Nadine Dilong With the 2020 Olympics less than a year away, Tokyo is in the final stages of getting ready to excel as the host of the international sporting event. Unsurprisingly, it’s going to be futuristic with robots planned to greet and assist attendees, and even retrieve items thrown by athletes. But it’s not just stadiums and robots being built in preparation for the event, which is expected to attract up to 40 million tourists in 2020, Tokyo spas are also getting in the Olympic Games spirit by offering some special sports-inspired treatments.
The evian SPA at Palace Hotel Tokyo has introduced the Esprit Spa Ball Body treatment, which combines a ‘spa ball’ massage (similar to golf balls), with stretching and an oil body massage to alleviate muscle fatigue and improve circulation. The seasonal therapy is available at Japan’s only evian SPA from September 1st until November 30th, and is a nod to the golfing events at the upcoming Summer Games. But for those wanting to experience what it’s like to train for the Olympics, Palace Hotel Tokyo is taking things a step further by offering an incredible wellness package.
‘Energizing Tokyo’ gives wellness tourists the opportunity to experience the city in a very active way and learn how to swim like an athlete.
“As Tokyo gears up to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, we’re getting into the spirit with a wellness getaway that comes replete with an à la carte menu of fitness pursuits to refresh both body and mind,” reads the official statement.
Swim with an Olympian, explore the city by kayak or meditate with a monk – the possibilities are aplenty. Forming the building blocks of a complete wellness getaway, the core elements of Palace Hotel Tokyo’s new fitness-focused package include:
- Two nights of accommodation in a Deluxe-with-Balcony Room or Executive Suite
- Daily breakfast at guests’ choice of Grand Kitchen or In-Room Dining
- Choice of one of the following 90-minute experiences at Japan’s only evian SPA:
- Vitalising Signature, a body treatment incorporating traditional Japanese seitai acupressure work with deep-tissue-style massage to improve energy flow,
- Celestial Therapy, a massage to improve the immune system and boost metabolism, or
- Mineral Therapy, a massage to ease tension and relax muscles
From there, guests have the flexibility to add their choice of physical or meditative pursuits (at additional charge) from an array of bespoke activities, including:
- A private two-hour swimming session with former Japanese Olympic swimmer and Asian Games medalist Hanae Ito in the hotel’s indoor pool.
- A private three-hour biking excursion led by Tokyo Great Cycling Tour, with the option to request a custom route based on neighborhoods of interest and desired endurance level.
- A private three-hour jog around the city guided by Tokyo Great Running Tour which can be personalised based on areas of interest and preferred fitness level.
- A private two-hour kayaking outing hosted by Tokyo Great Kayaking Tour and tailored based on experience level and which parts of the city guests would like to explore by water.
- A private 60-minute Aqua Relaxation Experience in the hotel’s pool, a therapy which uses water for resistance for a workout that combines gentle stretching with more active movements, helping to improve strength and flexibility while also achieving deep relaxation.
And for those interested in more contemplative yet complementary conditioning, Palace Hotel Tokyo is also offering, in collaboration with TOKI, these one-of-a-kind experiences to relish:
- Two hours of private zen meditation with the head monk of a 400-year-old Buddhist temple
- A private two-hour Japanese tea ceremony experience at a heritage home conducted by one of Japan’s legendary tea house masters – who is now over 90 years old.
- A private two-hour introduction to shodō, the art of Japanese calligraphy, by a highly decorated shodō artist.
The anchor to the hotel’s new wellness offering is the neighboring Imperial Palace Gardens, whose perimeter doubles as a five-kilometer (three-mile) jogging or cycling track and where Energizing Tokyo guests can enjoy a leisurely ride on the hotel’s Bianchi brand bikes as part of the core package.
Tailoring one’s treatment menu to big events is a great idea to create some excitement and buzz around your offering – so why not be inspired by evian SPA and come up with your own Olympics treatment? Let us know in the comments if you have any ideas.
