Relax and recharge, Japanese style To stay at Yasuragi is to experience a bit of Japan. With traditional bathing rituals, tranquil treatments and fantastic cuisine, guests get the ideal opportunity to let go of everyday worries while taking in the Japanese culture. By Malin Norman | Photos: Yasuragi
The Yasuragi spa hotel is located at Hasseludden, around 20 minutes east of central Stockholm and with stunning views of the archipelago. The building was designed by Japanese architect Yoji Kasajima in 1972 and used as a conference centre before its transformation into a Japanese-style hotel in 1997. Owner Petter Stordalen took over in 2006 and since then the hotel has been continuously updated, including an extension by White Arkitekter. All of the hotel’s 191 guest rooms have a view of the Höggarn Bay and the sea approaching Stockholm. The rooms are inspired by Japan, with simple 38 | Issue 92 | September 2016
aesthetics in harmony with the beautiful surroundings, and the hotel corridors are designed to blend in with the sea and the forest.
Water and wellness Upon arrival, guests receive a yukata, a Japanese-style cotton robe, to wear during their stay and to keep as a memory. According to marketing manager Florence Cardell, visitors tend to unwind as soon as they change into the robe. “We can see how our guests instantly loosen up, and many say that one day here feels like several days of rest. These days, everyone is logged on and under constant pressure, but the brain needs downtime in order
to cope. At Yasuragi, our guests have the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge.” Yasuragi’s concept is all about inner harmony, based on Japanese traditions generally and water and wellness in particular. An important part of life in Japan, and so also at Yasuragi, is the bathing ritual. While seated on a small wooden stool, guests scrub and pour water over themselves. This is a form of peaceful purification, to let go of everyday worries. The spa also includes hot springs both inside and out in nature, a swimming pool, a sauna and a steam sauna, and different types of relaxing massages and treatments with products from Abloom and Elemis. The two restaurants also take inspiration from Japan; Teppanyaki serves typical Japanese food, cooked at the table on a flat iron griddle, while Tokyo