4 Strange Japanese Spa Therapies

Granted, the world can be a scary and stressful place, so it’s no surprise people are constantly on the lookout for new ways to cure their anxieties, frazzled bodies, and jittery minds. However, the following Japanese treatments surely take the cake for the strangest spa therapies around:

Red Wine, Sake, Coffee, and Green Tea Spa Baths

The Yunessun Spa Resort is one of the largest spa resorts in Japan where one can enjoy relaxing in a variety of different spa-related and recreational spa activities. The main spa facility is called The God’s Aegean Sea and is made up of 3 islands with relaxing spa waters, water massaging devices, and special effects. But if you really want to try something new, you should consider a bathe in the Green Tea, Sake, Coffee, or Wine Spas which allow one to bathe in the actual liquid drink! The Green Tea Spa features a huge tea pot that reaches 2m high and produces tea grown at the foot of the Tanzawa and Hakone mountains. The teas are known for their rich aroma and anti-oxidant properties. The Japanese Sake Spa is filled by a constant trickle from a huge cask filled with real Japanese Sake; and the Coffee Spa contains real coffee made with hot spring water that is believed to be an effective treatment for the recovery of fatigue. Best of all is the Wine Spa, which is a unique pool of water that contains real red wine. A huge 3.6m wine bottle stands beside the pool and fills the pool with gallons of Beaujolais Nouveau, the most popular wine in Japan. The wine rejuvenates the body and the bathers are able to sip on the wine they’re bathing in, served to them by knowledgeable sommeliers. All of the above spas are said to have fantastic results for the skin.

Hot Volcanic Sand Bath

If you’re after a sand bath treatment, you’ve come to the right place. The Ibusuki Hakusuikan Sand Bath Resort offers a selection of treatment sand boxes which look pretty much like sandy graveyards! The spa treatment is done by lying down in a designated ‘grave’, while a man dressed in a “Happy Coat” rakes hot black sand over your body until only your head remains. The sands are the result of billions of years of volcanic activity from the still-active Sakurajima volcano. The black volcanic sands are believed to help relax and cure your body, and improve cardiac function. While the sand is said to be soothing at first, the heat causes your body to sweat out all of the bad toxins and can become too much after just a few minutes of being buried. The recommended time is no longer than 15 minutes, but most tourists won’t last longer than 10 minutes.

The Nightingale Poop Facial

For centuries, traditional Japanese female entertainers, known as Geishas, have been using the poop of a Nightingale to treat and exfoliate their skin. More recently, celebrities like Victoria Beckham have begun to follow suit. While the Geisha Facial (as this treatment is more commonly known) may sound elegant to those not in the know, it is in fact done by rubbing the sterilised excrement of a Nightingale on your face. Due to the Geishas’ profession, they often had to wear heavy white makeup which contained toxic lead and zinc that was damaging to their skin. They thus used the excrement of the Nightingale to remove their cakey makeup, resulting in a warm facial glow. To this day, Nightingale excrement is said to contain vital enzymes for the skin that  help to treat uneven skin tones. If you’d like to try out this treatment, various spas like the Shizuka New York Spa and the spa at the Diamond Hawaii Resort and Spa in Maui offer it.

The 24-karat Gold Facial

A beauty company in Japan known as Umo has developed one of the most expensive facial treatments in the world – one that consists of 24-karat gold! Using gold for facials dates back to Cleopatra, who used to sleep in a gold mask each night to maintain her youthful complexion. The gold is believed to help revitalise skin by accelerating cell renewal and reversing oxidation damage. This facial involves applying paper thin squares of gold to the face along with hydrating compounds. The result? Firmer, suppler skin (not to mention the dent in your wallet)!

What other strange Japanese spa therapies have you encountered around the world?

About the Author

Lauren Morling is a travel writer for the TravelGround blog. She enjoys taking long, leisurely baths and treating herself to a luxurious massage when her finances allow it. She hopes to one day experience the invigorating spa therapies offered in Japan.