Enya Honami describes her time studying architecture as "hell." Long hours, terrifying professors, impossible workloads, high stress. In the self-illustration below, she is the one sleeping beneath the desk during an all-nighter in the studio.

After gaining her degree and getting a job at an architecture firm, she found the workload and stress levels were no better. Honami was overworked to the point of illness, at which point her doctor recommended she take some time off. A friend invited her to a local sento, a public bathhouse. Honami loved it so much that--she went back to work--as an employee of the bathhouse, not than the architecture firm.

Having spent enough time at the bathhouse to know the layout well, Honami produced an accurate isometric drawing of it.

Honami found this fun, and started visiting other bathhouses—with a tape measure and a laser measuring device. She'd gain permission from the owner to show up before they opened, to measure the interior. When she got home, she'd produce another drawing. She began posting these drawings to social media.

"Likes" started pouring in, and soon her work was being published in newspapers and magazines.

Next came a book deal. Honami's "Sento Illustrated" went through two successful print runs.

The drawings are not quick to produce. Honami describes her process below:

Architectural illustrations are made in four steps: research, sketch, inking, and coloring. Since it is all done by hand, the production period is about 1 to 2 months. (The period varies depending on the size of the building and the size of the paper.)

1. Surveying and interviews: Visit the site and take measurements with a tape measure and laser measuring device, as well as take photos. After the survey, interview the store owner and building owner to gain a deeper understanding of the building.

2. Draft: Based on the data from 1, create a drawing using the architectural drawing method "isometric." After drawing the rough shape of the building by hand, scan it and draw people and other figures on an iPad.

3. Inking: Place the draft and watercolor paper on top of the tracing table, and trace the draft onto the watercolor paper.

4. Coloring: Color 3 with transparent watercolors. Recreate the colors based on the photo and memories of the site. After that, scan it and add annotations on an iPad to complete the drawing.

Honami then started gaining commissions to illustrate other businesses: Coffee shops, restaurants, a "cocktail bookstore" and even office spaces.

Another book of Honami's artwork is coming out later this month. And, incredibly, her original "Sento Illustrated" book has inspired a TV drama set at a public bathhouse.

You can see more on Honami's Instagram.