Mysterious Health Issues Strike
Due to adjusting my lifestyle to match my husband's as a graduate student or perhaps due to being busy with work, I started experiencing mysterious health issues around the end of June and early July.
I would feel slightly feverish when waking up in the morning, but the fever would quickly subside. I also found myself unusually fatigued. Although it didn't seem serious, I was on the verge of relying on "Kyupi-Kowa-Gold" tablets for daily use.
One day, while I was working, I suddenly felt an intense heaviness in my lower back, as if during menstruation, even though it wasn't my time of the month. This made sitting at my desk quite uncomfortable, so I decided it was time to take action.
Disrupted Daily Rhythm and Imbalanced Autonomic Nervous System
I suspected that my disrupted daily rhythm had thrown off my autonomic nervous system, and I realized that fatigue was more of an issue than a common cold.
First, I searched for massages and esthetic treatments on Hot Pepper Beauty. I became curious about "enzyme baths," as they seemed to promote sweating and help balance the autonomic nervous system. So, I decided to give it a try.
Choosing the Rice Bran Enzyme Bath at Haccola Kagurazaka
I selected the "haccola" shop's "Rice Bran Fermentation Bath" in Kagurazaka. It is the only place in Tokyo that blends bamboo powder with rice bran for the fermentation bath. The gentle sensation I had never experienced before enveloped me. Come and experience our enzyme bath, which pursues health and comfort. It is highly recommended for beautiful skin and fatigue recovery.
Charming, Vibrant, and Japanese-Style Café-Like Interior
I was intrigued by the stylish interior with a vibrant yet Japanese-style atmosphere, reminiscent of a Korean café. The detailed explanation of the bathing process made me even more interested.
Moreover, by booking through Hot Pepper Beauty, I could choose a course that included a first-time coupon price and a facial pack. Since I had accumulated points from a previous haircut, I made a reservation for this course.
My First Rice Bran Enzyme Bath
Is the shop conveniently located near the station?
The shop is located a short walk from Kagurazaka Station. I had made a reservation for the afternoon and had some errands along the Yurakucho Line in the morning. So, I walked from Iidabashi Station. It wasn't a long walk at all, and I could see the charming shops in Kagurazaka along the way. They say Kagurazaka has lovely shops hidden in its backstreets, so it's a good idea to check the website or Google Maps to make sure you take the right turns.
There is a clear sign in front of the shop, and the door is made of glass, so once you arrive, you won't get lost.
Upon entering the shop, the front area is a shop selling fermented foods, while the back area is dedicated to the enzyme baths. I informed the receptionist of my reservation, and they promptly started preparing for my session.
Starting with Makeup Removal
Since I had light makeup on, I began by removing it. The powder room had fermented cosmetics, which I don't usually come across, and the makeup removal process involved using a cotton pad with the cosmetics. While I tend to feel some irritation with skincare products that sensitive skin dislikes, I didn't experience any discomfort or stinging sensation when using these cosmetics. It might vary from person to person, but if you don't have major concerns about your skin, you can use the provided products without bringing your own.
Finally, My First Enzyme Bath
Once I was ready, I entered the room for the enzyme bath. I didn't take any pictures, so I'll include the link to their official website. My room was Room 3, the Red Room, for my bath.
In the center of the room, there was a large wooden bath with a rice bran fermentation bath prepared inside. According to an article I read in a media outlet covering fermented foods, this bath requires a lot of care and time every day. As soon as I opened the door to the room, I could smell the distinct scent of rice bran, which excited me, knowing that something special was about to happen.
There were lockers in the room to store personal belongings, along with disposable paper underwear and hair ties for convenience. However, it was recommended to enter the bath completely naked. Since my attendant was a woman, and I wasn't particularly concerned, I decided to go in naked.
Entering the Enzyme Bath for the First Time
After undressing and mentally preparing myself, I lay down in the bath. It was unexpectedly hot!
You could ask the staff for privacy if there were parts of your body you didn't want to expose. In reality, the chosen course allowed for a longer bathing time because of the included facial pack, so towards the end, I only had my arms out of the bath.
Usually, when I take a regular bath, I either get out quickly if I feel too hot or take breaks. I had never experienced continuously bathing in this concentrated manner before. It was a genuine warm relaxation experience.
One of my minor concerns was that I didn't sweat properly, but during this bath, I was surprised by the amount of sweat I produced. I also knew that shampoo and conditioner were provided afterward, allowing me to wash my hair, so I felt at ease to sweat.
After a Break, Enjoying a Facial Skincare and the End of the Bath
After bathing, I took a shower and cooled down my body in the powder room. When I looked in the mirror, my face was flushed, as if I had been out in the hot summer for a while, which surprised me. Skincare products such as toner were also provided, so I took my time preparing.
During this time, they also served a snack. In my case, they provided tofu with truffle soy sauce, amazake (sweet sake), and fermented tea. There was an additional charge for these, but you could purchase drinks as well. They had a variety of options, from water to amazake and kombucha. Since I like amazake, I chose that.
Curious About the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Fermentation Bath?
For me personally, the enzyme bath significantly improved my health issues caused by fatigue. The warm-up of my body and the resulting balance in my autonomic nervous system were the most significant benefits. Also, after the enzyme bath, I experienced a sense of deep fatigue, similar to what I feel after exercising, followed by a feeling of complete relaxation at home.
Whether it was due to the enzyme bath or simply the opportunity to warm and soften the skin, a painful pimple-like acne had developed on my knee a while ago, causing me much distress. However, after the enzyme bath, it gradually disappeared, and the situation started to improve. This skin issue had been a considerable source of stress for me, so my overall quality of life improved.
Regarding disadvantages, the most notable one was enduring the heat during the bath. It felt more like a challenging relaxation experience, rather than simply relaxing and unwinding. Instead of enjoying a leisurely soak, I entered the bath with the conviction that something good would come out of enduring it and enjoyed the moment of feeling the effects of the warm relaxation. Personally, I don't mind efforts and discomfort associated with relaxation, such as intense massages, so it suited me. However, I believe preferences can vary from person to person.
Bringing "Hakkō" into the Common Language of the World
The owner of Haccola runs web media and the shop with the desire to make "Hakkō" (fermentation) a universal term worldwide.
As someone who constantly appreciates natto and tofu as fermented foods in my diet, I find it intriguing to delve into the topic from the perspective of enzyme baths. I truly felt the benefits of fermentation throughout my entire body.
As a woman in her thirties who experiences various discomforts, I have found more shops that I would like to visit for body maintenance.
By the way, it seems that there are also enzyme bath shops overseas. Since I plan to live in a place with only a shower, I had some concerns about the limited opportunities for full-body bathing. However, if there are similar shops in other countries and I have already experienced it in Japan, I would be willing to try them out.
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