Amatsu means “heavenly” in Japanese, and this hotel spa is appropriately named, as my experience here during a short visit to Park City, Utah, was indeed quite blissful. In fact, all three of The Spa Gals enjoyed treatments here (check out our group photo taken at the Amatsu Spa) when we had a fun girls’ getaway in this mountain town.
Amatsu Spa Facility
Located on the (below-ground) first floor of Park City’s The Sky Lodge, the entire spa is Japanese-inspired, from the wall-hangings in the hallway to the spot where you wait for your treatments, dubbed the Tea Room. Here, you can sip on tea or ice water infused with cucumber in a tranquil setting. A Zen garden feature, filled with sand and boulders, is found outside the six treatment rooms.
But what stands out as truly unique at the Amatsu Spa are the Ofuro soaking tubs. The three, individual, handmade, wooden tubs are filled with piping hot water; you can adjust the temperature as needed by dumping in ice (from the dish in which a cool washcloth sits) or turning on the cold water faucet. You are fully submerged into the water, up to your chin, and after a half-day of skiing in the crisp mountain air, the extra-hot hot tub was very much appreciated.
Adjacent to the three tubs are three semi-private showers where you can rinse off (ideally before using the tub and after to cool off just a little, if you like) and use the sweet-smelling Plum Wine body wash. there are three tubs for men and three tubs for women. But the spa also has a “couples’ room” with twin tubs (pictured at right) so you can enjoy a more private soak with your significant other. Ofuro baths are complimentary with all massage and body ritual treatments.
Amatsu Spa Treatments
Treatments are called “rituals” here: Body Rituals feature a combination of cleansing, scrubs, massage and hydration; Massage Rituals include standard classic massages (50 or 80 minute) plus hot stone massage, pre-natal massage or deep, therapeutic massage; Skincare Rituals are facials; and Hand and Feet Rituals feature manicures and pedicures.
My 50-minute Amatsu Signature massage featured medium pressure; my muscles were perfectly prepped (warm and relaxed) since I’d already soaked in the Ofuro bath. I appreciated the little touches during the treatment — hot towels wrapped around my feet, as well as a warm rice-filled compress placed under my neck after I flipped over onto my back.
More Amatsu Spa Highlights
The spa features men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms. Adjacent to the spa, and directly accessible from the spa, is a two-lane, indoor lap pool and hot tub, plus a fitness center with cardiovascular and strength-training equipment.
The Sky Lodge Accommodations
The Sky Lodge is a classy, contemporary, boutique-style hotel in the heart of Park City’s historic downtown. It offers an ultra-convenient location (and complimentary shuttle to the ski mountain), as well as 33 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom residential suites. The Spa Gals stayed in an incredible two-bedroom unit on the third floor; highlights included a pool table (!), a kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator, sink and dishwasher, a small living room, a master suite with huge bathroom (including a bathtub whose “spout” came out of the ceiling), plus a second bedroom with separate bathroom. We also enjoyed a hot tub on our large deck.
Still more highlights of this first-class property: a cozy, comfortable lobby that was always staffed with friendly faces, plus the on-site Easy Street restaurant and basement piano bar. I’m sorry we missed the newly revamped (as of June 2010) Sky Blue bar on the fourth floor of the property, a gathering place opened to the public with a hot tub, vast deck space and great views of Old Town.
Bottom Line: The Spa Gals are unanimous in our hearty recommendation: a soak in the Japanese-inspired hot tubs and a rubdown at the Amatsu Spa after hiking, skiing or otherwise playing in Park City’s fabulous mountains.
Learn More: The Amatsu Spa website; 435-658-9411.
– Review and bottom photo by Kara Williams, who visited March 2010; top photo courtesy The Sky Lodge.
As is common in the travel industry, The Spa Gals received complimentary treatments and hotel accommodations. Want to learn how we can work with your spa or destination? Contact us!
