While we here often just try to get through the cold season and wait for spring, in Japan all seasons are celebrated equally. The Japanese use winter as an opportunity for delicious hot pots, traditional festivals and conscious relaxation. A particularly beautiful example is the custom of taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice. On this shortest day of the year, December 21 or 22, many Japanese people lie down in a hot tub filled with fresh yuzu lemons. The scent is said to not only lift the mood, but also protect against colds and promote blood circulation. Unfortunately, fresh yuzu lemons are hard to come by in our part of the world, and when they are available, they are usually prohibitively expensive. But there are other ways to bring Japanese winter wellness into your home. From aromatic bath additives and nourishing face masks to incense sticks that create a meditative atmosphere. We'll show you how to create your own little Japanese spa experience with a few select products.
Bathing like in Japan
If there is one country that has perfected the culture of bathing, it is Japan. The hot springs, called onsen, are more than just wellness – they are part of everyday culture. Onsen are enjoyed in special thermal hotels or public bathhouses. But the layout of private bathrooms is also similar. People shower and wash while sitting on a stool in front of the bathtub. The bathtub is then used by all family members in turn for pure relaxation. So if you ever stay in a hotel room in Japan with a shower head outside the bathtub, now you know why.
In our culture, the bathtub is more of a multipurpose cleaning area. But relaxation is also the top priority here. In winter, when snow is falling outside and temperatures are dropping, there is hardly anything better than a bath in steaming hot water. To make this a Japanese wellness experience, we have a very special recommendation for you: Hinoki.
What is Hinoki?
Hinoki is the Japanese word for Sawara cypress, a conifer that grows in the mountain forests of Japan. The wood of this cypress species is exceptional: it has a pleasant spicy-woody scent and has an antibacterial and calming effect on the body and mind. Traditionally, Hinoki wood is used for building temples, shrines, and high-quality bathtubs. The scent alone is said to reduce stress and improve sleep—perfect for a relaxing winter bath.
Hinoki bath additive for your home
Even if you don't have a Japanese wooden bathtub at home (who does?), you can still bring the scent into your bathroom. Hinoki bath additives are available as bath powder or a type of tea bag that allows you to add cypress wood directly to the water. The scent is unique and immediately transports you to a remote mountain shrine. This is exactly what Japan smells like! The warm, woody scent not only relaxes your muscles, but also your mind.
Tip: Turn off the lights, light a few candles, and let the scent transport you to another world. For an even more authentic experience, place a small towel soaked in cold water on your head to keep it cool.
Hinoki Shower Soap – a quick Japanese spa experience
You don't always have time for a long bath. For those occasions, there is Hinoki Shower Soap. It brings the same soothing scent to your bathroom, but in just five minutes in the shower. The soap is usually very mild and cares for your skin even in winter, when it is particularly stressed by heated air and cold temperatures.
If Hinoki isn't your thing, we also have a wonderful soap from Tamanohada in our shop, which not only looks stylish with its spherical shape, but also has a pleasant scent of fig, musk or lavender.
Head care
In Japan, great importance is attached to beautiful skin and hair. In summer, women in particular dress surprisingly warmly and wear accessories such as long gloves or parasols to protect themselves from UV radiation. In winter, on the other hand, the focus is on keeping the skin moisturized, as the air is particularly dry both outdoors and indoors.
While we in the West often want to get by with just one cream, the Japanese rely on a multi-step skincare routine. Cleansing, toner, serum, moisturizer—each step has its purpose and is carried out with care. In winter, special masks are often added to provide intensive moisture. Natural ingredients such as yuzu, which is rich in vitamin C, or soothing aloe vera are particularly popular. Rice water, green tea, and sake also find their way into Japanese skincare products.
In Japan, ion technology has been used for hair care for many years. It helps prevent static buildup and is also said to help hair dry faster when blow-drying. Those who want to really pamper themselves go to a head spa.
Head Spa – Wellness for the scalp and soul
A trend that has become really big in Japan in recent years: Head Spa. This is not just a simple head massage, but a holistic experience. In special salons, the scalp is cleansed, massaged, and cared for – often with warm oils and in a relaxed atmosphere. The whole thing usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes and is not only supposed to make your hair healthier, but also reduce stress and relieve tension.
You can also treat yourself to a scaled-down version at home: massage a few drops of oil (e.g., jojoba, camellia, or rice bran oil, which is very popular in Japan) into your scalp using circular movements. Take your time—at least five minutes. This stimulates blood circulation, relaxes the scalp, and leaves you feeling like you've had a mini vacation. Perfect for long winter evenings when you don't want to leave the house anyway.
Practical tips for your winter skincare routine
If you want to try Japanese facial skincare, start small: good cleanser, a moisturizer, and an occasional face mask are enough to get you started. Applying a sheet mask only takes ten minutes. But you can turn it into a real wellness ritual: put on some comfortable clothes, make yourself a nice cup of tea (perhaps some matcha or a mild green tea), put on some soothing music, and just sit back and relax. No distractions, no cell phone, no Netflix. Just you and your skin. In Japan, this is called “Ma”—the conscious space between things, the pause when nothing happens.
Incense sticks – fragrance as meditation
Incense sticks have been part of Japanese culture for centuries. They were originally used in Buddhist temples to spiritually purify the space and promote concentration during meditation. Today, they are also an integral part of everyday life in many Japanese households, especially if there is a Buddhist home altar where people pause for a moment to remember their ancestors. However, burning incense sticks does not always have to have religious connotations. Enjoying the delicate scents also has its own tradition called Kodō, which involves experiencing the incense with all the senses. Yes, one even tries to listen to the burning of the stick.
Traditional Japanese incense sticks often feature warm, earthy scents such as sandalwood, agarwood, or cedar. These scents are perfect for the cold season. If you'd rather forget that it's gray and cold outside, we recommend Sakura, or cherry blossom incense sticks or a Hakuun blend, which is reminiscent of white clouds passing by. Tip: If you've never tried incense sticks before, start with a mild variety such as green tea. Some scents can be very intense, especially in small rooms. Less is sometimes more.
How to use incense sticks correctly
Incense sticks are super easy to use: Place the stick in a special holder (or, if necessary, in a bowl of sand), light the tip, and blow out the flame after a few seconds. The stick will then continue to smolder on its own and spread its scent. Depending on its length, a stick burns for between 15 and 30 minutes. Perfect for a short break in the evening or to accompany a cup of tea. If you want a real temple meditation feeling, burn a traditional sumac candle, whose flame dances particularly brightly and vividly.
Binchotan charcoal – the underrated all-rounder
Now it gets really interesting: Binchotan is a special type of charcoal from Japan that is produced at extremely high temperatures. It is so hard that it makes a metallic sound when struck. It's great for barbecuing. But binchotan can do much more than that.
Purifying water with binchotan
One of the most common uses of binchotan is to purify drinking water. The porous structure of the charcoal acts as a natural filter: it binds chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities while releasing minerals such as calcium and magnesium into the water. The result is softer, better-tasting water—without plastic filters or chemical additives. How it works: To prepare, boil a piece of binchotan charcoal in a pot of boiling water for about ten minutes. This disinfects the charcoal and opens the pores inside. Then let the piece dry completely.
Application: To filter water with it, place the binchotan charcoal in a carafe filled with tap water for about eight hours (preferably overnight). The water will taste significantly fresher and milder afterwards. You can use the charcoal for several months—just boil it every few weeks as you did at the beginning to clean it.
Photo Credit: Mark Stevens, Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0
Important: The water must be drinkable to begin with. You use the charcoal to filter and enrich it, not to purify dirty water. You should use about 100 grams of charcoal for one liter of water. If a piece breaks off, that's no problem. After boiling it again, you can use the individual pieces without hesitation. Neutralizing odors But binchotan can do even more: you can also place the charcoal in the refrigerator, shoe cabinets, or gym bag to neutralize unpleasant odors. The charcoal absorbs moisture and odor molecules, creating a more pleasant indoor climate. This can be particularly helpful in winter when windows are not opened as often.
Binchotan in the bathroom
Some people also put Binchotan directly into their bath water. The charcoal is said to soften the skin and make the water more pleasant. Whether this has been scientifically proven beyond doubt remains to be seen—but it definitely doesn't hurt and feels good. And that's what wellness is all about, after all.
Your Japanese winter wellness routine: How to combine everything
Now you have a whole range of options for bringing Japanese winter wellness into your home. But how can you best combine everything? A relaxing Sunday evening: Run a hot bath with hinoki bath additives, light some incense sticks, and have your favorite book ready to hand. After your bath, treat yourself to a yuzu face mask and drink a warm tea made with your binchotan-filtered water. Your daily mini break: Even without a full program, you can treat yourself to a little wellness moment every day. An incense stick in the evening, a glass of filtered water in the morning, a quick face mask in between. Wellness doesn't always have to take hours—sometimes five conscious minutes are enough.
It's not about fighting winter, but about experiencing it consciously. Taking time for your body and mind. Appreciating the cold outside as a contrast to the warmth inside. And that is precisely the essence of Japanese winter wellness: it's not about expensive products or perfectly staged Instagram moments. It's about consciously allowing yourself a break. Even if it's just for ten minutes with a face mask and a cup of tea.