Japan's tiniest municipality sells lifetime bathhouse tickets to boost name recognition

FUNAHASHI, Toyama -- Japan's smallest municipality at just 3.47 square kilometers, is selling lifetime bathing rights to a local bathhouse to boost name recognition.

The digital pass, called the "lifetime public bath ticket for Japan's smallest village," is being sold through the website Tokken for 5,000 yen (approx. $31.40) per ticket, limited to 10 tickets. The village of Funahashi in Toyama Prefecture also began other sales projects in November 2025, such as locally grown rice and the right to make policy proposals directly to the mayor.

The bathhouse, Satsuki-no-Yu, is located inside the village-run Funahashi hall. It charges a 450-yen (about $2.80) admission fee and draws an average of about 50 visitors per day, totaling roughly 20,000 users in fiscal 2025. Situated near the Tateyama mountain range, it is also popular with hikers returning from the peaks. The simple, non-hot-spring facility allows guests to enjoy the sight of blooming azaleas -- the village flower -- during the season. Hall director Masami Takashima said proudly, "It's not crowded, so people can relax and soak in the water at their own pace."

The lifetime pass is available to those living outside Toyama Prefecture and is valid for one visit per month to the bathhouse.

According to the village's general affairs division, the project aims to promote the community with few tourist attractions and increase hall revenue. "We hope people who want to support Funahashi will buy a ticket, helping us attract new visitors," a village official said.

(Japanese original by Shinichi Hamana, Toyama Bureau)