Ofuro Bathtubs
Ofuro bathtubs are deep wooden bathtubs the Japanese have used for many centuries. They provide a wonderful hot tub soaking experience that can soothe aching, tired muscles. The traditional ones are crafted out of fine woods and were made famous by the Japanese culture. They have quickly caught on with the rich and renowned in Western cultures.
Japanese whirlpool bathtubs are made in many different sizes, and most of them are can be custom made. The average size of an ofuro bathtub is about 5' x 5' and around 28" deep. They also have been known to be up to 48" deep and include a bench to sit on.
Japanese style bath tubs do not have an overflow drain at the bottom to keep water from overflowing onto the floor like American bathtubs do. Instead, they are made to flow over the top. For this reason, they are installed on a waterproofed floor that has a center drain for the water to drain. These bathtubs should be professionally installed if you are thinking of adding one to your home.
Most ofuros are made from high quality cedar woods such as yellow cedar, western red cedar, Spanish cedar, or teak. The more traditional Japanese ofuro bathtubs are made from hinoki, one of the best Japanese woods that is actually produced from Japanese cypress trees.
These fine quality tubs can be placed outdoors in a garden setting. It is a wonderfully relaxing experience to soak in a hot tub of water while enjoying the natural sights and sounds of the outdoors. The only thing to take into consideration when having one installed outside is to place it in a shaded area away from direct sunlight to preserve the wood. Teak wood is the best choice for an outdoor ofuro bathtub.
A small ofuro bathtub will hold about 100 gallons of hot water. Because of the amount of water needed to fill one, residential hot water heaters will not be able to supply enough hot water. Most people will have the water heated by an electric spa heater and add a filter to it with an ionizer. This way they can reuse the water for almost a week without the need for hot tub chemicals. If you do not have the filtration system and ionizer, it is best to drain the tub after each use.
You can also find discount Japanese bathtubs that are fitted with jets. Jets do require extra plumbing, so the tub should be placed in an area where you can hide the plumbing. A deck can be used for this purpose.
Traditional Japanese ofuro bathtubs are not made or used for cleansing. They are strictly used for relaxing. Those who use them will shower first before they get into the tub to soak in the hot water.
Modern ofuro bathtubs are now being made with digital control panels and automatic timers. This way the water can be already heated and ready for use by the owner. The temperature can be easily adjusted, as you want.
