5 Of The Best Places To Get A Maternity Massage In Tokyo

Including exclusive full-body massages at Tokyo's top hotels, a heavenly shiatsu therapy and some luxurious #metime before your baby arrives.

For most of the time, pregnancy is a period of ultimate happiness, excitement, expectations and all sorts of other emotions. But it’s also a time when your body goes through some of the worst physical discomforts you’ll ever experience — constant fatigue, varicose veins, swelling legs and hands, backaches, dizziness, headaches, poor blood circulation … the list is long. Add nausea and morning sickness to that, Japanese doctors’ constant watching of your weight (have you started dreaming of chocolate cakes already?), rush hour trains and you get the picture: babies are adorable, but while you wait for them you need some time for yourself!

Luckily, Japan is a country that adores all sorts of massages and beauty treatments and while pregnant women aren’t easily granted access to all esthetic salons and other typical pampering specials, maternity massages and treatments exist and they could be just what you need at least once a month! Here are five of our personal favorites in the capital.

Shangri-la Hotel Tokyo, Chi, The Spa

Shangri-la Tokyo’s famous spa offers a first-class experience for pregnant women, combining relaxation, full-body massage and a post-treatment detox with a seasonal drink. The massage begins with a deep hot water leg scrub which is extremely relaxing in itself, following which you are invited to get comfortable and relax. Your therapist gently covers your body with organic oils as she begins the massage, turning you from one side to the other. The massage covers all body parts except for your belly area, your palms and the backside of the legs, which, according to specialists, are risky zones for pregnant women. A maternity pillow is provided for those who need it (take it, it’s more comfortable to have it as you will be turning around) and the whole massage is so relaxing that it will easily put you to sleep. Once you’re done, you’re invited to take a shower and complete the treatment with a hot detox drink and healthy ginger sweets that altogether perfectly add to the relaxing experience. Available for women in their second or third trimester only.

Cost: ¥20,500 (60 min) (Plus ¥2,000 if booked on weekends or national holidays)
Where: Chi, The Spa at Shangri-la Hotel Tokyo, Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
How to book: Via email or by phone at 03-6739-7880.
Web: www.shangri-la.com/tokyo/shangrila/health-leisure/chi-the-spa/

The Peninsula Tokyo’s The Peninsula Spa

The Peninsula Tokyo’s award-winning spa’s special maternity massage is designed for pregnant women who have completed their first trimester. It begins with a gentle foot scrub, followed by a slow full-body massage that aims to relieve tension in areas under stress, such as the lower back and hips. Your fully bilingual therapist uses only organic, naturally-scented essential oils that nourish and protect the skin. Surprisingly, this massage also includes your belly, an area which most massage places will generally avoid. Worry not, however, it is extremely gentle and feels really great! The Peninsula Tokyo Spa is also equipped with a superb relaxation room, which is highly recommendable either before or after your treatment — or both!

Cost: ¥22,000 (50 min)
Where: The Peninsula Spa, The Peninsula Tokyo 6F, 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
How to book: By phone at 03-6270-2299 or Email: spaptk@peninsula.com 
Web: www.peninsula.com/en/tokyo/wellness/luxury-hotel-spa

Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Evian Spa Tokyo

This nature-inspired spa at the luxurious hotel in Otemachi offers a whole package of prenatal treatments for moms-to-be that includes a full-body treatment, a facial and a combination of the two-plan based on each customer’s needs. The Relaxing Body Therapy plan is a full hour of gentle massage using oil rich in vitamins from cranberries and olives to nourish skin and promote a sense of total relaxation. The Calming Skin Facial (also 60min) uses a special moisturizing serum fortified with macadamia nut and chlorella extracts that relieve the dryness of the skin. The most extensive care package, Glowing Mother-to-Be (90 min) is a gentle facial and full-body treatment and massage.

Cost: Relaxing Body Therapy (60 min),  ¥19,000, Calming Skin Facial (60min) ¥21,000¥, Glowing Mother-to-Be (90min) ¥25,000.
Where: Evian Spa Tokyo, Palace Hotel Tokyo 5F, 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
How to book: Online
Web: en.palacehoteltokyo.com/evian-spa-tokyo/

Detox Spa Damai

This award-winning spa in stylish Daikanyama is owned by Minako Yamamoto, a New York-educated Japanese beautician and a mother of three who knows exactly what pregnant women need the most. Equipped with several in-house licensed maternity specialists, the treatments here begin with a careful one-on-one consultation, based on which the specialist suggests the most recommendable treatment. Or you can simply choose between a 60-min-long or 90-min-long full body maternity massage. The experience leaves you relaxed, refreshed and lighter! Available for moms-to-be after their 20th week of pregnancy.

Cost: Full body treatment (60min) ¥16,000, Full body treatment (90min)¥23,000. Extra ¥10,000 for an additional facial in preferred.
Where: 1-4-8 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 2F
How to book: Online.
Web: spadamai.jp/en/top/

Ciconia

 

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While this salon doesn’t offer services in English, it is one of the best to reach out to during pregnancy and in your postpartum recovery period. A professional shiatsu massage spot for moms and pregnant women, here you can find a great variety of highly reasonably-priced treatments. It does not have the luxury of hotel spas, but the treatment leaves you refreshed and completely re-energized. There are three maternity treatments starting from a regular one-hour-long shiatsu massage; a two-hour shiatsu massage and facial, and the most extensive, an hour of full-body shiatsu massage and a 90-min facial. The massage releases tension in your back and shoulders while the facial helps with common skin problems during pregnancy such as dryness, itchiness and acne. Ciconia further offers a wide array of post-partum plans, including a shiatsu massage you can attend with your newborn. Massages are available for women at any stage of their pregnancy.

Cost: Maternity shiatsu massage (60min) ¥9,000, Maternity shiatsu massage and facial (120min altogether) ¥15,500,  Maternity shiatsu massage and facial (150min altogether) ¥16,000. Postpartum massage: ¥9,000~¥16,000. Facial treatments: ¥6,500~¥14,580. Prices are before tax.
Where: 9-5-26 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
How to book: Online (Japanese only) or by phone at 03-5770-4447
Web: www.maternity-ciconia.com