Akasuri, scoured until you shine

Onna Yu, Kiyonaga Torii, 18th century 

Japan has imported culture from Korea for decades. Go to any Korean barbecue restaurant and you can enjoy authentic dishes with a K-Pop soundtrack. Besides food and music from the neighbors, Japan has adopted aesthetic treatments. The Korean custom of “seshin” has become a common option at onsen baths all over Japan. Called akasuri, grime scrub, in Japanese, this is a whole-body exfoliation that may surprise you at first, but provides amazing benefits for skin and body health. 

The first time I tried akasuri it was out of curiosity after hearing coworkers talk about their weekend onsen trip, and I had little idea how it would feel during and after. At a local super sento, I reserved a 30 minute session. The receptionist told me to rinse myself off well, and soak for about 30 minutes before the treatment. I warmed up nicely and relaxed, unaware of the thorough scraping I was about to experience. 

The akasuri practitioner was a middle-aged Korean lady with a strong accent, dressed in a black tank top and shorts. She had me stretch out on the waterproof massage treatment table and told me if anything was too uncomfortable to say so. 

Like most akasuri treatments, the session began with a good dousing with buckets of very hot water. The heat was relieved by an essential-oil enfused cool towel over my face. The akasuri lady explained that she would use a type of sponge referred to as “Italy towel”, nylon pads or gloves that look a bit like pot scrubbers. 

The scrubbers, laden with soap, were applied to me vigorously. And thoroughly. All those nooks and crannies that take effort to reach - ankles, toes, shoulders, and the middle of your back - get attention. The pads are applied with force, so it can sting a bit at first. I found that a few minutes in and I wasn’t uncomfortable. 

Every bit of you will get thoroughly scoured. Underarms, groin, your bottom, and your chest will receive the same level of care as heels, knees and elbows. All that scrubbing over 30 minutes results in snow drifts of sloughed off skin piling around you. My akasuri lady likes to gather handfuls to show me what a good job she’s doing.

When the exfoliation was done, the akasuri practitioner followed it with a strong kneading of muscles with oil. Some options may include seaweed infusions, aromatherapy oils, shampoo and head massage, or even a short facial course. In that first session, I simply enjoyed a basic course. When the treatment was over, I was directed to drink lots of water, and not use soap before going back into the baths in order to keep oils on my skin. 

My skin glowed. My arms and legs were baby soft and smooth. There was even an iridescent sheen from the layer of new skin revealed by sloughing off the old. Besides these immediate effects, there was another lasting benefit from the akasuri - the mild acne I suffered on my chest and back disappeared for the next few weeks. 

Akasuri treatments require a 30 minute soak and about 30-40 minutes for the scrub, so reserve in advance. The prices vary, but you can expect to pay between ¥3000-5000 depending on the options you select. Proponents of the treatment say you can do it once a week, but I find once a month at the spa, and at home by myself, is adequate to keep my skin looking good.