Do you ever come home from a rough day at work and just want to plop neck deep into a nice hot tub of water and forget all about it? You’ll probably agree that most standard American bathtubs are not really designed for this type of bathing. But there are bathtubs designed exactly for that kind of experience. Japanese bathtubs, for instance, were created for a good soak. If you want a real bath, these are the bathtubs to own.

Made for Bathing

Japanese bathtubs are made for bathing. Not washing, mind you, but soaking. What began as a Buddhist cleansing ritual became a family tradition that has passed down through the centuries. Japanese bathtubs were designed and built from the beginning to immerse as much of your body as possible in water. American soldiers discovered this tradition after World War II and thus it spread out to other parts of the world.

Today, Japanese bathtubs can be found in abundance and variety. Why are these bathtubs so good for deep soaking? Unlike standard bathtubs that are often longer or wider and not necessarily deep, Japanese tubs are tall and deep. You climb up into them and sit down, letting the water reach up to your neck. This is a much more comfortable way of soaking and other tub styles have taken a cue from this and used the same design principles. They are also meant to hold hotter water and for longer. This type of bathing is much more therapeutic and stress relieving.

Are Japanese bathtubs practical for modern bathrooms? Absolutely! The tall and deep design (if round, they look like a barrel) does not require a lot of room. But you still get a premium soaking experience every time. And if you need a combination bath and shower, some varieties of soaking tubs come with a shower attachment.

You can also find a Japanese bathtub to suit your personal style and the design of your bathroom. They come in an impressive array of design choices. You can find Japanese bathtubs in very modern, clean styles suitable for a minimal look as well as bathtubs made from more traditional woods if you want to go in that direction. While many traditional Japanese tubs are round, square versions are available now as well.

Styles and Choices

Then you have a choice of modern and more traditional materials. Japanese bathtubs were often made from different types of wood and you can still buy wood soaking bathtubs. If traditional is not so much your thing, acrylic and even copper soaking tubs, along with some other materials, are also on the market.

So if you would like to bathe comfortably and get the most from the time you have to soak, browse the varieties of Japanese bathtubs available. Though centuries old, the design and concept of soaking tubs still work in today’s modern lifestyle. Soaking bathtubs are compact but luxuriant and come in a host of styles and materials to suit just about everybody. If you want to soak, buy a Japanese bathtub.