All Photos By Gail
On occasion, New York City hands you a moment so random and delightful that you can’t help but stop, stare, and say, “Only in NY!” That’s exactly what happened on Veteran’s Day, when I stumbled upon a mysterious, hand-painted truck parked on Franklin Street in SoHo — not a food truck, not a delivery truck, but a fully functioning Japanese sento bathhouse and sauna on wheels, created by a 27-year-old artist from Japan who is currently steaming his way across America.
This wandering bathhouse — an artwork, a home, a mystery-machine — is the center of a self-described 7,000-kilometer adventure, and every inch of it is covered in messages that feel like a cultural diary and an open-hearted invitation. Painted on the truck’s side is the artist’s own introduction:
“I am the Japanese artist. This is one of a kind moving art!
Once in a lifetime only for 126 days of my 27th year.
It’s not my job, it’s my longtime dream.
I can give you special Japanese experience,
hot tub and sauna (on the truck).
You give me special memories instead
(sometime food and shower make me happy)
Life is like a box of chocolate.”
Well, I was instantly intrigued.
A Bathhouse on Wheels (No, Seriously)
If the phrase “mobile sento” is new to you, here’s the short version: in Japan, sento are traditional public bathhouses — a beloved part of everyday culture, especially in older neighborhoods. They’re communal, ritualistic, often beautifully painted, and increasingly endangered as modernization closes more and more of them.
This artist decided to take that heritage and put it on wheels. According to a Mendocino Coast News story, Takano “Taka” Miyaki been offering curious Americans a chance to step inside a traditional Japanese sauna and hot bath — all built by hand inside this truck — while he makes his way across the country on what might be the most wholesome road trip ever undertaken.
It’s van-life, but with steam, culture, and unexpectedly poetic signage.
Art, Adventure, and a Little Vulnerability
What makes this project so irresistible is its sincerity. This isn’t a gimmick or a commercial wellness trailer — it’s an art piece, a pilgrimage, and a personal time capsule the artist has carved out for exactly 126 days of his life. He’s very clear that he’s not selling anything. What he wants, instead, is human connection.
He gives you a sauna session; you give him “special memories.” Sometimes a meal or a shower makes his day. It’s mutual generosity, offered from the side of a truck.
There’s a charming vulnerability to the whole thing — a reminder that adventure doesn’t always need polish or sponsors. Sometimes it’s just one person chasing a dream across unfamiliar highways, hoping to share warmth (literally) along the way.
A Rare Sight in SoHo
Franklin Street was unusually quiet when I encountered the truck — a rare gift in Lower Manhattan. The stillness made the truck feel even more surreal, like stumbling onto a traveling art installation accidentally parked in front of your bodega.
He wasn’t outside the truck when I passed by, but I took photos of all four sides, each offering its own mix of color, aspiration, and personal storytelling. Even without meeting him, I felt like I’d been introduced.
If you spot Taka, count yourself lucky — this journey is temporary. Once the 126 days are over, who knows if the truck will continue or fade into the category of great, weird, perfect things you only encounter once.
Why This Story Matters (And Why I’m Posting It)
This project taps into so many things I love:
- Art in everyday spaces
- Found magic in the city
- Cultural exchange happening spontaneously
- People living their dreams loudly and creatively
- Aesthetic chaos wrapped around a deeper idea
It also speaks to something bigger — the portability of culture, and how traditions can adapt, survive, and surprise us in new formats. A sento doesn’t have to be a building. It can be a truck. It can be a dream.
If You See Taka, Say Hi (Or Bring a Bento Box)
As this mobile sento continues making its way around the U.S., I hope more people get to experience it — even if only by chance. And if you happen to see a brightly painted Japanese sauna truck rolling down a highway near you, don’t worry: you’re not hallucinating. For this moment a piece of Japan travels 7,000 kilometers across the country, holding space for stories, steam, and connection. Follow the journey on Instagram at Mobile Sento_Japan.