Take It All Off!

The Public Bath 

Inside Seikoro Inn,

A ryokan in Kyoto

October 8, 2014

Part 2

Ever been to a public bath in a ryokan? Umm, what exactly do you do in here?

You wonder:  how exactly do you bathe in here?

Ladies are expected to completely take off their clothes and thoroughly wash themselves FIRST in one of the shower stalls. Just like in a regular spa, the hot tub is meant for soaking and relaxing.

You must wash yourself first in one of these shower stalls.

I couldn't do it. I kept my swimsuit on. Even if this public bath was exclusive to women (they have a separate one for the men), I couldn't bring myself to strip down completely. And I was alone in there for the most part.

The main entrance to the women's public bath

Before traveling to Japan, I researched the "How To's." I knew that in this communal bath, I was supposed to rigorously rinse myself clean while sitting on the little stool. It is only AFTER cleansing that I could soak in the hot bath.

The very first time I was introduced to this was when I visited the award-winning Grand Wailea Spa in Maui. (You can read that story here.) Also, see bottom of this post to learn the proper way of having a Japanese bath.

The steamy water in this spa helped soothe tired muscles.

After going through the drill, I sat in the spa and enjoyed how the hot water loosened up my muscles. It was exactly what I needed after walking all day.

In my previous post Inside The Ryokan - Part 1,  I talked about seizing this moment: when no one else was here so I could take as many photos as I wanted. I was so glad I had exclusivity...even for just a while.

Like a modern spa, they have complete amenities. Behind me is the shelving unit to store clothes.

Just as I was getting ready to leave, another guest walked in. Without hesitation, she fully unrobed and stashed her clothes in one of the cubby shelves. I'm not sure if she noticed I had a swimsuit on. She must've thought I was some kinda weirdo.

My eyes discreetly followed her. She went straight for one of the stalls, plopped on a stool, and then scrubbed herself clean like nobody's business. Truthfully, I wanted to watch to see how it's really done but I'm sure she would not have approved. 

The stairway that takes you to the communal bath.

I gathered my things and headed back to my room. As I wandered down the hallways, I found so many interesting art pieces at every turn. This ryokan is really lovely. 

This right here is one of my favorite art ensemble in the ryokan.

Interesting art pieces make this ryokan even more homey.

Lovely wall art

The hallway leading back to my room.

I was happy that I had my fill of relaxation for the day. After that much needed interlude, I was ready to eat. In my next post, I'll take you through my kaiseki, or five-course dining experience in the ryokan.

What is the proper way of having a Japanese bath? ~ Source: JAPANiCAN.com

In the changing area, remove all your clothes. You may take a small towel with you into the bathing area. After entering the bathing area, but before entering the main bath, you should wash your entire body. The reason for this is that in Japan, the bath is a shared facility to soak and relax in; it is not used for washing. Once you have washed yourself, enter the bath and relax!

The showers in Japanese public baths consist of seated-type stalls. It is considered bad manners to stand while taking a shower in this kind of stall. It is also considered bad manners to immerse your towel in the bath water.

Please note that some ryokan do not allow guests with tatoos to use the public bathing areas. If you have a tattoo, you should contact the ryokan or JAPANiCAN Customer Support beforehand to confirm that you will be able to use the baths. Many ryokan that do not allow guests with tatoos to use the public baths will still allow them to use the private reservable baths.

Heavenly Pampering

Spa Grande at Grand Wailea
(Sixth of a Series)

Day 4 - December 18, 2013

Some pampering time at the spa? Yes, please!

I didn't want to leave Grand Wailea without experiencing the award-winning Spa Grande. I saw an ad in the Hana Hou in-flight magazine stating that it is the Top Hotel Spa in Hawaii (Travel + Leisure). I'm not going to pass up this chance unlike the last time -- see blog post SPA-tastic!

With an appointment set for 8:00 a.m., I was the first guest at this lovely sanctuary that day. I enjoyed the advantage of having the entire place exclusively to myself for an hour!

The grandiose entrance to Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea.

I started my self-pampering time with a dip in this inviting Roman whirlpool and cold plunge.

What's distinctive about this spa is its philosophy of East meets West...in the Hawaiian Islands. The East uses herbs and ancient Eastern techniques while the West uses new technologies to enhance inner and outer beauty. And here, it's a harmonious combination of both plus the Hawaiian touch.

The other differentiating feature of this spa is the Terme Hydrotherapy Circuit. Words are not quite enough to describe the experience.  Thankfully, Spa Grande has this video that walks you through it. [Video Clip]

This video best explains the Terme Hydrotherapy Circuit experience at Spa Grande.

After soaking in the Roman Whirlpool, I made my way to the Hawaiian corner.  I thoroughly enjoyed the cascading waterfalls. Imagine soaking underneath a giant faucet with water dropping from 10 feet above you. The hydro pressure on my neck, shoulders, and and back felt good! It reminded me of my favorite feature in Aquae Sulis Spa of JW Marriott in Las Vegas. 

The tropical shower was just as invigorating.  This shower enclosure surrounds you with 50 water spouts and a large shower head.  The result is a jet stream of water that massages you from head to toe.

Following this, I explored the sea salt baths. These magnificent baths were developed exclusively for Spa Grande using minerals, herbs, fruits, and essences that are indigenous to Hawaii.

The five Hawaiian sea salt baths. (Photo courtesy of Spa Grande at Grand Wailea.)

Each bath of various colors and aromas offered benefits ranging from relieving stress to nourishing the skin. I tried the Kaua'i bath with lava red sea salt and tropical guava; the Lana'i bath with green papaya sea salt and golden pineapple; and the Maui bath with Wailea Blue sea salt and cocounut nectar.  At the end of it all, I smelled like Hawaii!

This is what convinced me to go.  At the entrance to the spa is a display explaining the different bath soaks from indigenous Hawaiian sea salts.

In between my explorations, I was invited to the treatment room for a full-body honey-mango exfoliation.  I lay on my stomach on the spa treatment table while the spa attendant gently scrubbed my back, arms, and legs with a loofah.  It felt like light rain on my body when she rinsed me off using a shower wand.

Mind you, all of this is accessible to a guest for only $55 (2 hours in the facility) or comes complimentary when you book a spa treatment. Someday, I'd like to return and try the Six-Hand Lava Stone Massage.  It's where three therapists (yes three!) simultaneously massage your entire body with hot lava stones.  Sounds heavenly!

On the "East side" of the spa, I tried the Japanese furo bath -- a shallow pool with bubbles emanating from the bottom, gently massaging the body as the air bubbles rise to the surface. The spa attendant pointed out the traditional Japanese shower in this area.  It is low level and has no shower head. Instead, it has a shower wand and a wooden stool as it is meant for one to sit while showering.

I didn't know much about the furo bath until I did some research recently. I learned that in the traditional Japanese ritual of bathing, a wooden bathtub is filled with water and left overnight. It is important to be completely clean before entering the bath.  This is why there's a Japanese type shower next to it where one sits on a small wooden stool and lightly rinses off before entering the bath.

Spa Grande's private lanai. (Photo courtesy of Spa Grande at Grand Wailea,)

As a fitting finale to my pampering session, I went upstairs to the relaxation area -- a private lanai with sweeping views of the resort's Relaxation Pool and the Wailea Beach. This alone makes Spa Grande one of the best spas in the world.

Now I can check out without hesitation.


Continued from Bouncing Off The Clouds, It's A Hula-day, and My Heart Smiled. More on this adventure continued on Chasing Double Rainbows.

SPA - tastic!

Montage Deer Valley - Part 3
Spa Montage
Deer Valley, Utah
Dec. 1 - 3, 2012

I wanted to bonk myself in the head for not bringing along a swimsuit. The spa's pool was so inviting. Just take a look at these.

The pool at Spa Montage in Deer Valley

This pool area overlooks the pristine mountain views surrounding Montage Deer Valley.

I did, however, spend some relaxation time in this peaceful sanctuary.  Apparently, this spa is the largest in Utah.  This scoop is just among the interesting facts pointed out by the spa attendant who gladly gave me a tour.

Spa Montage's Relaxation Room

The spa features stunning earthscapes by Michael Fatali.

The artwork here is hard to ignore.  The entire spa is donned with stunning landscape photography by Michael Fatali.  His collection of earthscapes is striking.  It definitely accomplishes his mission of sharing the beauty and power of the spirit of nature. You'll be mesmerized if you view the slideshow in his website.

The spa showcases Fatali's impressive artwork.
Artist Michael Fatali features incredible Southwest landscapes in his photography. 

Being in Deer Valley, going to the spa was probably the farthest thing on my mind.  I was consumed with engaging in various outdoor winter activities while I was here.  But Spa Montage was brilliant.  They left me a message in my room saying that I had a gift waiting at the spa.

I was excited to open the surprise gift. It included a sisal bath brush that is great for dry brushing.  Until then, I had not heard of dry brushing.

The gift bag included bath salts, body lotion, and a sisal brush.

The label on the package read:

"This traditional Japanese style bath brush is made with palm (sisal) fibers from plants that are hand-harvested and replanted each Fall in Kenya.  They provide a completely natural brush, effective for use on the whole body and contain no animal by-products.  Dry-brushing increases circulation, improves skin tone, encourages detoxification and sloughs away dead skin cells.

How to Dry Brush:  use quick brisk strokes, applying the pressure that is most comfortable to you.  Always brush upwards, towards your heart.  Finish with a warm bath or shower, ending with a cold rinse."

After some research, I found this article that tells you more about the benefits of dry brushing -- including reducing cellulite. (I love learning new things everyday!)

It was a great marketing move for the resort's spa to send me this gift bag.  It wasn't a ploy to make you purchase anything but rather to encourage you to visit their facility and be aware of their wellness products and services. Without hesitation, I took up the spa attendant's offer to show me around. That's how I learned so much about Spa Montage.

At the end of that long day, the bath salts and body lotion -- my gift items from the spa -- were put to good use.  The blended scent of lemon, verbena, and cedar is quite calming.  Soaking in the tub was a really good idea.  And after that relaxing bath, sinking into my soft pillows in my hotel bed was just as heavenly. I definitely MUST come back here.

See my previous posts:  Part 1 and Part 2.