The joy of a Japanese soaking tub in your own home

Written by

12 March 2024

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4 min read

A modern take on the Japanese soaking tub, these stone composite baths can be customised in size and colour – allowing full expression of style, paired with ultimate relaxation.

Volupto's Japanese stone composite bath.

In recent years, Japandi design has been making its way into homes across Australia – its clean lines, neutral colour palettes and emphasis on natural materials all focused on creating calming spaces.

From soothing neutrals to natural, textural materials such as stone, the trend is a fusion of wabi-sabi and the simplicity of Scandinavian design.

Two new customisable bathtubs from Volupto are the perfect addition to bathrooms exploring Japandi design, where the goal is to achieve ultimate relaxation.

Introducing Volupto’s Japanese soaking tub with custom colour options

A stone composite bath that can be freestanding or installed against a wall, the Japanese stone composite bath features sleek lines and a stunning, smooth stone texture.

“We are one of the very few – if not the only ones – who can provide this type of bathtub in custom sizes,” says Volupto manager Vincent Boccon-Gibod. “We can make any size up to two metres in length, one metre in width and 80 centimetres in height. Within that, we can do any size.”

Options are also available to customise the Japanese soaking tub with the addition of a seat and backrest, and the edges can be rounded.

“In terms of colours, we can match to about 30 colours by default. We can also match colours from any paint colour fandeck to match other elements of a project,” says Boccon-Gibod.

“Colour is a very important element for a bathtub or basin, and we’re very proud to offer our customers this unique colour-matching option. While white, limestone and dark grey remain our most popular colours, we’ve produced some stunning bathtubs in avocado, peach, pink and even rainbow over the past year. The results are astounding.”

Made for two: the Hokusai freestanding soaking tub

Designed for two people with two seats, the Hokusai freestanding soaking tub from Volupto is another option for those wanting to create a serene bathroom experience.

“Our Hokusai freestanding bath is inspired by the traditional Japanese soaking baths measuring 75cm at its deepest point, more than enough to submerge yourself up to the neck without even fully filling the bath,” says Boccon-Gibod.

“We made this bath long and wide enough to ensure two people can sit and soak together for a unique relaxation experience.”

Made from a mould with custom sizing, the Hokusai freestanding bathtub is also made from stone composite, allowing it to be made with custom colours.

The Hokusai freestanding soaking tub is made with two built-in seats.

Measuring 75cm its deepest point, the tub offers more than enough space to submerge, even without fully filling the bath.

What are the benefits of using a Japanese soaking tub?

Deep with steep sides, Japanese soaking tubs allow users to sit immersed to chest height in the water. The practice of daily bathing in a tub such as this has been commonplace for centuries in Japan – believed to cleanse the body as well as the mind.

Traditionally made from wood, modern designs such as Volupto’s Japanese soaking tubs fit seamlessly into modern homes, while still offering the same benefits – including easing muscle and joint pain, moisturising the hair and skin, and helping to de-stress.

Japanese soaking tubs allow users to sit immersed to chest-height in the water.

What is stone composite?

A lightweight option made from non-porous composite stone material, stone composite bathtubs such as the Japanese soaking tub are made by hand – taking the Volupto team two days to refine and sand the freestanding stone baths to the desired finish.

“Stone composite baths come with thin walls, usually 20mm, which gives them their sleek, contemporary look and feel. They are light and weigh between 100 and 150kg, which makes them ideal when accessibility to a space is an issue,” says Boccon-Gibod. “Because our customers sometimes prefer a more early natural look, but still need a lightweight option, we are now introducing a new 40mm-thick wall option on all our stone composite baths.”

UV-rated and able to be used outdoors, stone composite baths are also ideal for outdoor bathrooms.

“The only thing to be aware of is that, while the tradition with Japanese soaking baths is to leave the water in there, this is not possible with our baths. It’s not a bath you can leave full overnight, simply because it will leave marks at the water level.”

Volupto’s typical lead time is approximately 10-12 weeks. If you’d like your bathtub to be a custom colour, an additional charge of $200 is required to allow for testing to achieve the right hue.

A leader in the creation and production of unique bathtubs, basins and vanities, Volupto has been operating since 2009 and since its inception has been committed to minimalist design, sustainability and high-quality results.

Working across a range of materials – including stone, stone composite, river stone, megalithic rock, marble, petrified wood and copper – the brand can collaborate with homeowners, architects and designers to craft luxurious bathroom products for any project.

Explore the beautiful range of Volupto products on ArchiPro and get in touch with the Volupto team to learn more about customisation options.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.