Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo

Rejuvenating retreat perfect for the season

With the heat of summer over and the cold of winter not yet arrived, autumn is a time to rest and rebalance the body. The autumn Authentic Tokyo Experience at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo is a wellness retreat that uses natural, seasonal ingredients with warming, detoxifying and revitalizing effects. Chi, The Spa specializes in bringing true relaxation and beauty to the heart of Tokyo.

The autumn Authentic Tokyo Experience at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, uses natural ingredients that relax the mind and the body.

The retreat begins with a calming, warming herbal bath infused with seven medicinal herbs sourced in Japan, including dokudami (lizard tail), mint, dried tangerine peel and angelica root. This soothing soak opens the pores and softens the skin, preparing it to be toned by a scrub and rub using a mix made with honey, mugwort, raw sugar and other ingredients. With the outside of the body scrubbed clean, it is time to detoxify from the inside in the spa’s steam sauna. After a break, the retreat ends with a deeply relaxing full-body massage using essences of Japanese cypress, frankincense and cedar. After more than two hours of pampering, the skin has a healthy glow to match the clear autumn sky.

The spa’s name, Chi, refers to the ancient concept of a vital force that pervades all things, including our own bodies. A person’s chi can easily be depleted by the heat and humidity of summer. The baths and massages that are part of wellness retreats at Shangri-La are an excellent way to refresh and revitalize the body. The special autumn Authentic Tokyo Experience is only available until Nov. 30. A 150-minute retreat costs ¥47,000 (tax and 15 percent service charge separate, add ¥2,000 on weekends and holidays).

A full-body massage using essences of Japanese cypress, frankincense and cedar, can be enjoyed during the wellness retreats at Chi, The Spa.