Japanese-Inspired Sauna and Recovery Lounge Onsen Brings Community Vibes to Henley Beach Road

For 12 months, James Rosback and Joshua O’Grady have been sleepless with excitement waiting for the day locals would be able to experience Onsen, a slick Japanese-Scandi-inspired wellness sanctuary inspired by their travels to Japan a couple of years ago. Finally, Onsen’s doors are open and the boys are already stoked with the community response.

“We had an excellent reaction,” says Rosback. “On day one, people were just pouring through the door and some customers have come back four times in the 11 days we’ve been open.

“The best is when people come in and they’re a little bit shy, and we show them the space, and after they’ve had a sauna or a contrast session, they walk out super chirpy, super happy,” says O’Grady. “It’s one cool thing about running a health-focused business, seeing people buzzing and glowing when they walk out.”

It’s no surprise customers are abuzz given the services on offer: a six-person traditional barrel sauna; two full-spectrum infrared saunas for private use; four contrast baths (two hot, two cold); and compression therapy boots. It’s all for physical wellbeing, but positive impacts on the mind are unavoidable.

The slick interiors with exposed concrete floors and walls, brushed copper finishes and textured beige tiling set the Onsen experience apart. “We’re receiving a lot of compliments about the space and fit-out,” says Rosback, who did much of the build himself (he is a carpenter by trade.)

“It’s a real community environment,” says O’Grady. “We’ve got strangers engaging with one another, especially in the contrast baths (which are set up for two-and-a-half-minute rounds). It’s like having an accountability buddy with you to help encourage you to get into the freezing cold water.”

Onsen offers casual visits (from $27 a pop), multi-entry packs, and three different membership levels depending on how many times per week members plan to use the space.

Onsen

1/217 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville

(08) 7228 2709

Hours:

Mon to Fri 7am–9.30am & 3.30pm–9pm

Sat & Sun 8am–6pm

@onsen.au

www.onsensauna.com.au