Spa LaQua – Enjoy Classic Sauna at the Giant Spa Beside famous Dome in Japan

Right next to the Tokyo Dome, home stadium of the Yomiuri Giants, I visited Spa LaQua, located on the upper floors of the LaQua shopping complex. It’s perfect for days when you want a straightforward, classic sauna experience. With 4 types of saunas × 2 types of cold baths × a vast relaxation and dining area, the real appeal is how easily you can build a “spend-the-whole-day” relaxation plan.

Reception & Changing Rooms: Efficient layout and full facilities of a large-scale spa

At the main entrance reception, you receive a brief explanation of how the facility works. Prices vary by day (details on their website), and my impression was that it’s gotten more expensive than before. Here you get your locker key and a plastic stick to exchange later for your loungewear and towels.

When you proceed into the changing room area, there’s another reception desk where you choose your size and receive your loungewear and towels. The changing room itself is very spacious, with rows and rows of lockers, a dedicated hair-dryer area, a small space where you can relax with a drink after bathing, and even a direct entrance to the hot stone spa area (ganbanyoku). Even first-timers will find the layout intuitive and easy to navigate.

Saunas (4 Types): A lineup that lets you “fine-tune” by temperature

All of the saunas are standard in a good way—reliable and easy to use. You can pick based on temperature, presence or absence of TV, and whether there’s löyly/aufguss.

① Medium heat 80°C (with TV, auto löyly)

This is the largest and probably the most popular sauna. Thanks to the humidity setting, it feels hotter than the displayed temperature. When the auto löyly kicks in, the upper benches get seriously intense, and some people have to leave mid-session. Because there’s a TV, it’s relatively easy to distract yourself from the heat.

② Medium heat 80°C (no TV, with aufguss)

If you don’t like TV noise, this is the one for you. Aufguss sessions are held regularly (usually you need to sign up in advance at the changing-room reception). If there’s space, you may be able to join on the same day, but in general, slots seem to fill up beforehand. Each session has 3 rounds; for me, the first was easy, but by the second round I hit my pleasant limit and had to leave—an extremely intense experience.

③ High heat 100°C

A relatively compact sauna room right next to Sauna ①. I didn’t feel it was as scorching as the number suggests, but with no TV, dim lighting, and silence, it’s ideal if you want a deep, immersive sauna session with full concentration.

④ Low heat 70°C (self löyly)

This is the lowest in temperature and also the most compact (felt like about five people max). The base heat is gentle, but you can adjust the perceived temperature with self löyly by pouring water on the rocks. Recommended when you want to relax quietly in a small, cozy space.

How to choose between the saunas

• “I want a classic sauna and to sweat hard in one go” → ① (auto löyly)
• “I want silence and to really focus” → ③ (no TV, dimmer lighting)
• “No TV + powerful heat waves ” → ② (aufguss)
• “I want a milder, longer steam session” → ④ (self löyly)

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Cold Baths (2 Types): One for “fully cooling down” and one gentler, “easier to enter” option

17°C cold bath (larger)

A proper, classic cold-bath temperature that cools you down thoroughly. The spiral staircase you walk down into the bath is a unique design, and because it’s quite deep, you can cool your body right down to the core.

22°C cold bath (smaller)

At 22°C, it’s “lukewarm” for a cold bath, making it perfect for beginners who struggle with very cold water. Back when I didn’t understand what was so good about saunas and cold baths, I actually debuted with Spa LaQua’s medium-heat sauna followed by this 22°C cold bath. I fell in love with that perfect balance of “not too cold, but still properly resetting,” and from then on I became a sauna lover. It’s a personally memorable tub.

Resting Inside the Bath Area: Plenty of chairs, fewer spots to lie down

There are chairs scattered all over the bath area, so even when it’s crowded, you can usually find somewhere to sit. On the other hand, the special reclining “totonoi” chairs where you can lie fully down are limited—only a few located near the border between the indoor and open-air sections.

Baths: A variety of tubs + open-air area for seasonal comfort

You’ll find a rich variety of baths: jet baths, milky soda baths, natural hot spring baths, and more. There’s also an open-air bath, so in cooler seasons, the contrast between outdoor air and hot water feels great and works really well with the cycle of sauna → cold bath → outdoor cool-down.

Scale, Dining & Relaxation: A massive space where you can easily spend a whole day

Spa LaQua is huge, plain and simple.
The food options are plentiful—around five places including light meals and a bar. Personally, my favorite is Yoshinoya Dining, which I find the most delicious.

The relaxation area is also enormous, with reclining spaces stretching all the way to the back of the long floor. That said, because it’s such a popular facility, even with lots of chairs, sometimes you still can’t find an open one. If you’re planning a long stay, it’s safer to secure a spot early.

Bonus: Hot stone spa area for an extra ¥1,100

When you check in, you can add access to the hot stone spa (ganbanyoku) area for an extra ¥1,100. It’s not just hot stone rooms—you also get additional relaxation and lounge spaces. The vibe is like an overseas resort where you can just laze around doing nothing.

If you want to declare, “Today I’m seriously doing nothing,” I felt this add-on has high value.

Summary

People I’d recommend Spa LaQua to

• Those who want to enjoy a classic sauna experience while fine-tuning by temperature
• Cold-bath beginners who want to debut in a gentle 22°C tub
• Those who want to enjoy sauna, food, and long relaxation time all in one place

Points to watch out for

• Prices vary by day, and overall it feels more expensive than before—be aware of the current rates
• If you want to lie down on a totonoi chair, grab one as soon as you see an empty spot
• Aufguss basically requires advance reservation (you can join on the day only if there are last-minute openings)

One-line memo

If you’re chasing the peak heat, go for Sauna ① with auto löyly. For silent immersion, Sauna ③. For a refreshing blast of heat waves, Sauna ②. For mellow, extended sessions, Sauna ④. As for the finishing cold bath, you can either tighten everything up with the 17°C tub or gently reset in the 22°C one.

It’s a highly recommended facility where you can enjoy many different combinations and find your own perfect routine.