Okinawa-based blogger @owncolorstravel shares travel tips and recommended spots around Okinawa, focusing on travel and lifestyle. The content is especially helpful for visitors coming from other parts of Japan or international travelers interested in Japanese culture.
This time, I took a drive from central Okinawa up to the northern “Yanbaru” area. After spending a night at a resort hotel, I stopped by a unique sauna spot in Ōgimi Village where you can really connect with nature.
If you’re into sauna culture and love that refreshed, post-sauna feeling, you’ll want to check out BUNA SAUNA—a completely private, reservation-only sauna experience.
・A sauna experience at the northernmost herbal sauna on Okinawa’s main island.
BUNA SAUNA 2083 Kijoka, Ogimi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, 905-1303
In the northern part of Okinawa’s main island, surrounded by nature, there’s a cozy cabin-like building that’s all yours to enjoy as a private herbal sauna. With the sound of birdsong, smoke gently rising from the chimney, and a peaceful atmosphere all around, it’s the kind of green, tranquil space that makes you want to linger for a while.
BUNA SAUNA is located in Ogimi Village, in the lush Yambaru area of Okinawa. It’s a completely reservation-only sauna experience.
・How to make a reservation.
Reservations must be made in advance online, where you can choose your preferred time slot—morning, midday, or evening.
Each session lasts about two hours.
You can book even if you’re coming solo, and just fill in the required details like the number of people when making your reservation.
There’s also an option called “Seasonal Yambaru Whisks,” which are bundles of local plant leaves used during the sauna. You lightly tap or press them against your body to enhance the sauna experience.
It might be a little hard to imagine, so here’s a photo of what they look like.
The whisks are made from plants harvested in Yambaru, including shell ginger leaves (called “gettou” in Japanese) and local herbs.
By the way, shell ginger is a type of plant in the ginger family that grows in Okinawa. It has a refreshing, slightly spicy aroma and is often used as a herb. The leaves and seeds have antibacterial and antioxidant properties, so they’re also used in cosmetics and essential oils. Shell ginger essential oil is especially rare and valuable because it yields only a small amount during extraction—making it quite pricey.
・Check in
You’ll want to arrive at the location before your reserved time to check in and get guided through the process.
The sauna is on the same property, but it’s a short walk away, so after checking in, the staff will show you the way.
By the way, the property itself is really unique—I’ll explain more about it later!
・A private sauna where you can enjoy a forest bath.
They say cherry blossoms bloom all around during the season. In Okinawa, cherry blossom season runs from late January to early or mid-February, so it might be a great time to plan your visit.
After getting a rundown of the sauna rules and how to use everything, you’re free to enjoy your own private sauna time, completely to yourself.
There’s a changing room on-site where you can get ready, and they also provide a hairdryer and some basic amenities.
You’ll need to take your shoes off before entering the sauna building. About every 30 minutes, the owner will come by to check in on you and bring fresh leaves from local plants like shikuwasa (Okinawan citrus) and Ryukyu cinnamon.
The owner has such a warm and easygoing personality, which really adds to the positive experience.
The sauna itself is a low-temperature steam sauna, kept between 65°C and 75°C (about 149°F to 167°F). Wrapped in the gentle scent of herbs, you’ll start to slowly sweat and relax.
At BUNA SAUNA, you can also enjoy “löyly”—a Finnish-style sauna ritual where water is poured over heated stones to create a burst of steam, instantly raising the feeling of heat. Here, they use herbal water made from wild plants from Yambaru for the löyly.
As the steam rises with a soft hissing sound, you fan it toward yourself and let the wave of heat and herbal aroma wash over you. It feels incredibly refreshing, like your mind and body are being freed, offering a perfect detox and escape from the busyness of everyday life.
This is the cold plunge area.
The water was so cold, I couldn’t help but let out a little “Eek!” (lol).
It was honestly too cold for a full-body dip, so I scooped water with a bucket and poured it over myself or just soaked my feet, letting the coolness slowly tighten up my body.
I took a few breaks in between and went back and forth between the sauna and the cold plunge.
They have herb-infused water and other drinks ready for you in the lounge area, so you can stay hydrated.
There are also hammocks where you can relax and soak in the beautiful nature of Yanbaru, Okinawa on a sunny day — it’s so peaceful you might just lose track of time.
・KijokashoSchool
As I mentioned earlier, BUNA SAUNA is actually located at a really unique spot — it’s part of a group of shops and facilities that have come together inside the former Kijoka Elementary School, which was closed down.
You can still see traces of the old school, like the playground, water station, and school buildings, which gives the place a really cool vibe. If you have some time, I definitely recommend walking around and checking it out.
There’s even a workshop where you can try weaving your own handmade hammock, plus a used bookstore, a café, and more. I heard they’re also planning to add a place to stay in the future!
Yanbaru in Okinawa really has some deep and interesting things going on. Surrounded by its simple, laid-back vibe, I found myself wanting to come back again someday.
