Terrific Pacific
May 20, 2025 - Embrace the contrast between the vibrant city of Kyoto and the laid-back islands of Fiji, then feel the connection through soothing wellness treatments inspired by the Pacific.
Bliss and balance at Six Senses Kyoto
Japan’s cultural heart, Kyoto, seduces in all seasons with its culinary delights, vibrant festivals, and natural wonders. From your city sanctuary at Six Senses Kyoto, explore Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines with their traditional Japanese architecture, framed by cherry blossoms and cedar-covered mountains.
Amid the bustle, take a moment for rest with a spa experience blending Japanese Zen culture and modern wellness practices, featuring the city’s only Watsu pool.
Ah-Un: a wellness journey through Zen philosophy
If you’re seeking a soothing heritage treatment, Ah-Un encapsulates the essence of Zen culture. It symbolizes the harmony of opposites, representing the cycles of life. You’ll often find Ah-Un represented by pairs of guardian statues at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, one with an open mouth to symbolize beginnings and one with a closed mouth to symbolize endings.
The treatment itself promotes inner peace and balance. It begins with an intention-setting ritual using traditional incense from a fourth-generation incense maker in Kyoto with a 90-year-history. The same artisan produces the hotel’s original Zuko rubbing incense used for our arrival ritual.
Following the opening ritual, sink into a soothing full body massage using specially blended oils, enhanced by vibrational tuning forks applied to acupressure points along your meridians. This technique promotes the flow of Qi (life-force energy). Choose the Energy oil blend, made from Shell Ginger, a botanical native to Okinawa in the Pacific, for a massage to reenergize.
Restore and reconnect at Six Senses Fiji
Over in the fabled South Pacific, Six Senses Fiji enjoys a prime position on Malolo Island, the largest of the Mamanuca Islands. For centuries, Fijians have drawn on nature’s wealth from the land and Pacific Ocean. Under the palms, elders once gathered fresh sea grapes, their tiny pearls rich in minerals used to detoxify and re-mineralize the skin. Deep in the lush forests, cool, velvety banana leaves were wrapped around weary bodies to relieve stress, detoxify, and restore balance.
Sea grapes and banana leaves: a heritage-inspired treatment
At Six Senses Spa Fiji, these ancient traditions live on in the Sea Grape Mask & Banana Leaf Detox Body Wrap and Massage, a ritual inspired by Fijian heritage practices. As the sea grape’s rich nutrients soak into your skin, the gentle embrace of banana leaves cocoons you in deep tranquility. The journey continues with an energizing massage, melting away tension and leaving you refreshed, grounded, and connected to the island’s rhythm. Finish this journey with a Nama Sea Grape facial rich in minerals and vitamins, beneficial for skin hydration, plumping, and reducing fine lines.
This is more than just a spa experience; it’s an invitation to rediscover the secrets of the Pacific and let the whispers of the islands guide you into a deep state of relaxation. This standard of care recently earned Senses Fiji Gold for Spa Operator of the Year at the 2025 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards – a fitting accolade for a resort where every touch and scent tells a story.
Vibrant city or laid-back island?
Finding it difficult to choose which destination to explore? Why not experience both on a terrific Pacific odyssey.
Discover Kyoto’s timeless charm among shrines, Zen gardens, and local ateliers, and then reconnect with your inner calm with savings at Sekki and our spa.
Stay four nights or longer for a memory-making experience in a Beachfront Pool Villa and indulge in a pampering couple’s massage and dreamy beach dinner.