Isometric Drawings of Sento, Kissaten and other Japanese Establishments by Honami Enya

rendering of the Takara-yu sento in Tokyo

Japanese illustrator Enya Honami uses a style of architectural rendering known as isometric drawings to faithfully recreate cross-sections of Japanese public bathhouses, or sento. Honami is a skilled draughtswoman by trade, having obtained an MFA in architecture and working at a well-known Japanese architecture firm. But the grueling hours and workload eventually weighed on her physical and mental state and she fell ill, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

left: Alps Onsen in Nagano | right: Taisho-yu in Ehima

Enya’s doctor advised her to take some time off, and find a place where she can relax and warm her body. That’s how she discovered Kosugiyu, her local sento in Koenji. She quickly fell in love with her local hotbath and not only started working there but also began employing her architectural rendering skills to create illustrations of the space. Soon, others began asking her to draw their hotbaths as well and her clientele expanded from sento and even spread to kissaten.

Now, Honami Enya is releasing her first ever book of artwork, which includes detailed renderings of sento, kissaten and even a few other establishments like aquariums and the Tsubame Coffeeshop/hair salon/laundromat. It’s being published by Genkosha and is out Aug. 27, 2024.

Hatonoyu in Kunitachi, Tokyo

Enya has explained that, for each sento, she is granted access for roughly 1.5 hours before it opens. During that time she takes precise measurements and photographs, even conducting an interview with the owner before getting to work on the renderings. The resulting work is an accurate and precise documentation of this very special cultural artifact.