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Nestled within the lush Nikko National Park in the mountains north of Tokyo, The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko (ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/japan/nikko) is the very first onsen experience offered by the Ritz-Carlton brand. The 1,600-square-foot facility draws healing geothermal waters directly from renowned hot spring Nikko Yumoto Onsen, delivering mineral-rich baths that help boost circulation to relieve pain and stimulate skin’s natural healing abilities.
The spa’s design is inspired by its pristine natural surroundings, setting the scene with an entrance corridor that mimics the geological layers of Iroha-zaka—a pair of winding roads through the mountains—as well as stones set into the floor that decrease in size as clients approach the spa, just as the area’s rocks get smaller the closer they are to the lake.
In addition to four treatment rooms—one of which features a private outdoor onsen bath—the spa offers a washing area; dry sauna; indoor and open-air hot springs; courtyard spa lounge; and a fitness studio with equipment for cardio, weightlifting and stretching.
