The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko (Address: 2482 Nakamiyashi, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture) is offering its guests the first hot spring experience of its kind in the world, drawing on water from Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring that was discovered during the Nara period and has been popular for its therapeutic baths. Hot springs, which Japan, a volcanic nation, has cultivated as a culture that the world can be proud of, are not just for their traditional therapeutic purposes, but also for the new value of calming the mind, reflecting on oneself amidst change, and reconsidering one's future. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko has produced a video showcasing the hot springs that awaken instincts and the rugged winter scenery, which has been released on its official YouTube channel.
Watch the video here
https://youtu.be/Rgk6wiWEJsI
Passing through an approach resembling a cut, featuring walls depicting the geological strata of Oku-Nikko, and passing through a noren curtain crafted from European linen in a gradation reminiscent of the mountain ranges, the hot spring appears. It comprises an indoor bath, an open-air bath, a cold bath, and a sauna. The baths are laid out facing Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai. On sunny days, the view opens up to a surprising view of Oku-Nikko's natural beauty. The changing light filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows creates a space where you can lose track of time and relax, just like in the guest rooms of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko. The interior walls and bathtub are crafted from the whitest granite, a modern, minimalist design that sets it apart from other rock baths, even though it's made of the same material. The interior invites you into a state of emptiness. All lighting is gentle and indirect, and a wall on one side of the bath allows hot water to flow down, allowing the sound of water echoing from the five-meter-high ceiling to soothe the body and mind.
Meanwhile, from the open-air bath, which turns cloudy as it comes into contact with the air, you can admire the elevated garden decorated with volcanic rocks, alpine plants, and moss that embody the majestic nature of Oku-Nikko, while right before your eyes you can see Mount Nantai, sometimes covered in snow and sometimes illuminated crimson by the morning sun. The raised garden makes Lake Chuzenji seem like just its presence, and the lake breeze that blows in will blow away even your doubts, and if you listen carefully, the sound of the lake's surface seems to wash away the dirt from your heart. Especially in winter, the effect of bathing in the clear, open air further sharpens your spiritual senses, and if you look up on a clear night while surrounded by the sulfur-scented steam of the hot spring, you will be greeted by a starry sky full of stars.
Eight essentials for enjoying a hot spring to the fullest
At the hot springs at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, we are proposing eight essentials for enjoying a hot spring to the fullest.
Pass through the noren curtain and be respectfully invited into the interior.
Take off your shoes and "totonoe" your mind and prepare yourself.
"Purify" your mind and body with a "pour" of hot water over yourself.
The "water sound" of the water gently flowing into the bathtub filled with plenty of hot water.
The "fragrance" unique to sulfur springs enhances their healing powers.
Experience the ultimate "tranquility" as you immerse yourself in the mysterious, milky white water.
Feel the "awe" of the fact that there is nothing there except you and the hot spring.
And after your bath, enjoy "relaxation" in the lounge.
A dignified silence permeates every moment.
The Story of Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, whose hot springs are drawn from the source by The Ritz-Carlton Nikko
Records state that Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, from which the hot springs are drawn, was discovered in 788 (the 7th year of the Enryaku era) by the monk Shodo Shonin, who was the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Nantai and establish a temple. Until the early Meiji period, women were off-limits to the area, and only ascetic monks were allowed to use the area. However, in the later period, inns began to spring up one after another, and Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen became a major resort. Isabella Bird, a world-renowned British female explorer who traveled to Japan at the time, wrote the following about the hot springs in her book, "Journeys in the Interior of Japan," which helped to popularize Nikko around the world:
"A healthy sick person takes a bath as many as twelve times a day! Everyone walking by carries a blue towel on their arm. (Omitted) The hot spring comes out at the end of the village, in a square tank inside a mound. It boils very vigorously, emitting foul-smelling smoke. Wide boards are placed across the bath in places, and people suffering from rheumatism lie on them for hours, letting the sulfurous steam hit their bodies."
Later, in 1954, it was designated as the first national health resort hot spring, and is one of Japan's most famous hot springs.
The spring is a simple hydrogen sulfide sulfur spring with a temperature of 78.6°C. The source, which gushes out 1,788.5 liters per minute, is colorless and transparent, but when it comes into contact with the air above ground, it turns milky white and cloudy. The water has a distinctive sulfurous scent and is neutral to slightly acidic. In addition to relieving neuralgia and joint pain, the hot springs are also effective in relieving cold sensitivity and fatigue. The hot springs also contain a high content of metasilicic acid, a natural moisturizing ingredient, which promotes skin metabolism and has excellent skin-beautifying properties.
"Lake Chuzenji once flourished as a vacation spot for Western diplomats, and it is said that visiting this land, which resembled their hometowns, brought back memories of their homes. Even now, more than a century later, its unspoiled scenery evokes nostalgia for us Japanese, making it a place to return to. Looking up from the bath, Mount Nantai is known as a sacred place of mountain worship, off-limits to anyone but ascetics until just 150 years ago. Imagine the time back then when the hot waters boiling in the earth of Oku-Nikko, known for its harsh winters, not only warmed your chilled body, but also offered an exceptional sense of healing, enveloped in the utmost silence and mystery. The hot spring experience, where you are embraced by the energy of this rugged land, will be a small gift from nature to our guests, living together in this age of change, just as the state of nature itself changes from moment to moment." (Comment from Masanori Hosoya, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko) src="https://prtimes.jp/i/11305/659/resize/d11305-659-260715-0.jpg" alt="" />
About The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko opened on July 15, 2020, as Tochigi Prefecture's first luxury hotel. Nikko is a popular destination known for its abundant nature, traditional culture, and long history, and is home to the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located within Nikko National Park, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko offers 94 spacious guest rooms, restaurants and bars, a fitness studio, a spa, and a hot spring facility that draws on the waters of Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring that has long been beloved by the local community. This hot spring initiative marks a first for The Ritz-Carlton brand, and will offer guests a relaxing stay immersed in a Japanese ambiance. The hotel is located overlooking the scenic Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai, which has been revered as a sacred mountain in mountain worship since ancient times. Kegon Falls, known as one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls and captivating with its changing seasonal scenery, is within walking distance of the hotel.
Official website: https://www.ritzcarlton.com/jp/nikko
Hotel concept book: http://bit.ly/3atP5cl
Official YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/theritzcarltonnikko
Official Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/ritzcarltonnikko/
Official Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/TheRitzCarltonNikko/
Information about The Ritz-Carlton Nikko will be updated daily.
Click here for company press release details
Watch the video here
https://youtu.be/Rgk6wiWEJsI
What Makes The Ritz-Carlton Nikko's Hot Springs So Special?
Passing through an approach resembling a cut, featuring walls depicting the geological strata of Oku-Nikko, and passing through a noren curtain crafted from European linen in a gradation reminiscent of the mountain ranges, the hot spring appears. It comprises an indoor bath, an open-air bath, a cold bath, and a sauna. The baths are laid out facing Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai. On sunny days, the view opens up to a surprising view of Oku-Nikko's natural beauty. The changing light filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows creates a space where you can lose track of time and relax, just like in the guest rooms of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko. The interior walls and bathtub are crafted from the whitest granite, a modern, minimalist design that sets it apart from other rock baths, even though it's made of the same material. The interior invites you into a state of emptiness. All lighting is gentle and indirect, and a wall on one side of the bath allows hot water to flow down, allowing the sound of water echoing from the five-meter-high ceiling to soothe the body and mind.
Meanwhile, from the open-air bath, which turns cloudy as it comes into contact with the air, you can admire the elevated garden decorated with volcanic rocks, alpine plants, and moss that embody the majestic nature of Oku-Nikko, while right before your eyes you can see Mount Nantai, sometimes covered in snow and sometimes illuminated crimson by the morning sun. The raised garden makes Lake Chuzenji seem like just its presence, and the lake breeze that blows in will blow away even your doubts, and if you listen carefully, the sound of the lake's surface seems to wash away the dirt from your heart. Especially in winter, the effect of bathing in the clear, open air further sharpens your spiritual senses, and if you look up on a clear night while surrounded by the sulfur-scented steam of the hot spring, you will be greeted by a starry sky full of stars.
Eight essentials for enjoying a hot spring to the fullest
At the hot springs at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, we are proposing eight essentials for enjoying a hot spring to the fullest.
Pass through the noren curtain and be respectfully invited into the interior.
Take off your shoes and "totonoe" your mind and prepare yourself.
"Purify" your mind and body with a "pour" of hot water over yourself.
The "water sound" of the water gently flowing into the bathtub filled with plenty of hot water.
The "fragrance" unique to sulfur springs enhances their healing powers.
Experience the ultimate "tranquility" as you immerse yourself in the mysterious, milky white water.
Feel the "awe" of the fact that there is nothing there except you and the hot spring.
And after your bath, enjoy "relaxation" in the lounge.
A dignified silence permeates every moment.
The Story of Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, whose hot springs are drawn from the source by The Ritz-Carlton Nikko
Records state that Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, from which the hot springs are drawn, was discovered in 788 (the 7th year of the Enryaku era) by the monk Shodo Shonin, who was the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Nantai and establish a temple. Until the early Meiji period, women were off-limits to the area, and only ascetic monks were allowed to use the area. However, in the later period, inns began to spring up one after another, and Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen became a major resort. Isabella Bird, a world-renowned British female explorer who traveled to Japan at the time, wrote the following about the hot springs in her book, "Journeys in the Interior of Japan," which helped to popularize Nikko around the world:
"A healthy sick person takes a bath as many as twelve times a day! Everyone walking by carries a blue towel on their arm. (Omitted) The hot spring comes out at the end of the village, in a square tank inside a mound. It boils very vigorously, emitting foul-smelling smoke. Wide boards are placed across the bath in places, and people suffering from rheumatism lie on them for hours, letting the sulfurous steam hit their bodies."
Later, in 1954, it was designated as the first national health resort hot spring, and is one of Japan's most famous hot springs.
The spring is a simple hydrogen sulfide sulfur spring with a temperature of 78.6°C. The source, which gushes out 1,788.5 liters per minute, is colorless and transparent, but when it comes into contact with the air above ground, it turns milky white and cloudy. The water has a distinctive sulfurous scent and is neutral to slightly acidic. In addition to relieving neuralgia and joint pain, the hot springs are also effective in relieving cold sensitivity and fatigue. The hot springs also contain a high content of metasilicic acid, a natural moisturizing ingredient, which promotes skin metabolism and has excellent skin-beautifying properties.
"Lake Chuzenji once flourished as a vacation spot for Western diplomats, and it is said that visiting this land, which resembled their hometowns, brought back memories of their homes. Even now, more than a century later, its unspoiled scenery evokes nostalgia for us Japanese, making it a place to return to. Looking up from the bath, Mount Nantai is known as a sacred place of mountain worship, off-limits to anyone but ascetics until just 150 years ago. Imagine the time back then when the hot waters boiling in the earth of Oku-Nikko, known for its harsh winters, not only warmed your chilled body, but also offered an exceptional sense of healing, enveloped in the utmost silence and mystery. The hot spring experience, where you are embraced by the energy of this rugged land, will be a small gift from nature to our guests, living together in this age of change, just as the state of nature itself changes from moment to moment." (Comment from Masanori Hosoya, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko) src="https://prtimes.jp/i/11305/659/resize/d11305-659-260715-0.jpg" alt="" />
About The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko opened on July 15, 2020, as Tochigi Prefecture's first luxury hotel. Nikko is a popular destination known for its abundant nature, traditional culture, and long history, and is home to the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located within Nikko National Park, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko offers 94 spacious guest rooms, restaurants and bars, a fitness studio, a spa, and a hot spring facility that draws on the waters of Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring that has long been beloved by the local community. This hot spring initiative marks a first for The Ritz-Carlton brand, and will offer guests a relaxing stay immersed in a Japanese ambiance. The hotel is located overlooking the scenic Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai, which has been revered as a sacred mountain in mountain worship since ancient times. Kegon Falls, known as one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls and captivating with its changing seasonal scenery, is within walking distance of the hotel.
Official website: https://www.ritzcarlton.com/jp/nikko
Hotel concept book: http://bit.ly/3atP5cl
Official YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/theritzcarltonnikko
Official Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/ritzcarltonnikko/
Official Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/TheRitzCarltonNikko/
Information about The Ritz-Carlton Nikko will be updated daily.
Click here for company press release details
The press releases included in this article have been provided by PR TIMES Inc. and are reproduced in their original form. FASHION HEADLINE does not endorse the products or services featured, nor does it guarantee the content of the press releases. For inquiries regarding the content of this article, please contact PR TIMES Inc. (https://prtimes.jp/) directly.
