Friday, April 29, 2011

Jimjibang , Bath House in Seoul, Korea: SILOAM Sauna Near Seoul Station

My friend made it her agenda to visit a Jimjibang / Korean Bath House this trip. She is a big K-drama fan and didn't want to visit Korea without experiencing the bath house she has seen in several dramas.

After doing some online research, we decided on Siloam Sauna near Seoul Station because of its good reviews.

Siloam Sauna Entrance

It is rather cheap too with a 7,000KRW per pax entry fee. We didn't quite understand the ticketing lady but there's a cheaper fee of 5,000KRW if you only want to use some of their facilities. Anyway, we paid the full 7,000KRW so that we can explore the whole sauna.

For entry after 8pm, it'll cost 8,000KRW per pax instead.

Ticketing Booth

Shortly after we reached the place, a group of school children arrived with their teachers too. We got our tickets and the ladies and men have to enter through separate doors leading to the locker rooms.

Locker Room Where Naked People Roam

Once in, you'll need to place your shoes in a small locker located near the entrance and pass the locker key to the counter lady. She'll exchange it for another bigger locker key, a set of clothings and 2 towels.

It's quite a sight to see everyone walking or sitting around naked in this locker room. The first step is usually to go into the baths one level down on B1. And it's the practice to leave your clothes behind and nonchatlantly strut naked downstairs.

Siloam Hot Pot Sauna Brochure

The ticketing booth lady kindly pointed out that the common meeting area is on the 2F as shown in the brochure. In fact, besides B1 and L1 where naked souls reside, all other levels are unisex.

While my friends were making up their minds to go naked in B1 and try out all the different hot, cold, salt etc.  baths supposedly good for your health and skin, I ran off to the higher floors to be fully clothed in comfort.


I just tried all the different hot, cold, salt etc rooms that are supposedly beneficial for health. There's even jade, charcoal and ice rooms. All I know I was sweating like hell in 1 room and cool like a polar bear in the next.

At the end of it all, I still had to go naked to shower and clean up after all the sweating. The small towel was definitely not enough for my modesty but at least, it's only strangers (no friends) around by then.

Visiting the bath house is such a norm to Koreans and there were people soundly asleep in the resting room, hugging the hard wooden divider and snoring away. It's quite a sight.

In fact, if you want a cheap accommodation, you can stay overnight in a bath house; there's sleeping rooms available in the topmost floor. And there's even a room for snorers! How considerate, hehe... 


It's not hard to locate this sauna. Just take the train to Seoul Station on intersection of subways Line 4 and Line 1 and exit. Walk to the back (or around building) of Lotte Mart and you should be standing on the top of the stairs below:

Back of Building

You should be able to see the view below from the bottom of the stairs and behind the building. The Siloam Sauna sign is red and big on top of the building. 


Walk towards Siloam Building and you'll need to cross under the overpass at the 4 way intersection below:


Walk ahead and Siloam Hot Pot Sauna is situated on top of the very steep slope.

It is an eye-opener to visit Korea's Hot Baths. The many naked Ajuumas should be right about the right way to maintain tofu smooth skin. Must be all the salt scrubbing...

And it's interesting to know that teachers are perfectly comfortable being naked with their students.

If you have the time, take it slow in the Jimjibang because there's even hair and beauty salons in the bath house for your enjoyment! And should you get hungry, there sell food just like in the K-dramas!! You can practically run away from home cheaply and stay in a Jimjibang!

I'm sure it's a welcoming place to go to, especially in the Winter. Just make sure you go on a weekday where there's less crowd if you're body shy like me. ;)

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi, i have a question..

is the locker in the jimjibang large enough for luggage?

Mei said...

Hi,

It's not big enough for the usual luggage. But for a backpack, it is ok.

The lockers picture can be seen here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSneCOzJPu0/TbmaOoNRjRI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/WyNDrJqacC8/s1600/Korean_Jimjibang_Bath_house_sauna.jpg

It is rather narrow...

Cheers! =)

Anonymous said...

Is there no cubicle for shower?? All open?

Mei said...

Yes, all open! Just shower stands/heads in the middle of the big shower room.

But no worries, everyone is naked! ;)

Anonymous said...

Thx for posting this!! It has been very helpful tonight! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi.. you said, you ran upstairs instead of taking a shower at B1.. you mean they will also allow me and my family to go to the common area right away without taking a shower? Can we use our credit card for entrance fee, food and massage or cash only? Thanks!

Mei said...

Hi there,

It's ok not to take a shower as you'll be clothed if you go to the high levels. Wearing their t-shirt and shorts.

I think only cash is accepted at Jimjibang.

Have fun!

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
Do the bath house provide bath foam, shampoo and hair conditional?
Thanks

Mei said...

Hi there, they do provide bath foam and shampoo. Even basic moisturiser.

As for conditioner, I really don't remember and didn't notice. I was more preoccupied looking around for my friends and rushing back into the changing area. Haha...

Anonymous said...

Hi, sauna and sleeping area separate for guys and girls? And locker, any recommendation if I have my luggage with me as I plan to sleep over night. Thanks

Mei said...

There's separates ones and others where both sex can be in the same room.

For the overnight rooms, there's even separate rooms for snorers and non-snorers. ;)

If you luggage isn't big, like a hand carry NIKE bag for eg. You can store it in their locker. If not, the usual luggage is too big. Maybe you can check out whether the nearby Seoul station has ockers big enough for your luggage or not.

Anonymous said...

Hi. Can i ask if the ticketing lady or any staff there speaks english?

Mei said...

Hmmm.. not really but they do have brochures there and just point to the brochure what you want then.

The Koreans are generally not good with English.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

After we've done with the sauna, can we just change back again from their Tshirt to our own cloth without taking any shower? Because I really feel uncomfortable being naked in public. LoL. Thanks! :)

Mei said...

Haha... of course you may but won't you feel gross not washing after you go for a sauna? :P

And as long as you're inside the jimjibang area, you'll need to wear their T-shirt to walk around. You can't wear your own shirts.

Anonymous said...

Hi
must we really get naked ? i'm starting to freak out after knowing clothes and even towels not allowed inside.. is there other JimJiLbangs in Seoul that allow customers to wear towels?

Mei said...

Hi, it's a totally naked for the shower area. Even if you use the towel, it's like the size of a face towel only. ;)

Anonymous said...

This is helpful for me. :D
I'm planning to stay in Seoul tomorrow night so this is absolutely helpful :D

Anonymous said...

hi, can i ask if we are allowed to wear our undergsrments under their shirts and pants. e.g. sports bra or a swim suit.

Anonymous said...

Hi, may i ask if one is allowed to wear a swimsuit or sports bra underneath the jimjilbang shirt and pant? can we in fact shower in our swim suit like those open showers in singapore swimming pool

Mei said...

Hi there,

I'm not sure. I think you may do so but you can't go into the bathing areas like the hot and cold pools with the undergarments. Only those areas like the hot and cold rooms where the jimjibang clothes are allowed in anyway.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting the street-view photos of how to get to this place. I've been meaning to check it out, but looking at overhead maps, it seems very confusing with all of the train tracks and highways and overpasses intersecting. Hopefully I'll find it on foot with your images in mind.

Also--what is up with all the body shame in these comments? I'm from the USA but I'm used to going to hot springs and spas where people get naked--even coed naked. Living in a foreign land is a good opportunity to embrace change and realize our skin suits are nothing to be ashamed of. Love your body, treat it like the temple it is... I love heated rooms, but the baths and steam rooms is really where it's at. Don't be shy, get a scrub and feel like a brand new person. :) Thanks for the post.

Neil Dalby said...

I think the traditional Korean sauna is one of the things you shouldn’t miss when visiting Korea. Can’t really blame your friend. :] Though infrared sauna is becoming a trend now in healthy living, I think experiencing the traditional method would bring her more satisfaction. Not to mention that her wanting was triggered by her favorite shows.

Mei said...

The next time, I might just get a scrub then! Haha...

Anonymous said...

HI Mei,
Thanks for your very thorough and informative post. Is it extra to pay for the sleeping room or is it included in the initial 8,000 KRW price?

Mei said...

Hi,

The sleeping room was included in the 8,000 KRW price. ;)

Anonymous said...

hi! (: thankyou so much for all the info as i found them really useful! Also, just to check with you, is it okay to wear contact lens when i am there? (:

Mei said...

Hi there,

Sure, it's ok to wear contact lens there!

And I'm really glad that you found the info useful. =)

Anonymous said...

Hi, your post is really helpful. Would like to check with you when we move from b1 to level 1 naked there is a independent staircase different from the one that we got in after purchasing the tix?

Anonymous said...

Hi, so the entrance fees is inclusive of all the rooms and sauna. We will nt need to pay extra unless we are eating, massaging or scrubbing service right?

Mei said...

Hi there,

If you meant if the males and females are separated. Yes, the stairs are separated and you can only meet in the common area after going through the ticketing area.

And yes, all rooms and sauna included in the price without the extra services you've mentioned. ;)

Cheers!)

VT said...

Hi there

Do you happen to know of any Hanok traditional guesthouse near this bathhouse? Thanks

sona said...

can you get massage here?

Mei said...

Hi VT, I don't know of any Hanok nearby.

And yes sona, you could get a massage there. =)

smashlee said...

Hi.. I'm a bit confused here..

L1 is where u keep ur stuff in the locker and B1 is where the baths and showers are? so if u want to hv ur shower/bath, u hv to walk down naked from L1 to B1? u can't bring ur own towel in, really?

Mei said...

Hi smashlee, yes, you're right. You can only bring the small face towel they give you which is barely able to cover vital parts. Haha...

Anonymous said...

Hi,

i would like to ask do you know if the scrubbing services by the ahjummas are available at night?

Thanks

Anonymous said...

Hi, can I know the scrubbing services available at night? Until what time?

Thanks in advance

Mei said...

Hi there, I don't. =|

Mei said...

Hi there, I don't. =|