Invest in yourself: a year-end reward trip starting with a hot spring bath in Japan.
Every year-end, the temperature suddenly drops, and my skin starts to feel dry, itchy, and tight.
The reflection in the mirror seemed to be shrouded in a fog, a result of a year's worth of weariness.
This may be a reminder:
It's time to take a break from the screen and turn off notifications.
Give yourself and your body a complete period of time.
Instead of buying another piece of clothing or a lipstick,
Why not take a trip to a Japanese hot spring?
This will be a reward for myself this year.
In the hot mist, slowly soak away fatigue and let your skin become as soft and delicate as a boiled egg again.
Selected from the "Kai" series of hot spring accommodations under the Hoshino Resorts group.
Avoid the crowds at famous hot springs and spend your time in those "hidden gems" of hot springs that are surrounded by tranquility yet possess ultimate healing power.
These five hot spring inns are like five different winter moods, waiting to be matched with your own.
The Beauty Secret of the Northern Forest: Jieborodo
Location｜Hokkaido Shiraoi-machi Borota Lakeside
Keywords: Ainu culture, lakeside forest, beauty-enhancing soup
In Hakuro, Hokkaido, the Kaiborota sits quietly by the lake, embraced by the surrounding forest.
The architecture is inspired by the traditional thatched houses of the Ainu people. The wood and earth tones do not create a grand atmosphere, but rather a sense of security and comfort.
The spring water here is a rare plant-based brown charcoal hot spring in the world.
Organic matter derived from ancient plants gives the spring water a soft tea color, earning it the nickname "Beauty Soup."
After soaking, the skin feels as if it has been gently coated with a protective film, smooth and delicate, and even the dryness of winter temporarily recedes.
The public bathhouse "Hutang" appears to float gently on the surface of the lake.
On one side, there was rising white mist; on the other, still lake water and distant mountain shadows.
People sit quietly in the spring, watching time stretch into a vast silence.
At night, the museum hosts guided tours of Ainu culture and musical events.
The sounds of drums, songs, and stories ensured that this hot spring experience went beyond just skincare.
It also extends to the understanding of land and culture.
All guest rooms offer lake views, so wake up in the morning!
The light and fog outside the window unfold like a painting, reminding us that the new year can begin more gently.
The Warm Spring Village of Snow Country Culture: Kiseki
Location｜Ooku Onsen-go, Aomori Prefecture
Keywords: Aomori apple bath, traditional craftsmanship, shamisen night
Heading northeast, the snow will fall more quietly.
Located in Ooku Onsen-kyo, Aomori, the Sakai Tsugaru is the kind of place where you instinctively slow down your steps as soon as you step inside.
The spring water here is a sodium chloride and sulfate spring , with a warm and gentle feel that can only be found in snowy regions.
The salt in hot springs forms a delicate film on the skin after soaking.
Let the warmth linger a little longer; even after leaving the bath, your body will still feel slightly warm.
The most enchanting thing in winter is a steaming hot "Aomori apple bath".
The whole red apple floated on the water, its aroma spreading in circles with the steam.
Snowflakes clung silently to the outside of the window; the pond was warm, but outside it was cold.
That contrast is much like the city: outwardly taciturn, inwardly warm.
Traditional crafts such as Tsugaru enamel and Sashiko embroidery can be seen throughout the museum.
In the evening, a live Tsugaru shamisen performance filled the air under warm yellow lights.
The melody is sometimes rousing and sometimes profound.
It's as if it's writing a rhythm that belongs only to Northeast China for this winter night.
Dinner was served as a kaiseki meal featuring Oma tuna, known as the "Black Diamond of the Ocean."
The oils, the warmth, and the sake intertwine on the tongue.
This journey not only warms the body but also subtly rewards the taste buds.
A History of Old and New Intertwined: Kaijomon
Location｜Yamaguchi Prefecture, Nagato-Yumoto Onsen
Keywords: traditional hot spring bath, design accommodation, riverside walk
If you want to make peace with "time" during your travels,
Nagato-Yumoto Onsen is a small town perfect for slowing down.
From the Edo period to the present day, this place has always been regarded as a scenic spot for hot spring bathing.
The Nagato Monastery is inspired by the culture of the Choshu Domain.
The traditional latticework, washi paper, and wooden construction are interwoven with large expanses of glass and modern lines.
Therefore, it has won numerous design awards.
The spring water is an alkaline, simple spring , colorless and odorless, and extremely gentle on the skin.
It can gently remove dead skin cells, leaving skin soft and radiant.
It was a subtle change—
It's not an immediate transformation, but rather a noticeable change when you touch your face the next morning.
Suddenly I realized: the dryness was no longer so noticeable.
After soaking in the hot springs, taking a stroll along the riverside path is the most relaxing way to relax in Nagato.
At night, the light art illuminates the stream, stone steps, and willow trees, turning them into a gentle golden hue.
Occasionally, I participate in the washi paper and bamboo craft workshops held at the museum.
Touching the details of this riverside town with my own hands, I gradually reorganized my thoughts.
A modern-day hot spring retreat where the sea and sky meet: Kaibetsu
Location | Beppu Bay coastline, Oita Prefecture
Keywords: Sea view hot springs, city lights, modern architecture
If you want to combine hot spring bathing with an "urban vibe," Beppu Bay is an unexpectedly perfect choice.
Located on the coastline, Kaibetsu reinterprets the traditional hot spring resort with modern architectural language.
Geometric lines and a wooden lattice structure keep the space open and bright.
Upon entering the building, your gaze is naturally drawn to the view outside the window—
There is the sea, the city, and wisps of white steam rising from the hot springs.
The spring water is a sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring , with a mild and smooth texture.
After soaking, the skin feels delicately moisturized.
The warmth spread from my shoulders all the way to my fingertips and toes.
It's like there's an invisible cloak that wraps you up perfectly.
In the open-air hot spring, you can simultaneously see the moonlight reflected from the sea.
The city lights in the distance, and the white steam rising slowly nearby.
It was a very modern, yet very primitive form of healing—
The city did not leave.
They were simply placed in the distance so that the present self could occupy the center of the picture.
All guest rooms have sea views.
The first rays of dawn, the orange glow of dusk, the reflection of neon lights at night,
Completely different scenes unfold in front of the same window.
Natural Symbiosis in the Hidden Highlands: Jie Asu
Location｜Oita Prefecture, Aso-Kusumi National Park
Keywords: Detached hot spring villa, private open-air bath, starry sky grassland
If you are secretly thinking:
"This year, it seems like I need to get away from things for a while."
So, the Aso-Kusumi National Park is located in the Aso-Kusumi National Park.
It will be a place where you can breathe very slowly.
This place offers highly private, detached hot spring villas .
Each guest room has its own private outdoor hot spring bath.
Open the door and you're greeted by the wind; step onto the terrace and you're met with the silhouettes of grasslands and mountains.
The spring water is slightly cloudy, a gentle force emanating from volcanic rock minerals.
When it wraps around the skin, it gives you a real feeling of being cared for by nature itself.
No need to share time with anyone, in my own open-air bath,
You can arbitrarily extend the soaking time again and again.
During the day, it is a vast grassland with a caldera-like terrain.
The cloud imagery resembles slowly flowing waves, pushing across the horizon.
At night, the sky is full of stars.
Just look up, and the starlight seems so close, almost within reach.
The furniture and decorations inside the museum were mostly made by local artisans.
The wood grain and the feel of the fabric both evoke the spirit of Kyushu.
In such a space,
People will naturally learn to lower their voices.
Let nature be the primary speaker.
Let hot springs become an annual opportunity for "dialogue with yourself".
These five hot spring accommodations are not meant to complete a "trip list".
Instead, it reserves several possibilities for different states of being:
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When you want to repair your skin and also your mood, spend a few nights by a lake and in a forest in the North.
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When you want to experience the warmth of snow country culture and music, listen to the shamisen and smell the apples in Tsugaru.
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When I wanted to have a slow conversation with myself and sort out the turning points of the past year, I took a walk back and forth along the stream in Nagato.
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When you want to enjoy the city lights while gazing at the sea, soak in a hot spring at the horizon in Beppu.
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When you want to truly escape the hustle and bustle and readjust your breathing rhythm, immerse yourself quietly in the grasslands and starry sky of Aso.
Year-end rewards don't necessarily have to be gifts that you deserve after "accomplishing a lot of things".
Sometimes, it's best to let yourself be well taken care of first.
On the contrary, they will be able to walk more steadily and gracefully in the new year.
If you want to treat yourself differently this year,
Perhaps we can start with a hot spring.
In the rising steam of the spring, let your skin and mind slowly become brighter together.