Asian Spa Review, Getting Treated Well in Tokyo

A Japanese spa conjures up images of communal bathhouses and hot spring-fed outdoor pools in mountain landscapes, the sleek contemporary Nagomi Spa at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo will add a new dimension.

Actually, Nagomi Spa fits as seamlessly into its environment as do the more traditional spas. As part of Roppongi Hills, Tokyo's new city-within-a-city, it reflects the creative concept of this imaginative contemporary urban development.

Rappongi Hills is a 29-acre "vertical garden city," as its visionary developer, Minoru Mori, calls it. His idea was to provide space for people to live, work, and play in the same area, and still keep elements of traditional Japan. The complex includes an office tower, four high rise residential buildings, 70 restaurants, about 200 shops, several entertainment centers, and one hotel, the Grand Hyatt; they are all carefully placed to leave room for green and open space where Tokyoites can congregate. In a delightful juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary Japan, a rice paddy is on the roof of the Virgin Cinema, roof gardens top the apartment houses, and the 400-year-old Mohri Garden, the only part of the original site that remains, sits next to the open Arena where celebrities such as Mariah Carey perform.

The two-year-old Grand Hyatt Tokyo is filled with references to ancient Japan. In front of the hotel entrance, a group of boulders called "High Mountain Flowing Water: 3-D Landscape Painting," by the artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, evokes a craggy mountain and river landscape. And, reminiscent of traditional Japanese bathing, in the very large, high-tech bathrooms, water from a deep, fast-filling soaking tub flows over into a separate showering area, making bathing more an experience and sensuous ritual than merely a cleaning exercise. The overflowing tubs are very Japanese - deep and big enough for communal soaking, and the ability to step from the shower, for cleansing, to the tub, for soaking, is crucial to the "onsen," the Japanese "way of the bath."

The Nagomi Spa brings similar cultural echoes. The name itself means harmony, well-being, balance, and relaxation in Japanese, all Shinto concepts. The minimalist reception area is panelled in satiny wood. The exquisite wood floors pay homage to Shinto architecture and bring pleasure to the simple act of walking barefoot. The spa's walls are finished in traditional tsuchikabe, a mix of clay and straw. The spacious swimming pool, 23 by 67 feet, is inspired by Japan's outdoor hot springs. It is breathtakingly beautiful; two wide red granite columns seemingly rise from the surface of the water to the roof and flank a dramatically lighted circular whirlpool embedded in the larger pool. It's a remarkable marriage of Japanese tradition and state-of-the-art technology.

Past the pool are six treatment rooms, two of them deluxe with private showers and changing areas, a Vichy wet treatment room, and a suite specially designed for couples, with a private shower and deep soaking Japanese granite stone tub.

I signed up for "Serenity," the Nagomi Signature Facial, a two-hour session for 27,300 yen (as of this writing, one US dollar is equal to 112 yen). As soon as I entered the treatment room, I felt the Asian aura. The walls were rough, the cabinets dark wood, and illumination was from a column of light. A duvet, folded like a posh sleeping bag that closes in the center (the ultimate in brilliant Japanese packaging), lay on the terry-covered table.

But first, my facial began with a hot water foot soak in a wooden tub, feet scrubbed with hot spring salt, and finally a foot massage. I began to understand the Japanese way of total relaxation, how a foot exfoliation and herbal soak might relate to a facial.

Finally, I crawled into the waiting duvet, lay my head on the terry cloth roll, and closed my eyes. What followed, I was later told, were cleansers, refiners, and toners with essential nutrients and antioxidants that nourished and revived my skin, plus a lifting eye and lip treatment that smoothed fine lines and wrinkles.


Other facials include:

-Clarity, a brightening Vitamin C facial, (90 minutes, ´22,050) for anti-aging, using antioxidants, including nourishing Spirulina Algae to combat premature aging, lighten skin and provide a healthy glow. It includes a contour lifting massage, a Vitamin C Ampoule and hydrating hand treatment.

-Nature's Essence, an aromatherapy facial (90 minutes, ´19,950) centering around a global bouquet of skin-renewing aromatic oils and couperose ampoule, with the bonus of an invigorating foot soak and head and foot massage.

-Purity, a deep cleansing facial (60 minutes, ´16,800) for any skin type includes a gentle exfoliating peel, a luxurious massage, deep-cleansing masque and botanical extracts to rejuvenate and nourish the skin, plus a hand treatment.


Massages:

-Harmony, NAGOMI's signature massage (90 minutes, ´21,000), starts with a relaxing foot bath and exfoliation followed with a full body massage using the special blend of signature aromas, inducing relaxation and restoring lost balance to the mind and body.

-Essentials, an aroma massage (60 minutes, ´16,800, 90 minutes, ´19,950) uses special blends of essential oils.

-Oriental Massage (60 minutes, ´14,700, 90 minutes, ´19,950), a traditional pressure massage using thumbs, palms and elbows for relief of deep muscle tension.


An interesting menu of Body Scrubs and Wraps includes:

-Turkish Salt Scrub (60 minutes, ´17,850), a mineral salt exfoliation applied in a two-step treatment using thermal salt, rich in minerals and trace elements combined with essential oils, followed by a loofah scrub

-Celebration of the Sea, a Spirulina Body Wrap (60 minutes, ´19,950), a seaweed treatment using all-natural, live Spirulina Algae rich in antioxidants that imparts essential vitamins, minerals and protein to nourish and revitalize the body.

-Essence of Earth, a moor mud full-body wrap (60 minutes, ´18,900). Moor Mud, legendary for its powerful therapeutic properties, is a blend of botanical materials which have had natural interaction with thermal mineral water. Several thousand-year-old moor mud remineralizes, soothes and rejuvenates tired muscles and dull skin.

-Botanic Cocoon, an aloe/algae wrap (60 minutes, ´18,900) combines the healing moisturizing properties of aloe vera with the remineralizing and nourishing properties of algae and aromatherapy oils in a hydrating body wrap. Includes a luxurious scalp and neck massage, as well as a foot massage with an herbal balm.

-Spa Kur is an ancient European tradition based on a bathing ritual in healing waters combined with a natural resource, such as organic mud, remineralizing algae, purifying plants, or essential oils. Nagomi offers three different ones, each two hours, Y36,750.

The spa also has a variety of cosmetic treatments for women, such as manicures and waxing.

To appeal to Japanese men, who are as passionate about bathing as women, Nagomi offers:

-Soothing Strength (60 minutes, ´16,800), a deep-cleansing, therapeutic facial designed for the special skin care of men, specifically calming sensitivity and razor burn.

-Sports Pedicure (60 minutes, ´10,500) that includes a foot soak in Hungarian mineral salts, exfoliation of rough skin with a creamy eucalyptus salt mixture, and a massage featuring a natural foot balm rich in menthol, eucalyptus and lavender.

-Balance (60 minutes, ´15,750), a head and foot massage to relieve tension.

-Men's NAGOMI Nail Care Course (60 minutes, ´8,925).


What the Nagomi Spa has not forgotten is the pleasure of treatments for two. The tranquil Nagomi Suite has rough-hewn walls, subdued lighting, its own Japanese granite soaking tub, a steam shower and bathroom, and twin treatment beds. Couples may choose from the following:

-Double Indulgence (90 minutes, ´45,150 for two) starts with a relaxing soak in the stone tub, followed by one hour full body relaxation massages.

-NAGOMI Kur (120 minutes, ´68,250 for two), with one of the three healing waters Spa Kur treatments.

-Time for Two, any two spa treatments to share the experience of harmonious nurturing together. Treatment costs, listed above, are per person.


As if all this isn't enough, fitness programs (each 60 minutes, ´6,300) feature a workout with a personal trainer, a stretch management session, and a private swimming lesson, as well as a fully equipped gym.

Hotel guests have free access to the pool, Jacuzzi, and gym; the use of the men's/women's locker rooms, relaxation areas, saunas, and plunge pools costs ´4,000. The spa is open 5:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. daily. Double rooms from about $465, suites from about $840, plus tax and service.

more information: www.hyatt.com
tokyo.grand.hyatt.com

by: http://www.spareviewmag.com