Points to note when installing public baths and swimming pools
Posted: May 2025, 7
The basic difference between public baths and swimming pools
When installing and operating public baths, swimming pools, and other water facilities, we do not simply construct the facilities,
A wide range of responses are required, including compliance with hygiene standards, laws and regulations, consultation with local governments, and safety management.
Accurately understanding the nature of the facility and getting it right from the early stages will directly impact subsequent administrative response, operational efficiency, and risk avoidance.
What are the characteristics of public baths and pools?
| Type of facility | Purpose/Usage | Key points of the regulations |
| public bathhouse | A place to soak in hot water to cleanse and relax | The Public Baths Act clearly defines hygiene standards and facility requirements. |
| Pool | A water area for swimming and recreation | Although there is no law, each ministry and agency issues notifications setting hygiene management and safety standards. |
For example, in public baths, there is a rule that users should wash their bodies before entering the bathtub, and hygiene management is required, including the behavior of users. On the other hand, in swimming pools, water quality management using a circulating system is the basis, and disinfection and monitoring systems are important.
Points to note regarding hygiene and operation
There is also a clear difference between the two in terms of hygiene.
Public baths are legally required to regularly change and disinfect the water, test the water quality in the bathtub, and set rules for users to wash their bodies, so they must be designed and operated with the hygiene awareness of facility users in mind.
Pools must be designed with safety in mind, including the use of disinfectants such as chlorine and hypochlorous acid, water quality circulation management, the placement of lifeguards, and the installation of guide signs.
Due to these facility characteristics, a wide range of considerations arise from the installation stage, including the structural design, operation plans, and the formulation of sanitation operation manuals.
Furthermore, because notification requirements and equipment standards differ from one local government to another, it is essential to understand the system taking regional characteristics into account and to smoothly carry out prior consultations.
Legal restrictions and operational considerations
The legal status and regulations are also different.
Public baths are facilities that are established and managed in accordance with the Public Baths Act, which specifies detailed standards for facility equipment and hygiene management.
However, there are no laws regulating swimming pools.
However, in order to ensure hygiene and safety in swimming pools, government ministries and agencies have issued notifications such as "Swimming Pool Hygiene Standards" and "Pool Safety Standard Guidelines," which establish safety standards and usage rules according to the pool's use.
In addition, since reporting standards vary depending on local government ordinances, it is important to check carefully in advance.
Both public baths and swimming pools are facilities that contribute to the public welfare, but they require appropriate procedures in accordance with their purpose and management methods.
Frequently asked questions
We receive many inquiries regarding the opening and operation of hot spring facilities. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions.
・I want to provide food and drinks in a hot spring facility
Providing food and drink within a facility is subject to multiple laws and regulations, such as permission from the public health center and standards for facility structure. We will guide you through the appropriate application procedures depending on the type of business you are operating.
・ I want to build a heated pool using hot spring water.
You will need to obtain permits and licenses according to the structure, sanitation, and use, such as regulations regarding the use of hot spring water. We will support you from the planning stage.
・ I want to build a hot spring facility that makes the most of the scenery.
To ensure a good view while also complying with the Building Standards Act and landscape ordinances, it is important to conduct preliminary research and coordinate with the local government. We provide advice tailored to the characteristics of the area.
・ I would like to set up a unisex sauna where bathing suits are required.
Not only do you need to meet standards for user safety, hygiene management, and facility structure, but you also need to consult with the public health center to ensure there are no problems with public morals. Also, some municipalities have ordinances that strictly prohibit mixed bathing, so you need to decide whether your desired operation style is possible as a bath or whether it needs to be organized as a pool. We will explain the key points for designing and operating a facility based on ordinances and guidelines.
If you have any other concerns or questions regarding hot spring facilities, please feel free to contact us.
We will provide you with careful legal support to maximize the appeal of your facility.
Summary
Public baths and swimming pools have different aspects in terms of purpose of use, characteristics of the facilities, hygiene management and legal regulations.
To ensure the safety and comfort of users, appropriate management and operation of each facility is essential.
Consulting with an administrative scrivener from the planning stage will help you open your business smoothly.
If you have any problems, please feel free to contact us.
