoves, the company started a full-scale manufacturing and sales business of Finnish-style wood-burning sauna. The project began with the establishment of a base here that also doubles as an exhibition facility.
There was a desire to create a place where local people could gather casually at the crossroads of "food, clothing, and shelter" (a term used in Japan to describe the basic elements of life). In Mimasaka City, there were limited places where local people could casually enjoy lunch or tea. For this reason, a cafe with the concept of "enjoying a delicious meal after refreshing in the sauna" was also opened at the same time.
An authentic Finnish sauna where you can feel the warmth of firewood and the blessings of nature.
The sauna at " kobatoisa " is a Finnish style sauna that uses firewood instead of gas. The far infrared rays unique to firewood slowly warm the body, and the steam from the loyly (a traditional Finnish bathing method in which aromatic water is poured onto sauna stones to generate steam) gently envelops the entire body, providing a quiet and powerful thermal experience.
The temperature is kept lower than that of a typical public bathhouse (traditional Japanese public bathhouse), and is set at about 80 degrees with the assumption that loyly will be performed. This creates an environment where you can sweat comfortably without feeling short of breath even in the sauna.
Taking advantage of the location beside the Yoshinogawa, the cold bath is barrel-shaped, giving it an outdoor feel, and is made from recycled whiskey barrels as an environmental consideration. The temperature is set to be gentle on the body, not too cold, and you can enjoy the faint aroma wafting from the barrels, making it a cold bath experience that stimulates all five senses.
With the sound of the flowing river in the background, outdoor bathing in a deck chair is a truly relaxing experience.
The women-only sauna also offers an aromatic sauna using cugel (ice balls). The scents that change with the seasons, such as birch, osmanthus (a flower that smells fragrant in autumn in Japan), and eucalyptus, are popular, and the forest scents in particular are highly rated among repeat female customers.
The second floor of the cafe is a relaxation space with tatami mats (traditional Japanese flooring) that can also be used for health activities such as Pilates and meditation. You can spend time balancing your mind and body while enjoying the rich nature of Mimasaka.
The pricing structure is as follows, and there are set plans and rental items such as swimsuits available so that even first-time visitors can enjoy themselves with peace of mind.
[Usage fee]
Weekdays: 2,500 yen per person for 2 hours / Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 3,000 yen per person for 2 hours
(Towel, sauna mat, sandals, and ionized water included)
Poncho rental: 300 yen
Swimsuit rental: 300 yen
sauna hat rental: Free
A menu using local ingredients to refresh your body after a sauna session
The food you enjoy after working up a sweat in the sauna- known among Japanese sauna enthusiasts as "sa-meshi" (a slang term for post- sauna meals) - is also something that kobatoisa is particular about. Everything is handmade, using plenty of fresh ingredients from the local Mimasaka and neighboring regions.
For example, the lunch menu item "Exotically Fragrant Pad Thai Made with Mimasaka Eggs" uses locally produced eggs and rice flour noodles, and while it has an authentic taste that combines the aroma of nam pla (a Thai fish sauce) with the umami of dried shrimp, it is also a healthy dish.
Another dish that has a strong following is the "Nagi Beef (local brand beef) tender beef tendon curry" (limited to 10 servings per day!). The deep flavor of the tenderly simmered beef tendon is perfectly balanced with the aroma of spices, making this a dish that will warm you to the core. The natural sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the meat combine to gently and thoroughly satisfy your post sauna hunger.
The cafe's specialty, the "Mackerel Sandwich on Homemade Focaccia," is a masterpiece that combines fatty mackerel, purple cabbage, and homemade sauce on homemade focaccia kneaded with tea from Kaita , a tea-producing region of Mimasaka City . Both dishes have an exquisite balance of "the saltiness and sourness that a sweaty body craves."
For dessert, they offer homemade cheesecake, hojicha cake (a cake made with Japanese roasted tea), seasonal gateau au chocolate, etc. Drinks are also made with local ingredients from Mimasaka, and include tea, herbal tea, and craft drinks to soothe your body after a sauna.
The warmth of handmade products made by family members
The name "kobatoisa" is a combination of "kotoisa" (Finnish for "comfortable") and "koba" from Kobayashi. As the name suggests, the warmth of "handmade by family" is alive throughout the facility.
The sisters are in charge of not only the design of the sauna facilities, but also the food menu, the store's logo, and the design. Even the hats and equipment are handmade, reflecting their desire to "make everything local as much as possible" and "provide things that they themselves find comfortable."
The firewood is recycled from construction site waste. Another innovative feature of kobatoisa is its consideration for the environment and its cyclical use of local resources. As part of its employee benefits, employees can use the sauna for free and enjoy lunch at an employee discount, creating a "small community" where life and work intersect.
A place of exchange rooted in the local community that continues to attract repeat visitors
Even on weekdays, the cafe is always busy with customers, with an almost equal ratio of men and women. It is often used by couples and groups of women, and the cafe space is designed to be spacious so that families with children can visit with peace of mind. In the evenings, the cafe also operates a "night cafe" only on weekends, and the tiramisu-style evening parfait and Mimasaka tea that finish off the day are a popular treat for adults.
There are also "savupirtti stay& sauna" (Finnish for sauna hut) establishments nearby that offer "local discounts" for local residents, private use for groups, and even overnight stays, making them increasingly popular as weekend retreats and bases for tourists to stay.
As summer approaches, fireflies dance along the river, creating an even more fantastical scene for your nighttime sauna experience. Through the sauna, you can experience the "luxurious time" woven together with the rich nature and culture of the Mimasaka area.
"We want to spread sauna culture even further" - A continuously evolving information dissemination center
"The appeal of sauna is still not fully known," says Kobayashi, who is also a certified sauna master (a person who performs the loyly technique in a sauna). Kobayashi continues to challenge itself to balance the spread of sauna culture with local revitalization, and is considering workcations (a new way of working that combines work and vacations) and collaboration with retreat stays, as well as corporate training and event hosting, and is continuing to evolve into a "place that creates the future of the region."
Quiet time to reflect on yourself after the sauna. Soothe your body with delicious food and spend a warm time chatting with others. Such luxurious moments are certainly available here. The sauna is not just a place to simply "refresh your mind and body" but also a place where you can feel "connected with people." Why not try a special experience at kobatoisa in Mimasaka ?
【 kobatoisa cafe & sauna 】
Address: 2451-1 Kose , Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 090-7181-4107
Opening hours: sauna 10:00-21:00 (last slot 19:00)
Cafe 11:00-14:30 (lunch time), 14:30-17:00 (cafe time)
*Cafe open at night on an irregular basis (17:00-21:30/last orders 21:00)
Closed: Wednesdays Parking: Available (5 spaces in front of the store, 6 spaces in the first parking lot)
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