Sauna Around the World: 4 Famous Faces Who Love the Heat

Some celebrities travel the world for five-star hotels, private beaches and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Others are perfectly happy sitting in a hot wooden room.

From Finland’s famous seaside saunas to Japan’s growing sauna obsession, the world’s love affair with heat has some interesting celebrity connections.

Four famous faces. Three countries. A whole lot of sweating.

1. Jasper Pääkkönen — Finland’s Very Own Sauna Superstar

From Vikings to Very Hot Buildings

HELSINKI, FINLAND

Jasper Pääkkönen has starred in Vikings and Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman.

But in Finland, he’s also famous for something entirely different.

He helped create Löyly, a spectacular public sauna on Helsinki’s waterfront.

With traditional wood-fired saunas, a smoke sauna and access to the Baltic Sea, it’s become one of the city’s best-known attractions.

Jasper even helped introduce international visitors to Finnish sauna culture through a video with Condé Nast Traveler.

Some actors build Hollywood mansions. Jasper built somewhere everyone can sweat.

2. Misato Shimizu — Japan’s Sauna Princess

Lost in Translation? Not in the Sauna.

JAPAN

Japanese actress and television personality Misato Shimizu has taken her love of saunas to an entirely different level.

She’s been visiting saunas regularly since she was 19 and has described going almost every day.

She’s also earned sauna-related qualifications, hosted a radio programme about saunas and published a book called Sauna Princess.

That’s quite a résumé.

Actress. Presenter. Author. Sauna enthusiast.

Some people have a favourite coffee shop. Misato has a whole sauna lifestyle.

3. Kadri Voorand — Estonia’s Singing Sauna Lover

Some Like It Hot. Some Sing About Life Afterwards.

ESTONIA

Estonian jazz singer and composer Kadri Voorand has a deep connection with traditional sauna culture.

Her mother introduced her to saunas when she was young.

Years later, Kadri spoke about the special connection she feels to her family’s countryside sauna, surrounded by generations of family history.

For Kadri, sauna isn’t about celebrity luxury.

It’s about home, memories and reconnecting with her roots.

Forget backstage passes. This singer’s special place is a family sauna.

4. Tomomitsu Yamaguchi — The Comedian Who Helped Make Sauna Cool

Japan’s Original Hot Comedian

JAPAN

Japanese comedian and entertainer Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, widely known as Gussan, was talking about saunas long before they became a fashionable wellness obsession.

In 2008, he helped bring a sauna-themed segment to the popular Japanese television programme Ame Talk!.

The programme introduced the appeal of sauna culture to a wider audience.

And Yamaguchi became known as one of Japan’s original sauna-loving entertainers.

Some comedians bring the house down. This one helped turn the heat up.

Different Countries. Same Love of Heat.

From Helsinki to Japan, sauna culture takes many forms.

Some people love the tradition. Others love the company. And some simply enjoy escaping the noise of everyday life.

At The Ice Bath Club, our social saunas bring people together to enjoy the heat, good conversations and a refreshing change of pace.

And when you’re ready to cool down?

The ice baths are waiting.