There’s a brand of aroma oils created from herbs grown in Toyama called “Taroma,” and you can enjoy those oils through treatments here at The Spa. After experiencing the healing power of aromatherapy himself, Maeda established this spa because he wanted to share the effects with as many people as possible.
At the beginning of each treatment, you will sample the scents of Taroma essential oils. There are three kinds: lavender, collected from the fields of Healthian-wood; yuzu, supplied from a nearby farm; and Japanese cypress, culled to help the forests of Toyama thrive. It’s said that you can tell the state of your health based on which scent appeals to you most that day. After you choose, the staff will offer gentle counseling and decide your course of treatment.
The facility is available by reservation only, and treatments are conducted in privacy. Once you climb up on the massage bed, you’ll have a view of the lavender fields all to yourself. Here you will feel the blessings of the herb gardens and the mountains spread before you as you begin the restoration process.
The Spa purposefully does not have predetermined massage plans. That’s because the therapist will tailor the treatment to each guest, and according to their own characteristics. Each therapist is different, with different-sized hands, different levels of strength, and different specialties. Rather than constraining them to predetermined formats, this allows them to decide on a case-by-case basis the most effective massage techniques.
One therapist says of their treatment, “I want it to be a time for guests to take deep breaths.” Stress is always building within our bodies daily, unbeknownst to us. To release that stress, The Spa uses the aromas of Taroma and the warmth of a hand. People who tend to rush naturally begin to breathe deeply from their navel for the first time after a few minutes.
“Without a balanced environment, we cannot have healthy thoughts,” the therapist continued. Once you’ve entered a relaxing space where you can be freed of your stress, you’ll have the opportunity to look deeply within yourself.
When your soothing treatment is done, the therapist will offer you an herbal tea tailored to how you feel that day. Amid the tranquility, try to allow your thoughts of the past and the future to come back to you slowly.