A Japanese bathroom fixture company has created a ‘human washing machine’ for hotel guests that will bathe them without them needing to lift a finger.
It’s something straight out of a sci-fi movie; rather than stepping into a shower or relaxing in a bathtub, guests at hotels in Japan will soon be able to get clean automatically in a machine that’s been likened to a dishwasher.
A bathroom fixture company based out of Osaka, named ‘Science,’ has created a full-body pod that they have dubbed the Mirai Ningen Sentakki. In English, this translates to ‘Future Human Washing Machine,’ and it’s not far off.
After climbing into the pod and laying down, users simply need to pull down the top lid and watch as a few relaxing videos play for them as the contraption fills up with warm, soapy water, using “microbubbles” to dissolve sweat and grime.
They are then sprayed with water to remove any remaining suds, and the water drains before the cycle is complete. You can also choose whether or not you want your hair washed, with Science’s website claiming users’ bodies “from the neck up are automatically cleansed using water flow technology” and “ultra-fine bubbles that are tailored to the bather’s skin concerns.”
‘Human Washing Machine’ coming to Japanese hotels
As reported by Japanese news outlet Sanken, there are even sensors installed within the pod that measure users’ heart rates and autonomic nervous system activity to help researchers visualize “mental and physical changes such as relaxation and stress.” This particular portion of the ‘human washing machine’ is overseen by Associate Professor Teruo Kanki from Osaka University’s Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Thus far, those who have tried the futuristic pod have given positive reviews; a survey taken in midsummer 2025 showed that 77.6% of users said they were “very satisfied” with the Mirai Ningen Sentakki, while 21.1% said they were just “satisfied.”
However, this sci-fi device isn’t available to the public just yet. In fact, only one model has been made and displayed to the public at the Osaka Expo this year. That being said, a number of Japanese hotel chains are already looking into installing these pods at their establishments.
Science says that, although it didn’t have any plans to actually sell their pod in the beginning, it has since received orders for six units to be installed in “leisure facilities” like day spas, fitness clubs, or bathhouses, and even some hotels.
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