Jarman International is pleased to share that Director of Project Management, Chiara Terzuolo, was published in Atlas Obscura.

With page views of around four million each month, this online travel site offers niche information on unique places and happenings around the globe. Ubayu Onsen is definitely one of Japan’s hidden onsen gems deep in the mountains above Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture.

We are proud of this recognition for both Chiara and Yonezawa and hope the article inspires international visitors and residents to travel to the area and experience all that Ubayu Onsen and Yonezawa have to offer on their next trip around Japan.

Want to learn more about Yonezawa? Follow its beauty and appeal on Instagram and Facebook.

The post Jarman International’s Director of Project Management, Chiara Terzuolo, was published in Atlas Obscura. appeared first on Jarman International KK.

However, the great question remains…where should you go?

For those who might be overwhelmed by the plethora of must-visit destinations in the vast lands of Tohoku, check out the wonderful five-day, four-night itinerary included in this Tokyo Weekender article! From healing your soul in the rose bath hot springs of Iwate and learning about the legendary namahage (troll-type demons) in Akita, to savoring the famous, melt-in-your-mouth apple pie in Aomori, this itinerary is the perfect introduction to Tohoku’s charm. 

We say ‘introduction’ here because five days is surely not enough for you to explore all of Tohoku. Hopefully, by the end of your trip, you will be itching to come back and continue your travels in this still undiscovered, hidden gem in Japan.

Tohoku is also home to glorious cherry blossom spots. Check out this Japan Today article to learn more!

The post The perfect five-day itinerary in northern Japan using the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)! appeared first on Jarman International KK.

The lines were blurring the moment I entered through grand doors fashioned from oak, and met Ryuichi Yanagi, a bartender role-playing as a receptionist. His front desk was a droll creation: a posh leather writing mat and fancy brass pen plonked, for the duration of the Champagne-fueled check-in process, on one end of a 13-meter teak bar counter.

In November, one of our partners, Bar Hotel Hakone Kazan welcomed Nicholas Coldicott, an author who has written extensively about Tokyo’s drink and food scene across a variety of platforms including Conde Nast Traveller and Time Out Tokyo. Now, he has published a beautifully expressive and deeply insightful article on the Japan Times about his experience at Bar Hotel – a chic, James Bond-like lodge nestled in the glorious mountains of the famous hot spring town, Hakone.

Around this time, my friend opined that the bar/hotel was the best bar and best hotel we had been to. “I can relax here,” she said. “Not like in those hoity-toity places.” That’s more damning of her than those places, but her point was this: The bartenders are skilled at scaling their presentations up or down to suit their audience. Nobody felt intimidated, nobody patronized.

Check out the article, and join Nicholas on a journey of surprise and delight at Bar Hotel Hakone Kazan: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/01/09/food/bar-hotel-hakone/

The post Bar hotel hakone kazan was highlighted in the Japan Times! appeared first on Jarman International KK.

One of the places the JI team first visited in Yonezawa was the over 200-year-old Namekawa Onsen, which uses the hydroelectricity generated by the nearby Maekawa River. Here, you can dip into the open-air hot spring bath surrounded by the lush nature of the Azuma mountain range for a full rejuvenation of your mind and body. 

Yonezawa is also well-known for their beautifully marbled, sweet, fatty and melt-in-your-mouth beef, which you definitely won’t want to miss during your visit! 

Learn more about Yonezawa: https://all-yonezawa.jp/en/

The post Jarman International team visits Yonezawa to explore all of its historical, cultural and gourmet gems! (Yamagata Prefecture) appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Looking for more information?

• Learn about Kusatsu Onsen and what visitors have to say on our English landing page here.
• Visit Gunma page on Kusatsu Onsen

The post Kusatsu Onsen Featured on Portal Mie appeared first on Jarman International KK.

The 67th Kamakura Fireworks Festival takes place at Yuigahama on the coast of Kamakura City.

What’s special about this event are Fireworks Over the Ocean. You will be amazed with a number of colorful fireworks over the black evening ocean. Some 2,500 fireworks will be let off on the day. In case of bad weather, the event will be cancelled with no alternative day this year.

https://youtu.be/HQ5YTkFfM4s

This would probably be a good finish to a day trip to the area, especially when it’s combined with relaxing dip in our Hot Springs and refreshing outside pools at Enoshima Island Spa. Walk across the bridge to the island and then turn right. On clear days you could see Mt Fuji from here. There is no reservation required for spa entrance and the entrance rate before 7p.m. is 2,742 yen/person and the rate from 7 p.m. in the evening is 1,705 yen/person.

Please see below for the Fireworks event.

Dates: 23rd Jul, 2015

Start/End Time: 19:20 – 20:10

Venue: Kamakura Kaihin Park

Web: http://tokyocheapo.com/events/kamakura-fireworks-festival/

Entry: Free

Closest station(s): Yuigahama

Area: Kamakura, Yuigahama

Why don’t you plan a day trip to Enoshima Island this summer?

The post Enoshima Island Spa Kamakura Fireworks Festival appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Allow for some extra time for pure relaxation when you come in for a massage to take in the view from our onsen and pools.  Our guest recalls her experience at the BengTeng Spa that “Actually it felt so short for an hour and during the hour I felt an hour of bliss for that one hour. The massage therapist was very skillful and truly excellent!”.

——————————————–

Pampered Healing Treatment & Day Spa Package

The Special 12,900 yen/person plan includes:

– Overall entrance for full day use of the facility

– Use of the hot spring bath (untouched natural hot spring water from 1500 meters below the island), outside heated pools/exercise pools and pool cave/waterfall area for beautiful and secluded views of the Shonan shore and Mt. Fuji.

– 60-minute Aromatherapy light oil massage treatment at the Bengteng Spa

Choose from 4 different types of aromatic oil for massage corresponding to guest’s liking or physical condition

Delicate hot stone relaxation therapy when the back is massaged.

Healing to relieve stress and body fatigue. Recommended for deep relaxation. – You can relax after treatment and massage with a cup of herb tea at the Beng Teng Spa’s Members’ Exclusive Lounge.

– BengTeng Spa Membership included in plan.

————————————————–

Visit Enoshima Island Spa website and Facebook page.

To make a booking, please phone directly on 0466-29-0690.  Access is around 80 minutes from downtown Tokyo and directions to the spa are available here.

The post Enoshima Island Spa Pure Relaxation – Pampered Healing Treatment appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Well, the primary and important reason to visit Japanese hot springs is ostensibly their detoxifying and healing effects. The natural spring water contains elements like sulphur and sodium chloride, and is thought to heal aches and pains, and even help with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and rheumatism. Enoshima Island Spa‘s hot springs have a high salt content that is effective to detoxify your body due to a good sweat when you take time for bathing. You feel your body as light as in sea water when you relax the muscles of your whole body.

As an exclusive Holistic Club, Enoshima Island Spa incorporates beautiful views, healing hot spring, aromatic scents, nutritious foods and warming pools to fully refresh guests and help them recover from busy stress-filled days. Enoshima Island Spa will be the perfect get-away for a soft, romantic one-day treat from hectic Tokyo life. (only 80 minutes from Tokyo by trains)

There is no reservation required for entrance and the entrance rate is 2,742 yen/person.

Allow for some extra time for a massage to take in the view from our onsen and pools. Our Mermaid package plans are always very popular that include the full day facility use.

Clean Body, Clear Mind – You will find complete relaxation and satisfaction during your stay. You won’t be disappointed!

———–

Mermaid Plan

40 minutes, ￥9, 762 (Body treatment only)

60 minutes, ￥13, 002 (Body treatment only)

80 minutes, ￥16, 350  (2 options : “Body and Reflexology” or “Body and Facial”)

*Enospa’s Signature therapeutic massage treatment.

*Full facility use and membership included in plan.

———-

Visit Enoshima Island Spa website and Facebook page. To make a booking for treatment, please phone directly on 0466-29-0690.

The post Enoshima Island Spa : Hot springs (Onsen) in Summer?…Yes! appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Whether you are young or old, male or female we all need to be more aware of how to take care of our body. Over the years, body and health awareness has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. With so many choices and a saturation of the market, it can be very confusing to know which method is right for you. Japan is ranked number one in the world for longevity. With Japanese women living the longest in the world, this has to be an indicator that what is done in Japan promotes long life.

Here you see a yearly ceremony to celebrate the long walk to Edo. These men are around seventy to eighty years old, but you can see they are quite active.

It has been reported by health experts that some of the key factors that have played into Japans longevity are genes, universal healthcare, diet, lifestyle, health consciousness, social equality and cohesion; and these are what set Japan aside from other countries.

Diet – certain foods made from soya beans, azuki beans, high consumption of fish and seaweed, and introduction of western foods has reduced salt intake and this combination has resulted in Japans longevity. At Enoshima Island Spa, the head chef takes into consideration while planning the menu dietary factors (calorie intake), the source of ingredients from local growers, color and flavor. Below you can see the result of his creativity. It not only looks amazing, but tastes incredible.

Organic rice with fresh salad and avocado, small tomatoes and herbs, light soup, herbal tea and handmade fruit jelly.

Lifestyle – it has been cited that Japanese people tend to be more active in comparison to other nations. They walk or cycle more frequently at all ages. They join organized sports or community activities (e.g. trekking, walking around local neighborhoods and morning exercise…) Take a look at this youtube video of Japanese seniors involved in a typical neighborhood exercise group:

If you visit Enoshima you can enjoy walking around the island, learning about its history and doing light cardio-exercise prior to entering the spa. Enospa has an ‘Island Plan’ with personal trainers and guides if you want a more organized program.

The view from the top of Enoshima island. There are numerous walks to take depending on your mood and your sense of adventure.

Health Consciousness – Japanese people are said to pay special attention to hygiene by taking the act of showering and bathing and making it ritualistic. Look at this link that explains the bathing etiquette;

http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php

This culmination of factors; Japanese temperatures, humidity, religious tones of purifying from Shinto tradition, access to a lot of natural mineral water and the concept of groupism (working and living in small spaces) makes for a society aware of their bodies and the space they move within. Caring for your body will always be an on-going battle to find that balance between diet, lifestyle and health awareness in our increasingly busy schedules. But it is nevertheless possible to achieve.

Next week we will talk about the third and probably most important factor in the success to surviving a Japanese summer and being healthy. That is spirituality and wellness of our minds.

The chimes used when taking a massage at Enospa.

The post Summer in Japan , 2 appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Beach view looking towards Mt. Fuji just across from Enoshima Island.

In July we will be writing a weekly post on how to manage your beauty, body and wellness to suit the conditions and climate of Japan.

Summer offers a lot of unique challenges for your health and well-being. This can be especially true for your life in Japan whether you live here or you are just visiting. Summer in Japan not only has high temperatures, but 80-100% humidity on most days as well. The busy life of work, travel or family will often take that valuable time away from making sure that you are caring for yourself.

Skin Care

What is a way to care for your skin in this climate that doesn’t take a lot of time, and is also both natural and healthy? Using natural ingredients like olive oil, lemon or lime juice, fruits and vegetables are easy to find in most supermarkets and are affordable. There are a number of sites that can tell you how to use these ingredients. This is one of them I recommend:     http://rawforbeauty.com/blog/category/natural-remedies

Clearing your skin:

You may find that your face feels oily during summer, and the frequency and quantity of sweat has also increased. This build-up of oil and sweat layers itself on your face and body. Of course sweating is our natural mechanism for maintaining body temperature, but making sure to clean and clear our pores is important. Splashing your face with cool water seems to give you a little relief from the heat but it doesn’t seem to remove that thick layer of oil and sweat.

One solution to combat the summer sweat is to attack it with the natural heat and minerals of onsen bathing.

It is as simple as visiting an onsen once a week where you will quickly notice your body and skin begin to look and feel different. The natural minerals in onsens help to open up the pores in your skin and the different temperatures which range from 25 -42 degrees, to ice cold help to massage your skin. The natural minerals that can be found in the onsen hot spring will depend on the water source, but generally you can find sulfur, hydrogen sulfur, bicarbonate, acidic and iron for example. This is not the complete list but you can read how each mineral can benefit your body here:   www.yadyad.com/en/onsen/effect

Here you see Enoshima Island Spa. The water source that is used in the onsens and various pools is from 150 meters below the ocean level and comes from nearby Mt. Fuji.

If you are new to Japanese onsen bathing look at this site which outlines the basic rules;

www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php

So now that you have a basic understanding of the process, let’s look at how you can bathe to help your skin.

Please remember that this is not a race to take a dip in each bath but rather to savor the experience and let your body tell you which baths it likes, how long you should sit in the same bath, and when it’s time to sit outside and let the breeze refresh you.

When I went to my first onsen over two decades ago, I was very conscious of my nakedness and this awkwardness made me rush through the experience. I thought everyone was looking at me and examining my every move to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. Of course at the beginning you might make a few minor infractions (like spraying close neighbors when you are using the hand-held shower) but if you just sit calmly and watch what other people are doing you will see the grace and beauty in the actions of Japanese bathing.

As you experience and visit more onsens around Japan you will know that staying for as long as you can is the best therapy for your skin. Change the temperatures from warm, to hot, to cold, to hot and rotate around the baths that have massaging bubbles or different minerals (which you will be able to know from the color or the smell). By the end of your onsen you will feel lighter, fresher, your skin will be shining and softer to the touch.

The onsen and view from within Enoshima Island Spa.

A great way to experience an onsen is to visit with friends. This summer Enoshima Island Spa is offering a variety of options to incorporate the spa, time with friends and great food. For more details;

http://www.jarman-international.com/partners/enoshima-island-spa/#.UduiDPm-18E

The post Summer in Japan appeared first on Jarman International KK.