As parents of school-age children prepare for the start of the new school year, my husband and I use this time to prepare for our fall excursion. September resonates with back-to-routines and the excitement of new experiences. And for us, those experiences begin with a road trip to an unfamiliar destination. For the last four years we have ventured coast to coast stopping to enjoy the landscape of the various regions. However, this year we opted to keep the drive short but the adventure extraordinary. Normally we prefer a vacation with boundless activities, lots of hiking, exploring, and basically anything physically active. But this year the call to peace beckoned us.  

The peace we sought was found at a quiet Japanese health spa called Ten Thousand Waves. The website lured me with soaks in private hot tubs, massages and walks through Japanese gardens. After my initial glimpse, I knew this spa was calling my name. My decision to visit was easier than my ability to make a reservation, they book up months in advance. It must’ve been fate (or persistence) because after checking the website several times, I found four consecutive days that meshed with my schedule. They have many rooms that piqued my interest, but the one available was not on my list, but it was a chance worth taking.

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon just in time to watch the setting sun from our gated patio. Maybe it was the orange evening glow that made me instantly relax or maybe it was the kimono and slippers I donned for the evening. After enjoying our charcuterie and sake that greeted us in our room, we left for our first of four evenings of tub reservations (booking in advance is a must). We arrived at the tub, and I stopped to gaze at the glorious site that summoned me. It was our own private, completely fenced, garden. This particular tub sat at the highest pinnacle of the spa. We could gaze out beyond the mountain below. The garden included a hot tub, chilled plunge pool, dry hot sauna, complete shower and bathroom all to ourselves. We had an abundance of towels and a pitcher of ice water to help us stay hydrated, especially at the 7500 ft. elevation. Each tub reservation lasts eighty minutes which is ample time to soak the past stressors away.

After we finished our soak, we strolled hand in hand through the Japanese gardens to Izanami, the highly regarded Izakaya (small plate) restaurant. They pride themselves in offering fresh ingredients sourced from purveyors they trust. Seafood flown in from Tokyo, Wagyu from Nebraska and local farms organic produce. Most of the menu is gluten-free and there are always vegetarian and vegan options. We made use of the belted kimono by loosening it just enough to eat a few more bites. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and were especially grateful for the lighter fare, so we could still enjoy an evening stroll.   

Our strolls became part of a daily routine that allowed maximum relaxation. Our day started with a delivered basket of healthy treats, such as Chobani yogurt and local granola. After breakfast, we would sightsee through the mountain roads into Santa Fe for a charming meander through town (it was at this time our room was cleaned and fresh kimonos were placed on our beds). After our gentle trip to town, we were ready for a visit to the spa for a warm foot soak or some quiet meditation in front of the waterfall and koi pond. An afternoon warm tub soak finished off our day, then it was off to slumberland for some healing rest.  

Although we enjoy our adventurous lifestyle, I would have to say a retreat to a Japanese-inspired spa was just what we needed this year. In fact, after this experience, a yearly spa visit may be just what our bodies need. Oh, and one bonus to this year’s trip, they are completely dog-friendly. So, whether we were dining in the restaurant, soaking in the hot tubs, or having a spa treatment, our dog was right there by our side. It was exactly what I needed to melt into the atmosphere and truly find peace.