TOKYO SAUNIST
Business planning
System development
Service operation
JAPAN AIRLINES
PROJECT OUTLINE
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. and AQTIA Inc. have jointly developed the “Real-Time Sauna Room Occupancy Counting System,” utilizing high-precision sensor technology and cloud infrastructure. Together, they have launched a new service, “TOKYO SAUNIST,” which provides real-time data on sauna room congestion and big data insights to bath facility operators and sauna users.
TOKYO SAUNIST Concept Movie
“TOKYO SAUNIST” uses a 3D-LiDAR sensor installed at the entrance of the sauna room to detect individuals with high accuracy and aggregates the data in the cloud. This cloud-based service visualizes real-time congestion levels within the sauna room, providing applications for both sauna users and facility managers (patent pending).
Since around 2017, Japan has experienced an unprecedented sauna boom, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s living in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It is now estimated that over 14 million sauna enthusiasts across the country enjoy sauna bathing at least once a month.
In response, JAL has actively promoted the sauna market’s growth by launching “JAL Sa-Tabi” in 2019. This initiative includes sauna-focused tourism packages, merchandise, web media, and regional promotions, all centered on the concept of “sauna tourism.”
Building on its strengths and insights gained in the sauna market, JAL is now introducing a new service aimed at creating value beyond its traditional business domains and generating synergies through partnerships. The service is the result of a collaboration between JAL’s Innovation Lab, focused on digital technology-driven business development, and AQTIA, known for its expertise in technological innovation, to provide solutions tailored to the sauna market.
Scenes from the TOKYO SAUNIST Launch Press Conference
For More Details on TOKYO SAUNIST
For further information on TOKYO SAUNIST featured on this page, please refer to the link below. It provides a more in-depth explanation of the service’s features and implementation examples. We encourage you to explore it for a comprehensive understanding.
PROJECT STEPS
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Ideas Proposal / Subject Decission / Planning
At JAL Innovation Lab, as part of our exploration of new business themes, we analyzed the current state of the sauna market. Amid the sauna boom, we identified a key issue: the congestion of facilities in Tokyo, which is diminishing the user experience. We examined the potential benefits of addressing this problem from both the user and facility operator perspectives. To test our solution, we built a hypothesis-driven MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and validated the service’s effectiveness. Furthermore, to support sustainable service delivery, we incorporated an advertising model, establishing a foundation for a long-term service supported by advertising revenue.
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Prototype Development
Taking into account the unique environment of a sauna room, we thoroughly explored various methods for counting the number of people to alleviate congestion. We identified potential in the 3D-LiDAR sensor provided by Germany’s SICK AG and developed an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) using this sensor within just five days. After conducting field tests, we achieved the expected results, leading us to proceed with designing a solution based on this 3D-LiDAR sensor.
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Commercialization / Development
Following the success of the MVP, we developed a detailed business plan for commercialization. We identified the essential elements required for the service and created an integrated service platform. This project includes a mobile app for sauna users, a web dashboard for facility operators, and a tablet application that handles occupancy counting and ad display in the sauna room. Together, these components form a valuable service foundation for both users and operators.
