The Sanitorium

While spoken of in the singular, the Sanitorium is a district in Atalasu City focused particularly on developing and maintaining physical and mental wellness.

Many businesses operate in the Sanitorium, all offering primary services for personal care or supporting these services. In a given street one might find bath houses (in plain or mineral waters), massage, skin beautification, physical challenges and coaching, and more.
One striking element of the Sanitorium is the presence of games. Many are games of skill, but one will also find games of chance: tossing balls at stacked pins, scooping a leaf from a tumbling stream with two sticks, predicting which hole a released mouse or bird will take refuge in, and more. All of these games are available for small fees, or one entry fee opening a wide range of games, and they are played purely for personal enjoyment or friendly competition. No prizes or bets are permitted, and gambling is strictly forbidden. This is in accordance with original Sanitorium businessman Faren Jiorgen's ideas that play was good for body and soul, but lost its benefit and even became detrimental when competition became more important than pleasure or when financial welfare was put at risk.
Today, arguments still continue over whether low value gambling should be prohibited or whether it is harmless in small enough amounts, but so far these discussions are entirely theoretical, as the collective of Sanitorium businesspeople have remained constant on the prohibition.
While it seems an idealistic sticking point—certainly there is money to be made in permitting gambling—the owners' collective cites more benefits than just an adherence to Faren Jiorgen's philosophy of care. Their discussions point out that the Sanitorium experiences far less crime than other pleasure districts which include more louche pleasures, and that it has remained an affordable day holiday for all, including families with children, keeping a constant stream of customers in their doors. Even their narrower spread of services is consistently profitable, and they fear changing the reliable tone of the district will drive these customers away.
Meanwhile, someone seeking a day of relaxation and comaradery could do worse than to visit the Sanitorium for a steamy mineral bath, a massage, and an afternoon of competition for bragging rights.

Type

District