When you walk into a jjimjilbang, you trade your shoes for a wristband and a pair of cotton pajamas. It’s a traditional Korean bathhouse.
First, you head to the men's or women's bath area. To go in, you take off all your clothes. It can feel intimidating if you’re not used to it. But once you step inside, you realize everyone else is bare, and nobody is looking at you. You take a long shower, then ease into hot pools—sometimes steeped with things like green tea or mugwort.
If you book one extra thing, make it the scrub—the part nobody describes accurately.
After the baths, you put on your pajamas and walk out to the main sauna area. This space is shared, with families and friends hanging out on the floor. When you get too hot, you cool off with an icy, sweet rice drink.
