Buried in Bliss: The Ancient Art of Hot Sand Bathing

As spring fades into summer, many clients are already dreaming of a beachside escape complete with warm sand, bright sun, and the soothing sound of the sea. For those who truly love the beach, there is a spa treatment that takes their passion to the next level. In select spas around the world, clients can immerse themselves in a bath that contains no water – just sand! This month’s Global Spa Treatment explores the practice of hot sand bathing.

Sand bathing is a historical practice that has been used for healing and rejuvenation purposes since as early as 1546, and hot sand baths, or hot sand onsen, are still enjoyed in Japan today. The typical onsen are hot springs and bathing facilities that serve as popular destinations for relaxation and healing. There are many different types of onsen, from open-air baths to natural hot springs. To enjoy a hot sand onsen, the bather wears a special robe that allows for steam and minerals from the sand to be absorbed and impart benefits to the body and skin during the treatment. The client will lay down in a sand plot while an attendant shovels sand over their body, covering them from the chin down and staying buried for 10 to 20 minutes.

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References

Haines, Anna. 2024. “I Tried Sand Bathing in Japan, and It Was Not What I Was Expecting.” Coveteur: Inside Closets, Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Travel. April 12, 2024. https://coveteur.com/sand-bathing-japan.

Tanaka, Nobuyuki, and Hideyuki Nomura. 2014. Review of SL1 Cardiovascular and Metabolic Effects of Ibusuki Hotspring Sand Bath (Sunamushi). The Journal of the Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 77 (5). https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/onki/77/5/77_401/_pdf/-char/ja.

“Bathing in Hot Sand in Ibusuki, Kagoshima.” 2018. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). 2018. https://www.japan.travel/en/sg/guide/bathing-hot- sand-ibusuki-kagoshima/.

“Volcanic Sand Bath • SoJo Spa Club.” 2024. SoJo Spa Club. December 13, 2024. https://sojospaclub.com/explore/treatments-services/volcanic-sand-bath/.