Essential to the Japanese wellness experience is its bathing culture, which has long been healing people’s minds and bodies. From onsen (hot springs), a blessing of nature brought by volcanoes, to ganbanyoku (hot stone spas), where you slowly sweat on warmed minerals, sunaburo (sand baths), where you feel the warmth of the earth all over your body, and mud packs that condition your skin with natural blessings—by being enveloped in these warm blessings, you can experience deep peace and vitality for both your mind and body. Through Japan’s bathing culture, you’ll find a blissful time wrapped in nature’s warm embrace.
Onsen (Hot Springs)
Japan is known worldwide as a country with abundant hot spring resources, said to number over 3,000 locations (1). Hot springs, born from active volcanic activity, have been used for centuries to heal people’s minds and bodies and maintain their health. The greatest appeal of onsen lies in the positive effects that diverse spring qualities have on the body and the deep relaxation provided by the buoyancy and water pressure that envelop the entire body.
Positive Effects on the Body from Spring Qualities
Diverse mineral components such as sulfur, hydrogen carbonate, chloride, and radon in the onsen water are absorbed through the skin, exerting the unique healing properties of each spring quality, which is said to help with fatigue recovery and the alleviation of specific symptoms.
Mind-Body Liberation from Buoyancy and Water Pressure
When you soak in the water, your body feels lighter due to buoyancy, which reduces the burden on your joints and muscles. The gentle water pressure applied to your whole body creates a massage effect, which is expected to promote blood circulation and alleviate swelling. This allows you to feel a deep sense of liberation in both mind and body.
Thermal Effects and a Sense of Unity with Nature
Warming your body to the core promotes blood circulation, leading to fatigue recovery and enhanced metabolism. Especially in open-air baths, soaking while gazing at the beautiful seasonal nature provides mental peace and deep healing, and you can feel a direct sense of unity with nature.
Ganbanyoku (Hot Stone Spas)
Ganbanyoku is a unique bathing method in which you lie down on warmed natural mineral stones without soaking in water, slowly working up a sweat from deep within your body.
Enveloped by the effects of far-infrared rays and negative ions, it offers high mind-body invigoration and relaxation effects with less strain on the body, making it a great alternative to saunas.
Far-Infrared Effects and Mind-Body Invigoration
Far-infrared rays generated from the warmed mineral stones warm the body from within, which is expected to promote blood circulation and have a relaxing effect. Promoting sweating from the sebaceous glands is said to enhance the excretion of waste products from the body, which can also lead to the purification of the skin.
Negative Ions and Beauty Benefits
Negative ions generated from natural mineral stones are believed to balance the autonomic nervous system and induce a state of deep relaxation. As metabolism becomes more active and promotes skin cell turnover, skin-beautifying and anti-aging effects can also be expected. However, the scientific evidence for these effects is limited, and it is more appropriate to view them as a component of the relaxation effect.
Sunaburo (Sand Baths)
Sunaburo is a truly unique Japanese bathing method where you bury your entire body in special sand heated by hot spring thermal energy. It’s particularly famous in Ibusuki Onsen in Kagoshima Prefecture. The weight of the warm sand and the steam from the hot spring cause you to sweat profusely from your entire body in a short time. You can experience significant mental and physical revitalization, improved blood circulation, and a distinct floating sensation.
Soothing Pressure of Warm Sand and Sweating
The warmed sand envelops your entire body evenly, applying a pleasant pressure. This heat and pressure cause you to sweat profusely from deep within your body, which powerfully excretes waste products and promotes mind-body invigoration.
Improved Blood/Lymph Circulation and Floating Sensation
The warmth and uniform pressure of the sand dramatically improve blood and lymph flow, leading to better circulation, relief from cold sensitivity, and enhanced metabolism. The unique floating sensation, like being enveloped without being in water, offers a profound sense of liberation unmatched by other bathing methods, leaving you feeling completely refreshed.
Doro Pack (Mud Packs)
In onsen resorts and specific regions, mud packs made from natural mud generated by volcanic activity have also been offered for beauty and health since ancient times. This mineral-rich mud is a gift from nature that not only cleanses the skin but also provides nourishment and has a relaxing effect.
Thorough Cleansing and Mineral Supplementation
The fine particles of mud powerfully absorb dirt and old skin cells from deep within the pores, cleansing the skin. The minerals contained in natural mud, such as silicon, magnesium, and calcium, activate skin cells and promote metabolism.
Moisturizing Effect and Relaxation
Mud has excellent adsorption power and also the ability to retain moisture. After the pack, it gives your skin a moisturized feel, helping to restore its natural translucence. This experience of directly feeling the blessings of the earth on your skin brings deep relaxation and purification to your mind and body.
Wellness Immersion in Japan’s Rich Bathing Traditions
Japan’s bathing culture is not just about warming the body; it is a wellness experience that allows you to feel the energy and blessings of nature with your whole body, providing deep healing and vitality to the depths of your mind and body. The physical benefits of onsen, the mind-body invigoration of ganbanyoku, the unique effects of sunaburo, and the beauty and deep relaxation from mud packs are all forms of unparalleled wellness nurtured by Japan’s rich nature.
SHIZUKU helps you find the best places to be embraced by Japan’s warm embrace, relax to your heart’s content, and recharge your vitality. We invite you to experience Japan’s profound bathing culture and enjoy its healing and health benefits.
