湯屋
ゆ
や
Meanings
1
A commercial or communal bathhouse where people pay to bathe. Historically common before home baths became widespread; still found in some neighborhoods and hot-spring towns.
In the Edo period, there were many public bathhouses in town.
The neighborhood bathhouse opens early in the morning.
2
bath building (in a shrine or temple)
A building with a bath located within a shrine or temple grounds, often used for ritual purification or for the use of pilgrims and monks.
The temple's bath building can also be used by worshippers.