Wellness and Well-being
Wellness and Well-being on Shikoku and Kyushu
Japan, a country with a culture of holistic well-being practices, is an excellent place to unwind and recharge. To truly get off the beaten path, travel to Shikoku and Kyushu, the smallest and least visited of Japan’s four major islands. Shiatsu massages, pilgrimages to secluded temples, meditation retreats with Buddhist monks, and soothing soaks in onsens, bathhouses adjacent to natural hot springs, are sure to intrigue and delight visitors seeking rejuvenation in Japan. This itinerary is less than a week long, but it can easily be lengthened.
Day 1 - Shikoku
An hour's flight from Tokyo is Shikoku where the newest place to stay is the secluded, luxurious 17-room Utoco Deep Sea Therapy Center & Hotel, developed by skincare icon Shu Uemura. Designed to harness the healing agents of the area’s surrounding mineral-rich waters, the spa offers visitors restorative, thalassotherapy (water-based) treatments. Guests are massaged in marine mud or detoxifying seaweed and can bathe in the healing water, inhale sea fog, or simply drink the elements in the water, said to improve skin tone and digestion.
Day 2 - Shikoku
Begin the day with an exclusive consultation with a tea expert offering insight into the therapeutic and detoxifying properties of pure teas. The expert can create a custom blend of tea designed to enhance the body’s innate curative powers. Then, dress in a traditional white coat, scarf and conical straw hat and embark on a section of the most important Buddhist journey in Japan, the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Rewarding participants with a rare glimpse into the last vestiges of a mysterious, rural Japan, this hike through breathtaking scenery will be a profound spiritual experience. Afterwards, visitors can relax at one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, the Dogo Onsen, frequented by famous Japanese artists and nobility since the sixth century. This visit, and perhaps any visit to an onsen, will be the best opportunity guests have to interact directly with locals.
Day 3 - Mount Koya
Switch gears and stay at a monastery on Mount Koya, which is the first stop on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Spend the day with the monks who live here and observe or participate with them during their morning prayers. Learn two styles of meditation, zazen and kinhin, the seated and walking forms. Although the main objective of meditation is to achieve a level of enlightenment, if done properly, it can also improve one’s posture and alignment. Enjoy the monks’ delicious shojin ryori vegetarian cuisine and take leisurely, contemplative strolls around the grounds.
Day 4 - Kyushu
Travel south to Kyushu and stay at the luxe Murata Ryokan, located near Mount Yufudake. Designed by the architecture firm Simplicity, Murata is a traditional Japanese inn that incorporates Western and Eastern design elements. From the base of Mount Yufudake, begin an invigorating hike or bike ride. The itinerary offers panoramic views of the world’s largest caldera, or volcanic crater, as well as majestic landscapes over Kunisaki, Beppu, Yufuin and beyond. End your day with a soothing shiatsu massage and an antioxidant facial using a paste combining green tea, ground pearls, sake and pure spring water.
Day 5 - Beppu
Travel to the seaside town of Beppu, well known for its many onsens. A variety of unusual baths are available here, including floating in a mud bath, plunging in a thermal whirlpool, and being buried in a sand bath where one is encased in a relaxing cocoon of dense, hot black sand. Indulge in a Japanese facial incorporating nightingale droppings, which have been sterilized with UV light and refined into a powder form. The active ingredient in the bird droppings is said to impart a pearly luster to the skin. This beauty treatment traces its origins back to the Geisha who wore heavy damaging makeup and were concerned with the appearance and quality of their skin.
Day 6 - Fly Home
Fly from Kyushu to Tokyo to meet your flight home or onward.