Ten Thousand Waves: A Japanese Hot Springs Experience in Santa Fe

When you think of Santa Fe you probably imagine adobe buildings, hatch chilies, and fine art, not a Japanese hot spring. But a mere 15 minutes from downtown Santa Fe a hidden gem of a spa awaits, Ten Thousand Waves. Inspired by Japan’s hot spring resorts, Ten Thousand Waves offers guests a refreshing blend of simplicity and luxury with Japanese style bathing and treatments. Every inch of this ryokan style spa feels as if it’s been transported straight out of the Japanese mountains and it encourages its visitors to step away from the real world for an afternoon or weekend and find peace and relaxation in nature.

The Ten Thousand Waves Experience

Your journey begins by climbing the main stairs from the parking lot through the towering pinyon and juniper trees to the spa’s entrance. The iconic curved roofs of Japanese architecture greet you as you enter the spa’s lobby, and you may start to wonder if perhaps those stairs were a portal that teleported you across the Pacific Ocean.

After checking in at the ornately carved front desk, a helpful staff member will guide you past the koi pond to the locker rooms. Here you’ll wash away the stresses of the day with a hot shower and put on slippers and a kimono called a yukata to wear around the spa. Most of the treatment waiting areas are outdoors, and once you step back outside the locker rooms, you have your choice of relaxation while you wait.

The main feature are the hot tub areas, which are modeled after Japanese onsens or hot springs. It’s worth coming early or staying later just to experience these hot baths. There are two public hot tub areas, one mixed gender and one for women only. Both include a large hot tub, cold plunge pool, and sauna. The pool-like Grand Bath communal hot tub has a large sun deck and lounge chairs surrounding it, while the women’s communal bath is similar but smaller and for women only. These can be used at any time throughout your stay, or with a day pass they can be enjoyed on their own without any additional treatments. And with Santa Fe’s skiing basecamp a few minutes down the road, the hot baths are the perfect place to relax after a day on the slopes There are also several private outdoor hot tub areas that you can reserve by the hour that include saunas, changing rooms, and showers.

Back in the waiting area, a long bench runs along the wall with a foot soaking tub beneath. It’s the perfect remedy for sore feet and an excellent way to spend a few minutes before your treatment as you breathe in the scent of the surrounding forest. There is also a silent meditation room in a separate building where you can practice a little yoga, meditate, or just relax.

Ten Thousand Waves Treatments

The treatments themselves are based on Japanese practices and influences. While the spa menu offers typical therapeutic and hot stone massages, they also have a signature Japanese shiatsu massage, which relieves tension in the connective tissue and muscles while you are clothed.  This is a deeper treatment where pressure is applied to different points of the body to release stress.

Another favorite is the Yasuragi Head and Neck Treatment, which is pure relaxation and an excellent add-on or stand-alone treatment. It begins with a neck massage and continues with warm oil poured over the head and massaged into the scalp. Its origin is Japanese anma massage which uses kneading, rubbing and tapping techniques to release pressure from the neck and shoulders. It is recommended to leave the oil in your hair for at least 20 minutes and even overnight to fully nourish and moisturize it. If you’re considering a facial, their Metamorphosilk Facial Massage combines Japanese massage with an exfoliation, toner, and moisturizer to smooth stress lines and make your skin glow.

Dining and Lodging

Ten Thousand Waves is an all-inclusive experience with both food and lodging combined. After your treatment, take the short walk through the pines to Izanami, the onsite Izakaya restaurant where you can either wear your spa gear or street clothes.  Here, small portions are served so you can try numerous items. Favorites are the Wagyu steak, the sake braised Japanese mushrooms, and the brussels sprouts with pork belly. Izanami is known for their extensive sake menu where you can try flights of different sakes or order by the glass or carafe.

As with a traditional Japanese ryokan, Ten Thousand Waves offers overnight lodging, a short walk away from the spa and restaurant. The fourteen rooms are furnished in a simple, yet luxurious Japanese aesthetic and overnight guests can use the Grand Bath and women’s bath in the morning before the spa opens.

If a visit to this rejuvenating spa inspires you to experience a real ryokan inn and onsen hot springs, Ten Thousand Waves offers small group tours to Japan to visit some of the hot springs inns that inspired it. Their website has details.

*At the time of posting the communal baths are temporarily closed due to COVID-19. However, guests can enjoy the seven private baths in a safe and socially distant environment. The spa treatment menu may also be temporarily reduced, and reservations are required for all guests. We recommend calling the spa or visiting their website for the latest information about their COVID cleaning and safety procedures as well as any restrictions.