In our previous issue, we began our coverage of spa-tastic Tokyo with a look at the spas and wellness offerings of Shinjuku
and Shiadome. Our holistic look at the city of extremes comes to a close this issue with a selection of wellness main
courses from Roppongi to Marunouchi, with a few side orders outside of Tokyo proper.
To get the full picture, we recommend that you read Part
1, especially for the introductory notes.
Imagine any normal bar and restaurant area; multiply the frenetic alcohol-fueled action by about a thousand and you
have the chaos that is Roppongi. By day relatively sane with new shopping malls keeping office workers entertained; by
night crowds push their way along the crammed pavements into bars where high volume music, luminous shots, fire eating
barmen and sweaty gyrating bodies shake it up. My advice? Stop off for a bowl of ramen on the way home or you'll be feeling
it in the morning.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
In the city's tallest building, Tokyo Midtown, with fabulous views over the city including the Tokyo Tower from the
elegant contemporary European rooms, The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo includes the most expensive suite in town at Y2,000,000
(US$18,515) per night. If you're staying here, eating is best done at the Michelin-starred Hinokizaka Japanese restaurant,
in its 200-year-old private dining Japanese tea house.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Fitness is one of the few hotel spas in town open to nonguests and non-members – try
the Day Spa Package including afternoon tea or lunch. The lap pool has a Jacuzzi; the gym is state-of-the-art, of course;
and the spa's hot tub has those fantastic views too (you can lower the blinds if you're shy). There are also steam and sauna facilities,
and ice fountains. Their ESPA Spa has nine treatment rooms and therapists who speak English. This is essential for that ESPA
typical consultation, where they ask you how you feel and what you'd like to focus on. The Aromatherapy Body Ritual is
two hours of foot cleansing, salt and oil scrub, massage, body mask, facial and head massage.
www.ritzcarlton.com
Deluxe Room from Y65,000 ++ (US$600); Day Spa Package Y36,000 (US$333); Aromatherapy Body Ritual 120 minutes Y41,475
(US$384); ESPA Essential Body Massages are all Y19,425 (US$180); in-room shiatsu 45-minutes Y10,500 (US$97) roppongi
Imagine any normal bar and restaurant area, multiply the frenetic alcohol-fueled action
The Refinery
In Tokyo Midtown mall, just underneath The Ritz-Carlton, London's men-only grooming spa has its Japanese pied-à-terre.
Sit back in the red leather chairs and relax as the barber massages, shaves, cuts and styles your look with Refinery products,
or choose a detox treatment in the mini hammam, with Dermalogica facial or massage taken in one of the rooms named after London's
districts. Warning – British customers risk feeling homesick!
www.the-refinery.jp
Refinery Shaving Experience of wet shave, cleansing facial and head massage 45 minutes Y12,500(US$116)