Onsen Elegance at Phoenix Seagaia Resort (Shosenkyo Onsen, Miyazaki City)

Onsen Elegance at Phoenix Seagaia Resort (Shosenkyo Onsen, Miyazaki City)
Maya
Maya 
Published
| 3 min read

Japan – the land of onsens. There are a seemingly endless number of onsens here, but Miyazaki City’s Shosenkyo Onsen has an elegance that you won’t find almost anywhere else.

Shosenkyo Onsen is located adjacent to the Phoenix Seagaia Resort. Located in a pine forest, the opulent bath gives off an air of ancient royalty.

Ready to bathe in luxury? Hop in.

More than just a bath -- don’t miss the library

onsen elegance at phoenix seagaia resort (shosenkyo onsen, miyazaki city) | more than just a bath -- don’t miss the library

Head for the onsen on the third floor. Guests of the hotel can also use this third floor area, which includes a gorgeous library. It’s a completely different atmosphere than what you normally expect before going to an onsen.

Using the library after the bath is a great experience. Through the library is an elevator that will take you to the onsen floor. The path leading to the onsen, called the Yukata Walk, is enjoyable as well. You’ll be able to see 11 tsubo vessels, placed along the path in accordance with the theme of this area, sankin-kodai. This was an era of Japan where feudal lords from Miyazaki were required to go to Edo (now known as Tokyo) every other year. The path they traveled on likely gorgeous, much like the one leading to the onsen.

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Feel the spirit of the forest with a bath in Tsukiyomi or Shingetsu baths (available for non-hotel guests, too!)

onsen elegance at phoenix seagaia resort (shosenkyo onsen, miyazaki city) | feel the spirit of the forest with a bath in tsukiyomi or shingetsu baths (available for non-hotel guests, too!)

There are 3 types of baths at Shosenkyo Onsen. Which baths guests can access depends on the stay plan they’ve booked at the hotel.

Visitors not staying at the hotel can bathe in a bath called Tsukiyomi. A reservation style bath called Hanare-yu is also available to outside guests through a separate hotel package. It’s great for female groups who may want to enjoy the spa together and have lunch.

The baths are great for nerve pain, sore muscles, joint pain, stiff shoulders, muscle pain from exercise, bruises, sprains, sensitivity to cold, fatigue, cuts, burns, skin disorders, and female health concerns. The bath water is a saline spring coming from 1000 meters below ground from a 10 million year old geological formation. It’s not suitable for drinking, but you’ll notice a slight salty taste on your lips. Ancient ocean petrification dissolves into the source water making the bath rich in minerals.

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For anniversaries, book the day plan to use Hanare-yu in total luxury

onsen elegance at phoenix seagaia resort (shosenkyo onsen, miyazaki city) | for anniversaries, book the day plan to use hanare-yu in total luxury

There are five different sections of Hanare-yu, and each is available by reservation only. This is the best way to have a completely private, relaxing onsen experience with your partner or family.

If you book the Day Plan you’ll also be able to use guests rooms in the nearby Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort for resting. This is the perfect spot to spend a special day, such as a wedding anniversary.

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Dreamy nighttime landscapes! Relax in bathrobes

onsen elegance at phoenix seagaia resort (shosenkyo onsen, miyazaki city) | dreamy nighttime landscapes! relax in bathrobes

The lounge located near the Tsukiyomi bath has comfortable chairs, a perfect place to relax after your bath. There’s free water, and other beverages are available from a vending machine.

Rock back and forth in comfortable chairs, and let your body take a nice long rest. Take in the beautiful pine scenery, healing your body and soul.

The picture above is one of the nearby corridors, which is lit up at night. Romantic!

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Shosenkyo’s original soap and face mist

shosenkyo’s original soap and face mist

At Shosenkyo’s reception desk, you can rent a yukata or purchase souvenirs such as face lotion for family and friends back home. Generally speaking, you won’t need to bring any bathing essentials with you to the bath, as soap, shampoo, and conditioner are all provided inside. The soap looks like ordinary white soap, but after using it my skin felt very soft. Of course, there was probably some effect from the bath as well, but I could definitely tell that using the soap made a difference.

After you’re finished in the bath, feel free to use some face lotion for after-onsen care. There’s also “Shosenkyo Mist”, which can be used in the washroom and is also available for purchase.

The prices to purchase the soap and other goods are very reasonable. The soap costs under 500JPY (at the time of this posting) and is the perfect gift to take back home. For the best results, combine the soap with some Shosenkyo Mist to get beautiful skin.

Note: The pictures above are of the original soap and of Shonsekyo Mist, both of which can be purchased at the onsen reception or at the Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort.

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To a more luxurious hotel experience, whether with friends or on special occasions

Shosenkyo’s pricing is by no means cheap. However, in this case, you certainly get what you pay for. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to spend more than just a moment, so it’s best to plan to spend about half a day at least.

And of course, if you choose to stay in the hotel, the experience is even better. Be sure to check the links at the bottom for more information.

Come here if you want a luxury onsen experience. Bathe in ancient spring water and enjoy like royalty.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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