10 Best Spas in Japan

Located at the top of Tokyo’s Otemachi Tower, Aman Spa honours the ancient Japanese philosophy of nature and balance while utilising the very best in modern technology. Escape the rush of the city for a day of panoramic pampering in the venue’s minimalist interior that features treatment suites, saunas and a wood-accented yoga studio.

After you’ve taken a dip in the 30-metre indoor pool, book yourself into the Misogi Experience: a traditional Shinto water ritual that aims to purify the body and reset the mind. Alternatively, Aman’s Signature Spa Journey offers a full body scrub infused with kuromoji powder and camphor, as well as a 90-minute rub-down drawing on Shiatsu and western massage.

Lapidem Tokyo Spa taps into the wisdom of oriental medicine to elevate its treatments, rituals and seasonal wellness programmes. Book a session here and indulge in exotic therapies like crystal bowl sound baths, warm soapstone massages and brightening facials imbued with vitamins and plant extracts.

Featuring a golden-lit interior with Art Nouveau lamps, scallop shell doorways and geometric screens, Lapidem was awarded Japan’s Best Day Spa prize at the World Spa Awards, 2023. Conveniently situated in midtown, this regal retreat also boasts its own skincare line, Ritual, which sells products like Dewy Jelly Scrub and Okiyome Serum.

All treatments at the multi-award-winning Day Spa Osaka are carried out by highly skilled therapists who use luxury skincare products like Biologique Recherche to enhance the wellness experience. Showcasing a heated indoor pool, an aromatic steam room and a plush relaxation lounge, this oasis is a wonderful place to kick back and unwind after a day exploring the city.

Book a Body & Facial Relaxation Escape which utilises 5 Element Theory oil to restore inner harmony or the Refreshing Detox Experience, a lymphatic drainage system that leaves you feeling radiant and revitalised. Meanwhile, the spa’s Balancing Body Massage helps level your chi with its soothing strokes that work in conjunction with your energy lines.

Sky Spa Yokohama is conveniently open 24 hours, which means you can drop in for some serious R&R time, even if your plane lands at 3 in the morning. Buy an All-Day Pass and benefit from perks like body soap, shampoo, towels and loungewear, as well as access to the restaurant, KOO, with its ice-cold beers and breakfast buffet.

Unlike other Japanese wellness spaces, Sky Spa Yokohama is imbued with a nostalgic retro aesthetic, like its old-school wooden sauna with checkerboard floor and purple neon lighting. There’s also a vibrating massage bath, a salt cooling room and a calcium hot spring that helps stimulate the metabolism.

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo is set in the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower and features a scintillating spa and wellness clinic with sweeping views from the 37th floor. Guests are invited to unwind across 4 separate treatment suites that are kitted out with first-class amenities, as they take in the glamorous skyline and Mount Fuji beyond.

Indulge in therapies like Five Journeys from Nihonbashi, a sensory session that utilises Japanese ingredients like green tea, bamboo, pine and plum, or enjoy an Oriental Essence Massage which zones in on pesky stress-spots like trigger points and muscle knots. If you’re seeking the ultimate beauty treatment, nothing beats the Pearl Infused Body Mask, with exfoliating conch shell extract, that helps stimulate the epidermis while regenerating cells.

Situated in Tokyo’s 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, Chi Spa seduces with its 6 private wellness suites, sumptuous East Asian treatments and Kisetsu therapies, inspired by Japan’s distinct seasons. After you’ve enjoyed a 30-minute detox soak infused with remedial sea minerals, treat yourself to a body wrap infused with native ingredients.

Those seeking beautification can book a spot with Chi’s professional therapists for a Crystal Healing Facial by ila, which combines meridian tapping and Tibetan techniques with the healing power of gemstones. Alternatively, indulge in a Deep Tissue Massage to alleviate knots before sweating it out in the spa’s modern sauna.

Spread across 2 ritzy floors, the spa in Four Seasons Kyoto boasts a 20-metre turquoise indoor pool, cutting-edge fitness centre and treatments that span traditional Zen massages and bamboo ritual therapies. We love the 24 Karat Gold Leaf Scrub, followed by the Silk Skin Honey Wrap, which makes the epidermis luminous while restoring its suppleness.

The spa’s Kyoto Green Tea Therapy features French-made KOTOSHINA skincare products, while the Akari Facial uses a TATCHA massage tool, inspired by Kyoto’s geishas, to encourage lymphatic drainage and provide a non-invasive facelift. Afterwards, soak in 2 large whirlpools or take a complimentary guided stroll through the Higashiyama district to see iconic Buddhist sites like Kodaiji Temple.

Setouchi Retreat Aonagi is a boutique hotel with a visually striking aesthetic that’s all big skies, blue sea and minimalist architecture. Its spa offers an original range of beauty products made with ingredients that are indigenous to the region like pomelos, yuzus and mandarin oranges.

Book an Original Facial to benefit from deeply penetrating creams infused with cherry blossom and rice ceramide or a Setouchi Citrus Harmony treatment, a balm infused with Japanese lemon. Setouchi Retreat’s facilities include a garden-facing sauna, an infinity pool with ocean views and a bubbling hot spring jacuzzi that’s excellent for soaking.

Mizuki Spa and Fitness at Conrad Tokyo Hotel by Hilton occupies a vast area on the panoramic 29th floor. Here, you’ll enjoy an urban wellness experience unlike any other, enhanced with extraordinary views of the skyline and mountains.

The venue’s elongated indoor pool shimmers in the most brilliant hue of blue-green turquoise, while its swanky sauna and steam room invite you to unwind. In terms of treatments, Mizuki offers candlelit hinoki baths, coconut oil massages and oxygenated facials, as well as full-moon yoga sessions that align with the lunar cycle.

You’ll find Kanra Spa in the Kanra Kyōto hotel, which is conveniently situated near landmark attractions like the Higashi Honganji Temple and the enigmatic geisha district of Gion. This minimalist sanctuary entices guests with its sleek gold-lit interiors, traditional Asian remedies, holistic naturopathy services and serene Japanese rock gardens.

Mindfully designed to uplift all 5 senses, the spa’s Oriental Body Treatment is infused with exotic ingredients like tea and yuzu, while its Kakou Facial brims with organic neroli oil and rose. After your spa day, swing by the Kanra Lounge for a mouthwatering meal made with local produce, as well as a range of enticing drinks developed with The Ohigashisan Monzen Project.