World's 1st baseball stadium with hot spring baths, sauna for spectators unveiled in Japan

KITAHIROSHIMA, Hokkaido -- The world's first stadium equipped with natural hot spring baths and a sauna that allows spectators to watch professional baseball live while having a soak or a sweat was unveiled to the press in this northern Japan city on March 6 and 7.

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo and his players describe the club's new 35,000-capacity Es Con Field Hokkaido as "the best ballpark in the world," which is packed with a variety of entertainment.

The natural hot spring baths and sauna are on the fourth floor of "Tower Eleven," a five-story building behind the left-field bleachers. The men's bath is on the left side as seen from the field, and the women's on the right. Bathers can watch baseball games through the large two-way mirrors, so there's no need to worry about someone peaking inside.

Between the men's and women's baths are a sauna with a temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius, plus another hot spring for both men and women. Visitors can enter the area from the changing rooms of the men's and women's baths, and swimsuits are required. The sauna and a cold water bath on the balcony also overlook the field. The handrails of the sauna are designed to resemble baseball bats made of "aodamo," or Japanese ash, and other materials.

The sauna's design was overseen by "professional saunner" Dai Matsuo. He commented, "It's an unusual view, but it's nice to be able to watch the game from the sauna. You can refresh your mind when there's a break in play between innings. The hot water is great."

The natural hot spring and sauna are open between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on day game days and days without games, and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on night game days.

(Japanese original by Takumi Taniguchi, Hokkaido News Department)