It is no secret that people all over the world drink Japanese green tea for its rich aroma and powerful health-promoting anti-oxidants. But have you ever thought of bathing in it to make your skin feel silky smooth? Well, at the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, you can not only take a dip in green tea but also in sake, wine and coffee.
This hot springs amusement park and spa resort offers more than 25 different bath and spa facilities for visitors looking to soak away their troubles. At the popular "Green Tea Spa" a 2 meter tea pot pours green tea that has been harvested from leaves at the foot of the Tanzawa and Hakone mountains into a large indoor bath. Meanwhile guests who are looking to perk up their senses can soak at the "Coffee Spa" which contains hot spring water mixed with real coffee. Not to be outdone is the "Wine Spa," which has a giant 3.6 meter tall bottle of wine and periodic performances of pouring real wine into the bath. Bathing in wine is considered to be a rejuvenation treatment for the body and has been practiced by the likes of Cleopatra.
Those looking for an international bathing experience can unwind in the "Turkish Hamam," a Turkish style spa adorned with mosaic tiles and dome-shaped ceilings that evoke images of an Ottoman Turkish Palace, or they can experience a soothing "Ancient Roman Bath," which involves taking a hot water spa followed by dips in a cold water spa and finally a mist sauna. But the facility's largest attraction is "The God's Aegean Sea," consisting of three islands on which there are a variety of water massaging devises for guests to enjoy while gazing at the fully illuminated screen covering the ceiling.
The resort also offers the "Mori No Yu" zone for those looking for a more traditional onsen or Japanese hot springs experience. This section is divided into private areas for women and men as everyone is expected to bathe in the buff. Guests can view a tranquil Japanese garden while enjoying the fragrant and relaxing "Cypress Bathtub", where not only the bathtub but the floor, walls and ceiling are lined with cypress, or they can take in the picturesque landscape of the Hakone countryside and breathe the fresh mountain air while bathing in the "Roten-buro" or outdoor bath.
To make each guest's stay a more enjoyable and hassle free experience the resort is set up like a hotel and uses a cashless payment system. Visitors must first check in at the reception desk to receive a wireless digital wristwatch that scans and records all of their transactions. When guests are ready to leave they can either pay in cash by scanning their wristband at the cash machine or they can pay by credit card at the reception desk. Since towels and robes can be rented, visitors do not have to bring their own.
The Hakone Kowakien Yunessun resort is open 365 days a year. So if you are hoping for a quick getaway from the hectic pace and stresses of Tokyo living and are looking for a unique bathing experience, be sure to take a relaxing soak at this friendly spa resort.
Written and Photographed by Erika Wiseberg
1297 Ninotaira Hakone-machi
Ashigarashimo-gun Kanagawa-ken, 250-0407
04-602-4126
http://www.yunessun.com/english/
