A Tale of Two Tranquilities:
- Written by Jason Feinberg
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Enjoying Rest and Relaxation
From Taketomi to Tokyo
Japan is home to some of the oldest spa culture in the world. A recent trip offered a closer look at how for centuries the Japanese have sought the healing benefits of nature to cleanse and rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit, translating to luxurious spa experiences at two of the country’s finest hotels.
First class hospitality begins with the Flagship experience aboard American Airlines’ flight from New York JFK to Tokyo Haneda. One can live comfortably on the lightweight pajamas alone, but turndown service, complete with a quilted bed topper, day blanket, amenity kit with Dermalogica skincare products, premium duvet and pillow on the six-foot, six-inch fully-flat seat make this airline the top choice for travel to Japan.
Hoshinoya Okinawa opened in June 2012, adding luxury accommodations and five-star service to the rural island of Taketomi. Taketomi, which belongs to the Yaeyama Island group in the Okinawa Prefecture, is located in the southernmost part of Japan. It is a remote destination with distinct styles of traditional architecture, landscaping and lifestyle, preserved by the locals for centuries.
The concept of the Hoshinoya brand is to offer guests an authentic side of Japan with modern comforts and service excellence. The 16-acre property includes 48 single-story villas, each facing south and built to match the existing village houses on the island. Kyangi villas are traditional, with tatami floors throughout and zaisu chairs, Japanese seats with no legs. Zuki or Gajoni villas feature hardwood-floored living rooms for a more Western experience. All villas have distinctive red tile roofs, private gardens enclosed by coral rock walls and a statue of sisha, a legendary creature believed to protect houses from evil spirits.
At Hoshinoya Okinawa, omotenashi, the spirit of service that embodies everything from ensuring that guests feel comfortable to the hosts’ consistently polite attitude, is evident in the genuine smiles among all hotel staff members. Attention to detail is also not overlooked in the spa, comprised of one dual and two single-treatment rooms housed in two villas.
Though a variety of options are available using various tropical herbs, sea mud and seaweed, the treatment of choice is the shell ginger massage, offered exclusively at Hoshinoya Okinawa. Native to Okinawa, shell ginger has powerful antioxidant effects. For hundreds of years, its benefit has been enjoyed by the local people in Okinawa who are known to drink shell ginger tea regularly and whose lifespan is one of the longest in the world.
Other treatments have been adapted to take advantage of the surroundings. Wakame seaweed is used for cleansing while hibiscus flower extracts help brighten skin tones during facials. The hinoki, or Japanese cypress bath, is also available for soaking. Bathing in a wood tub provides a full sensory experience: the scents, the soft texture of wood and the beauty of the rich grain that calms the nerves. The Japanese believe that soaking in the bathtub for half an hour to an hour energizes and rejuvenates your soul. Guests are invited to relax in the bath as natural oils and soothing fragrances are released in the warm water.
In addition to the spa, resort amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool designed to look like a local water well, a lookout terrace, a shop, a lounge with nightly live local music performances, 24-hour coffee, tea and snack service, and a main dining room offering Ryukyu nouvelle, a new style of Okinawan food based on French cuisine. Stretching and breathing exercises are also offered at Aiyaru Beach, adjacent to the Hoshinoya resort.
A ferry, a flight and a taxi away from Taketomi is Tokyo. Whereas Taketomi’s weather is more like that of Florida, Tokyo’s is similar to New York and at the crossroads of business and pleasure in Japan’s capital city is the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo.
Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo opened in March of 2009 as Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts’ first property in Japan. The 200-room property occupies the top 11 floors of the Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building, offering breathtaking views of the city and a sight of Mount Fuji in the distance on a clear day.
Guest rooms are among the largest in the city and reflect Japanese influence and innovation, incorporating subtle, luxurious Asian-inspired touches throughout, with the latest business facilities. Horizon Club-level accommodations provide guests with additional premium features, including a private concierge and access to the exclusive Horizon Club Lounge with complimentary breakfast, snacks and cocktails.
Shangri-La’s brand of hospitality is from the heart, and the essence of its culture is the value of kindness, embracing guests and treating each one like family. A further nod to Shangri-La’s unique level of luxury is exemplified in CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.
Draped in the soothing beauty of Himalayan décor, the interiors at CHI incorporate local materials and architecture that features Asian art within the design. The spa has six tranquil treatment rooms, including a treatment suite for two, that are the largest self-contained spa suites in Tokyo.
According to traditional Chinese philosophy, to maintain good health, chi, or one’s life force energy, must flow freely within the body. CHI, The Spa’s treatments fuse traditional Asian healing philosophies, based upon the principles of restoring balance and harmony to both mind and body. An extensive spa menu offers therapies available at all CHI facilities as well as exclusive therapies only available in Tokyo. The Kisetsu Ritual is a natural spa treatment developed to reflect the changing needs of each season (kisetsu) with the freshest ingredients sourced in Japan. The Yang Chi Energizer combines therapeutic deep tissue techniques inspired by traditional Chinese medicine to improve circulation and alleviate stress.
Next to the spa is the Health Club with a heated indoor swimming pool overlooking the Imperial Palace. The hotel’s dining facilities include Piacere, a signature Italian restaurant offering a sumptuous breakfast buffet; Nadaman, which serves authentic Japanese kaiseki cuisine; and the Lobby Lounge. The property also has exquisite facilities for weddings and banquets.
Getting to Japan
American Airlines is the only airline to offer nonstop service out of New York City (JFK) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), conveniently located only nine miles from downtown Tokyo via monorail and high-speed train. Haneda is Japan's main hub for domestic flights, providing the widest range of options for connections to and from cities throughout the country. Before your flight, visit the Admirals Club lounge where fresh dining and premium beverage selections will keep you refreshed and ready for your travels. Once you're onboard, enjoy an enhanced journey to Asia on American’s 777-200, featuring a premium inflight dining experience for First and Business Class travelers, with chef-inspired menu options paired with award-winning wines. For more information, visit www.AA.com/moreasia.
Lisa Mendoza contributed to this article.
