"Up to Four at Once"... Japanese Hotel Installs "Human Washing Machine" for 20 Minutes at 170,000 Won

Crystal Hotel in Dotonbori Introduces Device for the First Time
90-Minute Reservation Slots for the Experience

A hotel in the Namba district of Osaka, Japan, has introduced a "futuristic human washing machine" for its guests for the first time. This innovative device allows users to complete both showering and drying simply by lying inside a capsule.

The "Human Washing Machine" installed at Crystal Hotel in Dotonbori, Namba, Osaka, Japan. Hotel website

According to Japanese media outlets such as SoraNews24 on December 10, the Dotonbori Crystal Hotel recently installed the device in its spa facilities and began offering 90-minute reservation slots. Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes and costs 18,000 yen (about 170,000 won). Up to four people can experience it simultaneously.

The concept of the "human washing machine" was first unveiled at the Osaka Expo in 1970 but was never commercialized. However, it regained attention this April at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, when Osaka-based company I Feel Science presented an upgraded prototype. At that time, the number of experience applications exceeded 40,000.

The device is a 2.3-meter-long capsule in which users lie down to be cleansed by fine bubbles and mist sprays, followed by automatic drying. Sensors on the back detect health information such as heart rate, and personalized videos and music are provided during the session for added comfort.

The "Human Washing Machine" installed at Crystal Hotel in Dotonbori, Namba, Osaka, Japan. Hotel website

This device is expected to be sold at the LABI Ikebukuro Main Store, a major electronics retailer in Tokyo, for about 60 million yen (approximately 560 million won). Experts believe it has strong potential for use in nursing care and healthcare sectors in Japan's aging society. In fact, some care facilities are already utilizing similar "human washing machine" devices for elderly and disabled individuals with mobility challenges.

The hotel stated, "By introducing the human washing machine, which was hugely popular at the expo, for the first time domestically, guests who missed out on the experience at the expo can now try the 'future' for themselves," adding, "The human washing machine will offer an immersive experience, as if you are in a spa of the future."