Women cool down on an outdoor bench, ©Katja Lösönen / Kalevala Women’s Association, Finland
Löyly, 2024, Photo by Maija Holma
A typical summer cottage sauna
from post war times, Collection of Museovirasto / The National Museum of Finland, Photo by Erkki Voutilainen
Alvar AALTO, Sketch for Cultural sauna in Jyväskylä, 1925, Collection of Alvar Aalto Foundation, ©Alvar Aalto Foundation
Alvar AALTO, Sauna in the Muuratsalo experimental house, Photo by Maija Holma
Martta WENDELIN, Sauna Shore in Kuhmoinen, 1930-1950s, Collection of Tuusula Art Museum, Photo by Vesa Mäkinen
Designed by Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist, Manufactured by Arabia, Löyly Pitcher and Mugs, 1960s, Private Collection
Designed by Gunnel NYMAN, Manufactured by Nuutajärvi, Pore Pitcher, Glass, Manufactured in 1947-1964, Private Collection
The Secret of Finnish Sauna: Living with Nature – A Culture of Warmth
Saturday, October 31, 2026 - Sunday, January 24, 2027
Opening Hours: 9:30 - 18:00 (Admission ends 30 min. before closing time.)
Closed: First and Third Wednesdays, December 29, 2026 －January 3, 2027
Venue: Toyama Glass Art Museum Exhibition Rooms 1-3, Floors 2-3
Outline
Saunas have become increasingly popular in Japan in recent years. In Finland, known worldwide as the home of the sauna, there are said to be around three million saunas, roughly the same as the number of households.
In Finland, the sauna is understood as more than a bathing place or the act of bathing itself. It also includes the implements used there and the ways people spend their time inside. Beyond warming the body and improving mental and physical wellbeing, the sauna has long been woven into the fabric of everyday life. It has served as a sacred space for childbirth and funeral rites, as well as a setting for conviviality, communication, and counsel. Shaped through coexistence with a harsh natural environment and firmly embedded in society and communities, the sauna is indispensable for living and central to cultural identity in Finland.
This exhibition explores the functions, history, and cultural and social dimensions of the sauna through a wide range of displays, including a reconstruction of a sauna designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s leading architects. These exhibits offer visitors a picture of the culture of the sauna that continues to shape Finnish society and reflect the Finnish spirit.
Organized by: Toyama Glass Art Museum
Special Cooperation: Alvar Aalto Foundation, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Gallery A4
Supported by: Embassy of Finland, Finnish institute in Japan, THE KITANIPPON SHIMBUN, THE TOYAMA SHIMBUN, Japan Broadcasting Corporation Toyama Station, Kitanihon Broadcasting Co., Ltd., TOYAMA TELEVISION BROADCASTING CO., LTD., TULIP-TV INC.
Sponsored by: Dai Nippon Printing (DNP)
Cooperation: Tuusula Art Museum, METOS Inc., Nihon Fukushi University, TTK University of Applied Sciences
Planning Cooperation: S2 Corporation
Admission
General Public 1200 yen (1000 yen), College and University students 1000 yen (800 yen)
*Price in brackets for groups of 20 or more
*High school students and younger: Free
*Tickets for Special Exhibition include admission to the Collection Exhibition (4F) and the Glass Art Garden (6F).
*Tickets also available on the Museum website for advance purchase during the exhibition period (regular price only).
Contact
Toyama Glass Art Museum
E-mail: bijutsukan-01(a)city.toyama.lg.jp
*When contacting us by email, pelase replace “(a)” with “@” in the address.