top of page
Search

Gratitude: The Beauty Retreat in Arima Onsen, Japan

Writer: Glow by Tomoko
Glow by Tomoko
14 minutes ago
2 min read
Two geisha on the wooden veranda of a traditional Japanese building

This summer, I hosted my very first Beauty Retreat in Arima Onsen, with Emmie, founder of the Daily Rest Tokyo, welcoming participants from all over the world. It was such a special experience to share the history and culture of my home prefecture of Hyoto.

We immersed ourselves in Arima's mineral-rich thermal waters, flowing from deep within the earth for over thousands of years.


This was such a special experience for me to rediscover the beauty that surrounds us in our everyday lives, yet it is so easy to overlook or take for granted.


During our 4-day program, we noticed beauty everywhere. It was in the kindness of the people who cared for us at the venue, the Buddhist monk who taught us traditional meditation and prepared the most amazing shōjin ryōri (traditional Buddhist cuisine), and the mesmerizing grace of the geisha of Arima.

And then there was the natural beauty surrounding us at every moment: hydrangeas in bloom, the songs of Japanese nightingales in the morning, and the gentle chorus of frogs by the river as we fell asleep.


  • Two women in yukata smiling with two geisha
  • Interior of an empty Japanese train car with green seating
  • Serene stone steps along a green mountain road.
  • Group of women meditating with a monk inside a traditional Japanese temple
  • Plate of vegan food with green peas decorated as frogs.
  • Women practicing Buddhist image tracing with ink inside a traditional Japanese temple
  • Japanese tanuki statues under a blue sky
  • Stone stairway lined with greenery leading to a temple
  • Two women in yukata playing a game with geisha


And last but not least, the beautiful connection we all shared throughout those 4 unforgettable days.

It was truly such an honor to introduce a place so close to my heart and share its beauty, traditions with an amazing group of people.


Arima's gold thermal water bubbling up among rocks

Did you know that Arima Onsen is one of the world’s rare types of hot springs that is not caused by volcanic activity, unlike many other famous onsen around the world? Rather, Arima’s unique thermal waters originate deep within the earth, released from the tectonic plate as it slowly moves beneath Japan. Heated deep underground over millions of years, these mineral-rich waters eventually rise to the surface in the beautiful mountain village of Arima.


Thinking about the history held within these beautiful golden waters made us reflect on the many generations who came before us. Historic figures such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi frequently visited Arima Onsen, and the hot spring is also mentioned in some of Japan’s oldest literature dating back 1,400 years.

Knowing that we were experiencing the very same waters that people centuries ago came to seek out gave us a deeper appreciation for the wisdom and culture passed down through generations.





Over the four days, we all noticed how our faces softened, our skin became more radiant, and how we carried a sense of calm and beautiful memories with us long after we left.

 

I love offering these retreats and connecting with all of you outside of my treatment room. It’s always so special to step away from our busy daily lives, take a moment to reflect on ourselves, and rediscover the beauty that surrounds us.


I’d love to do this again next year, along with more beautiful retreats in Japan and around the world, and invite more of you to share this special experience that brings out your inner glow! ✨








Comments

bottom of page