NUKA

An enzyme bath uses the heat released as rice bran ferments. Nothing is heated by gas or electricity; the warmth comes from microbes, which is what separates it from a sauna. Here there are three cypress-wood enzyme tubs kept at around 70C. Smell is the usual worry with enzyme baths. Reviews here consistently note almost no fermentation odour, which the owners credit to a natural blend and cleaning the enzyme once a day. If this is your first time, that removes most of the hesitation. There are three courses. The base exosome course pairs a 20-minute enzyme bath with a scrub, an infrared dome and a finishing pack, 70-80 minutes for 155,000 KRW. The oxygen therapy course adds concentrated oxygen inhalation, 100 minutes for 220,000 KRW. The signature course, toji, splits the enzyme bath into two sessions with a ten-minute cool-down between them, 100 minutes for 220,000 KRW. Toji is the Japanese word for staying at a hot spring to recover, and the course borrows the name. In every course one of the two owners stays with you, wiping away sweat and changing cold towels. It is 290m from exit 5 of Yeouido Station, a three-minute walk. Open daily 10:00-21:00. Amenities are all MUJI, and robes and bath clothes are provided. Booking is by text message or Instagram DM only. One hour of parking is covered at the Yeouido Department Store car park.

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