Kita no Royal (北のロイヤル)

Osaka's newest gay sauna, built as a successor to two much-missed institutions: Hokuoukan in Doyama and Business Inn Royal in Shinsekai, which both closed on 31 March 2023 after decades in business. A local known as Nakapon spent three years and a reported nine-figure yen budget building the replacement, and the name — 'North Royal' — stitches the two old ones together. The grand opening is set for 15 October 2026. Plans include a bath, cold plunge, dry and steam saunas, shower booths, a theatre room, private rooms, a gay-magazine reading room, a Wi-Fi work space and a canteen recreating the old Hokuoukan and Royal curry. Prices, hours and entry rules weren't published before opening, and a planned pre-opening was cancelled — check @kitanoroiyaru on X before you go.