Yasuragi

Short version - the place is way overhyped and can't really live up to expectations they themselves set. The supposed values they try to promote on their insta and so on aren't really there and it shows in every part of the visit. Hotel part was alright, staff was pleasant and room was clean, nothing special there. Spa was underwhelming. Crowded, loud, unorganized. Navigation was bad, had to ask staff for directions a couple of times. Inside - people with phones taking snapchats, loud girl gangs, people in own bathing suits. Sauna in the changing room (the one that's supposed to be clothing-optional) was off. In the evening when the day guests left (i assume) it became quieter, but the choice and layout of sauna activities is pretty poor for a spa of this (presumed) level. Worst of all - nothing really japanese about that, shallow pool with tunnels makes everything louder, not quieter. Food experience (tried teppanyaki restaurant) was a joke. Chef wasn't very good in any of the areas - knowledge, service, show aspect. Doesn't really know how to present a dish or keep a conversation while cooking, made stuff up when talking about the concept, wasn't particularly impressive with cooking skills (which is the whole point of teppanyaki). One of the courses was steak - he claimed it was A5. I would be very surprised if it was that. Server didn't know what they were talking about most of the time either and relied on making stuff up. Breakfast was a regular svensson-buffet you would get anywhere at a midrange hotel. People in revolution race pants and baseball caps also didn't really contribute to the experience. Absolutely not worth the trip. I guess it's alright if you're already in Stockholm and don't expect a japanese experience.

I booked this hotel to rest after months of physical and mental exhaustion and it was such a great choice. The baths, the atmosphere, even the smallest details like walking silently in the hallway are just on spot. Everything was perfect in all senses, I actually regret not booking extra night or late check out because it felt like I didn’t get enough of all the experiences there. I recommend to add additional time at the baths or late check out to just relax at the silent room with the electronic rocking chair !

We traveled from Finland to Yasuragi with my sister in the beginning of March, which was also a winter holiday week in Finland and I suppose in Sweden too. This was our second time visiting there and we had high hopes since the first time (summer 2022) was really pleasent and it stayed in our memories as one of the best spa and hotel experiences ever. That time we loved how Yasuragi highlighted peacefullness and silence, disconnections from mobile devices, being apart from peoples jugdements and effortlessness of just being. Yet, we were slightly disappointed since Yasuragi has loosened these values a lot. This time the experience was all in all good, but it definitely had it's downfalls. We came to Yasuragi to experience silence, "zen", disconnections from the surrounding digital world and to load batteries. We noticed that when checking-in to the hotel receptionist didn't really emphazises that it's important to keep low voice, respect other peoples experience and to not carry mobile devices in the public areas. These were the "main" rules last time as we remember it and this is what makes Yasuragi special. Also, Yasuragis websites doesnt't highlight these values so visible anymore than before, which is a big shame. We went to the spa and it was way too crowded and noisy. Couples are way too intimate in the indoor pools, which makes you feel really uncomfortable and outdoor areas are very loud due to people speaking loudly and also because of the automatic water change sirculations in the pools. I saw only few signs here and there noting to keep silence and not carry mobile phones. There was suppose to be "half an hour of silence" as one of the "activities", but no staff members came to remind of it. Last time there was a cong that was played so everyone went silent, which was so effective!! There was no respect for silence at all. We had to keep finding corners and places to find our peace and really start the experience. I'm happy I didn't see any mobiles in the pools. We took voice bowl relaxation activity after the spa, which was really good and effective. I enjoyed it a lot but what distracted me was that few participants had mobiles on their chests? Why?? Why is it so difficult to leave the phone behind in a place that you are suppose to do it?? Why the instructor didn't advice to leave the phone outside? I don't get it. I really don't want to be filmed in any place even when others think it's "instagram friendly". At a dinner we saw few people wearing they're own clothes, which is ok, but the reason you wear yukata is to give as little visual stimulus as possible and let people be without anyone staring what you wear or how you look. This distracted me a little. At the breakfast it was more distracting, since there came those, who had bought a day visit. They had their yukatas around their arms and they came in with full winter clothes and bags and all that stuff. I mean, why? Again, if the purpose is to maintain calmness, why staff doesn't guide visitors first to change their clothes to yukatas and then enter to breakfast area? Simple as that. Where has Yasuragi lost it's rules and values which makes it so special? If going down to this road Yasuragi is going to be just another spa hotel in the future. One thing I saw later in Yasuragi website is that they're going to open drop in sushi bar and have a take away option. Why though? This is again another "busy people pleasing" -method and maintains the concensus of food needs to be eaten in a hurry or on the go. Where do you take away the sushi, to sauna? To perform the spa and hotel experience? Where is the stillness and stopping in the moment in that? Although there were these distracting aspects on our stay, we managed to find relaxation in ourselves. There is so much good in Yasuragi what makes it relaxing, and it could be so much more, if they didn't stretch the rules and their core values; keep silence, respect others, disconnect. This is what I want to see more next time. Who ever is working in the marketing managing should reconsider is the social media visibility more important than the values you're "representing".

A great place to relax and energize. A lot of choices for baths and saunas and great food. Choose your restaurants carefully, as you may not be able to change later. Service was great and seamless, helping to relax most of the time. We did got a somewhat negative remark we were 15min late for lunch but it didn't lower our positive experience much.

This is an amazing spa, the staff is incredibly nice and speaks perfect English, the facilities are very clean and offer many good ways to relax. We went for the spa access and dinner which was an amazing value for money. The only thing to keep in mind is that it's on one of the archipelagos off Stockholm so not the easiest to access but is most definitely worth it.