Tokyo Sento Festival turns 500 public baths into contemporary art venues

The Tokyo Sento Festival 2020, organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Arts Council Tokyo under the Tokyo Tokyo FESTIVAL Special 13 program, transforms 500 sentō (public baths) across Tokyo into contemporary art spaces until September 5, 2021. The festival aims to promote the culture of sentō, which dates back over a thousand years and serves as a social hub for relaxation and community. Artist Mari Yamazaki, known for the manga "Thermae Romae," designed special noren curtains and decorative flags for the exteriors. Inside, new hand-painted murals were commissioned from contemporary artists, mangaka, and designers, continuing the tradition of large-scale murals in bathing areas. Participating artists include Ichio Otsuka, Takeru Aoki, Kiyomi Hoshi, and Daijiro Ohara, alongside Yamazaki. The festival creates a unique multi-venue exhibition, inviting visitors to explore and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the sentō.