During my stay at RISONARE Yatsugatake, I had a spa treatment at the La Terra SPA. Apart from being relaxing and completely luxurious, it was also really special and memorable because it uses mainly ingredients derived from the process of making wine.
When I entered into La Terra Spa, I was first served hot tea and given a form to fill out with regards to allergies and other body conditions. Then the therapist did an allergy test patch on my skin to check if I was allergic to the ingredients used in the scrub. When all is well, the therapist brought me to the room, where I changed into a tube gown and slippers.
After that, I was given a foot bath of water and hot warm wine while my therapist explained to me the details of the treatment I was going to undergo, Vino Lisciando (80 minutes). From the moment I laid down, I felt completely relaxed. The room was lit with a soft, cosy lighting. Even as the therapist was removing my make-up, I found myself dozing off.
The exfoliating scrub was then applied to my face, neck and arms. It was explained to me that the scrub was made from the seeds and null of grapes from RISONARE Yatsguatake's partner winery, Domaine Mie Ikeno . Mixed with resin and sediments, the scrub aids in high absorption of the active enzymes in the grapes, resulting in moisturized, supple skin. The application is completed with wrapping to lock in full effects.
As the scrub sits on my skin, I was given a head massage. There’s something so relaxing and hypnotizing about someone moving their fingers deftly and in varying pressures all over your face. I dozed off quickly, and the next moment, I was asked to rinse off the scrub from my body in the nearby shower. The service was impressive; the shower was already running at a suitable temperature by the time I got there.
After the quick rinse, I was back in the room and was treated to a lotion mask before the last part of the treatment, the oil treatment. Out of the handful of oils of flower essence, my therapist chose the Rose and Chamomile. She then proceeded to apply it on my arms, face, neck, upper chest, and upper back. The application was incorporated with massaging, which released tension in my shoulders and upper back, and allowed the skin to absorb the oils more effectively.
After my treatment, my skin felt so clean, supple and moisturized that I could not bear to slap on any make-up. Skipping the powder room, I was brought to a resting area where I was served hot grape leaf tea and raisins from the local wineyard.
The Vino Spa experience is something exclusively RISONARE Yatsugatake. The emphasis on wines is shown in the names of the treatment rooms: Koshu, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay etc., and the interior with various grape elements. I loved the fact that everything used during the treatment process is produced locally from the local winery, which makes it extremely environmentally-friendly.
