Ikeda Spa Prestige: A Ryokan-style Japanese Spa

I’ve frequented Clarke Quay Central so many times but I never that there was a Ryokan-style Japanese Spa in the shopping mall. It is a real oasis within this bustling district.  At this wellspring, you will find all the rest that you’ll need. We urbanites sometimes need a break, don’t we?

It was my first time at Ikeda Spa Prestige and being here has brought back memories of my trip to Japan. This award-winning spa is more than just a spa which provides body and facial treatments. They also do have an onsen within the spa. It isn’t as large as those public onsens in Japan, but it is spacious enough for you and your partner to soak in their signature Hinoki onsen bath.

I’ve always enjoyed Balinese-inspired spa sessions, but this time, for a change, I’ve decided to try something different. And my visit to this Japanese spa has proven to be somewhat refreshing and rejuvenating.

I made an appointment with the spa to try out their onsen bath and Beauness Purifying Facial. I went for a 30-min onsen bath before entering the treatment room to do my facial.

Their Zen-inspired interior and the lingering scent of the natural wood will put you at ease. It is calming to be surrounded by the elements of nature.

The products they used here are from Japan, and if you happen to like the beauty products that they are using, you can purchase it directly from them as well.

The onsen is all part of the Japanese cultural experience, and it is somewhat unique to the Japanese people. And it is a well-known form of therapy and wellness because of its numerous amazing benefits. The thermal effect of the onsen water can help improve your blood circulation and increase metabolism. It also helps to reduce muscle tension that leads to the relaxation of your body and mind.  The abundance of natural minerals in the onsen water could also help relieve and improve skin conditions. Who wouldn’t want to have great skin? I won’t mind installing a mini onsen right in my bathroom if it’s doable.

Their onsen corner has a changing room with lockers and a showering area. Towels, shower cap and disposable underwear, are provided. If you’re too shy to be in your birthday suit in the onsen, you can put on the disposable top and underwear. I was also given a Yukata to change into after the bath.

So this is how the onsen works, and it is no different here. Before dipping yourself into the onsen, you would have to shower. There are small basins and stools where you can sit and shower yourself clean before entering the onsen. Shampoo, hair conditioner and body foam are all provided. Hygiene is key.

After soaking in the onsen, you would have to shower again then changed into your Yukata in the changing room and pamper your skin with some moisturising body lotion. That’s the best part about onsens – they usually provide all the bath amenities you’d ever need. Need a hairbrush, hair dryer or some facial toner? No problem. It is all provided.

Once you’re done showering, you can soak yourself in hot water. The temperature of the water is about 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, and it is quite hot so they wouldn’t recommend you to soak in the bath for more than 30 minutes. It is also recommended that you get out of the bath every 10 to 15 minutes to drink some water before going back to the onsen. There’s a water dispenser near the bath area where you can grab some water to hydrate yourself.

Their onsen bath is prepared using onsen salts imported directly from Japan, and the tub is made using cypress wood.This precious wood naturally releases mineral oils which have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

After a 30-minute relaxing onsen session, I felt so much more relaxed and prepped up for the second part of my spa session at Ikeda. The couple treatment room at Ikeda is one-of-a-kind. It’s not only spacious, but it gives you a 180-degree view of the Singapore River along Clarke Quay.

There’s also a private onsen tub where you can choose to take a bath privately with your partner.

The facial session lasted about 90 minutes, and I requested for extraction to be done on my skin since I had some clogged pores. The Beauness facial is one of their new treatment made, and it suits those with acne-prone skin. It combines the use of Menard products and technology to combat acne problems. The treatment starts off with cleansing then followed by Aqua Acne Peel which gently cleanses and decongest the clogged pores on your skin. The extraction step is performed next, and my therapist was gentle with my skin. To soothe the skin, the therapist used the Oxyjet spray and blasted my skin with oxygen to rejuvenate the skin. An excellent soothing facial massage was rendered just before masking. The therapist also did a head, and shoulder massage for me and I was in this state of bliss then.

It’s certainly a delightful and unique spa experience especially right in our urbanised city with limited natural surroundings or forested areas where we can truly enjoy some peace and serenity. I would highly recommend this place especially if you looking for a couple-friendly spa.

IKEDA SPA PRESTIGE

6 Eu Tong Sen Street

787 Bukit Timah Road

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