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Singapore spa opens in 400-year-old Japan inn
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| Nicholas Fang |
Mon, Feb 25, 2008
The Straits Times
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THINK of a Japanese spa and visions of hot springs in rustic traditional inns come to mind.
But now, a Singapore company has succeeded in breaking into the Japanese market and bringing a modern feel to the spa industry in the Land of the Rising Sun.
St Gregory Spa, founded by Ms Wee Wei Ling in 1997, opened an outlet last month in a 400-year-old traditional Japanese inn or ryokan located in the prime tourist hot spring district of Ikaho.
The 83-room Fukuichi inn is located on a hilltop and is one of the top-end ryokans in the area, with room rates averaging 100,000 yen (S$1,310) a night.
| The spa suites, which cost US$1,000 (S$1,408) a night, complement the ryokan's existing attractions, such as in-house hot springs or onsens and elaborately prepared kaiseiki or set meals, said Ms Wee.
For their sleeping arrangements, guests can choose between beds, traditional Japanese futons and tatami mats.
The 264 sq m spa cost 70 million yen to build.
Ms Wee, who is the eldest daughter of UOL chairman Wee Cho Yaw, told The Straits Times that St Gregory had adopted a progressive approach in formulating its spa offerings for Japan, combining traditional Japanese therapies with others more commonly found in South-east Asia.
The company had been in Japan since 2002, and its established presence helped win over Mr Tom Fukuda, the owner of the Fukuichi ryokan, Ms Wee added.
'We have five other spas in Japan, in areas such as Tokyo Bay, Atami and Irago,' she said.
'We brought over techniques such as Chinese tui na massage and Javanese massage, which we offer at our Singapore operations. We also adopted some traditional Japanese techniques using natural ingredients such as rice bran and sake or rice wine.'
Mr Fukuda said these varied offerings, coupled with the company's focus on the high-end market, have helped St Gregory establish itself in the Japanese market, where it is highly esteemed by local customers for its quality therapeutic treatments and facilities.
Ms Wee, who is also St Gregory's chief operating officer, said: 'We feel very honoured that we were chosen to become a part of this 400-year-old ryokan.
'For a home-grown, Singapore brand like St Gregory's to be recognised by such an established and quintessentially Japanese institution is truly an achievement for us.'
She did not rule out further ryokan projects, but said the company has none planned currently.
nicholas@sph.com.sg
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