Wood option: Japanese Cedar
FSC-certified Japanese Cedar (Sugi, Cryptomeria japonica), the wood of Japanese temples and bathhouses — warm reddish-brown with pink undertones, a soft sweet scent when heated, naturally rot-resistant from its own oils.
Japanese Cedar (Sugi, Cryptomeria japonica, the national tree of Japan) is sourced from Japan and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It is the wood of Japanese temples, shrines and bathhouses for over a thousand years, and it is naturally rot-resistant from its own oils, with no chemical treatment required.
- Heritage
- Japanese Cedar is the national tree of Japan. It has built temples, shrines and traditional houses, and lined ofuro tubs and bathhouse walls, for over a thousand years: Japan's choice for hot, wet rooms long before the backyard sauna.
- Color
- Warm reddish-brown with subtle pink undertones and a fine, straight grain. Darkens slightly over time. Develops a natural patina with use.
- Aroma when heated
- Soft and sweet, released as the cabin warms. Mild and calming rather than sharp; it settles a little over the first months as the cabin breaks in.
- Treatment process
- No chemical treatment. The wood's own oils provide rot and insect resistance.
- Thermal behavior
- Low thermal conductivity. Bench surface remains comfortable to touch at high temperatures.
- Durability
- Naturally rot-resistant from the wood's own oils. Resistant to insects and decay. Does not require chemical treatment for outdoor use.
- Best for
- Buyers who want the warm reddish interior, the soft sweet scent, the heritage of a wood used in Japanese baths for centuries, or rot resistance from the wood's own oils.
Performance compared to Nordic Spruce: Identical. Both woods are paired with the same 42 mm wall construction, the same triple insulation, the same heater, and the same hardware. The choice is look, scent and budget.