Someone (no prize for guessing who) asked for an explanation of some of the terms used here…. I’m still learning as well.

This is not a bad place to start, but it is missing some of the key terms.

 

onsen terms

 

THE SCOREBOARD OF SENTO SUCCULENCE
Features:
Bath Heat/10 Anything above 43 would be considered a 9.
Sauna heat/10 Most of the saunas here are gas operated, not electric or wood fired. This is a bit weird. I am getting used to tvs being in the sauna, but still prefer one without.

There is absolutely no pouring of water on the rocks, if only because there are rarely rocks. For this reason, so far a sento sauna should not receive a score above an 8.  Unless it’s a salt sauna (shio sauna), which seem to be more like steamrooms and absolutely kick ass.
Spatial aesthetic/5 Quite simply, is the space cool.  I’m not substantiating this.
Quality of Chit chat/5 So far I have found onsens and sentos to be the refuge of the silent. I have had the occasional chat, but not really. Thus I have lowered the score to being out of 5 (instead of 10 as before), and am still looking for underwater mp3 players that can be bought in or shipped to Japan.
Variety of bath types/10 It’s important to have a great variety of baths, especially ones at 38 degrees, but not if that’s the hottest they have to offer.
Quality of rotenburo /10 Outdoor baths.
0= there isn’t one.
5= one, with a dubious atmosphere
10= two or three rotenburos, with a decent view of the sky, pergola and some trees.  Having outdoor seating is also important
Mizuburo/10 Cold plunge pool, usually next to the sauna and mainatined at 16-18 degrees
0= no mizuburo
5= mizuburo, but too warm and not long enough
10= long, deep and freezing
Lighting /10 I like natural lighting and mood lighting.
Cost to value /5 I’m not explaining this.
Accessibility /5 Nor this.
Little extras /10 The lie down baths (ne-yu??) blew my mind recently.  I can’t wait to find a regular onsen with a hot waterfall (an utase-yu, apparently).
TV rooms, restaurants…. these are the kind of things that feature here.
Overall feeling /10 You with me yet?
OVERALL PROXIMITY TO BOILING POINT/100
Total score.