The usual form of footbath, which is commonly done in resorts or spas, is different from the detox foot spa machines sold in the market today. Footbath have originated from a Japanese legend occurred about 1,600 years ago. It was narrated by a group of sickly people and monks who made pilgrimage.
One evening during that time, in a deep mountain, the group looked around to find a place to rest their exhausted bodies. They saw a hot spring streaming out of the rock where they decided to make their shanty for the night. Before sleeping, they placed their feet to the hot stream to relieve their fatigue. When they woke up the next morning, they noticed that they felt healthier than ever before. The group completed their pilgrimage, and they were informed by their physicians that their illnesses were gone.
This occurrence of miraculous healing power spread around from villages to villages. Thousands of people followed the same route of pilgrimage, and some doctors and renowned physicians found that footbath has something to do with healing. From then on, the term “footbath” or “Ashiyu” in Japanese was born.
Foot bathing works by soaking your feet in a shallow hot spring. If your feet become warm, then your whole body may become warm, too. You will feel relaxed just like you are taking a bath in hot spring. So it is not necessary that a full body bath is needed for hot spring effects or therapy.
Today, we know that the source of its healing power comes from the different kinds of mineral contents in hot springs.
Japanese claimed that it can help rejuvenate your health and remove fatigue and other stress-oriented illnesses (e.g. neuralgia, rheumatism, lumbago, poor blood circulation, hemorrhoids, fatigue, dry skin, bruise, frostbite, chapped hand, miliaria (or heat rash), allergies, pimples, migraine, insomnia, headaches, sinusitis, stiff neck and shoulders, sports injuries).
The recommended temperature is 35-38°C and about 10–15 minutes per treatment session.
Outdoor activities are to be avoided if unneccesary in face of new flu virus H1N1. How do we improve our health without more sports or activities outdoors?
According to Chinese acupuncture theory, there are reflex areas in the feet that correspond to all parts of the body and these areas are arranged in such a way to form a map of the body. By sinking your feet into the hot water (with properties of mineral rocks), the mineral healing properties will travel to our body through the feet, rejuvenating our health. As the heat simulates the nerves and senses connected to our body, Foot Spa carries with it a foot reflexology property. A 100% natural therapy without use of medicines or drugs.
The usual form of footbath, which is commonly done in resorts or spas, is different from the detox foot spa machines sold in the market today. Footbath have originated from a Japanese legend occurred about 1,600 years ago. It was narrated by a group of sickly people and monks who made pilgrimage.
There are about 20 different species of apple in Japan. Most famous place is Aomori Prefecture, where the climate is cool throughout the year including summer. There is also good sunshine and fertile soil. This picture shows a specie call Kogyoku. It has nice fragrant and nice taste, considered a more expensive specie. 
Japan is a place with beautiful nature all around and natural hot springs scattered across the island. Natural Water Falls are a good place for enjoyment, it generates large amounts of negative ions for fresher air and improved body health. Certain reports mentions about the immune system improvement. 
Japanese not only use bamboo charcoal but EAT bamboo charcoal. They believed to have detoxification effects. This is evident even in ancient Chinese Medicinal Book - 本草纲目. By Chinese Physician Li ShiZhen. They are innovative enough to flavour their cake with bamboo charcoal powder! 
Reflexology or somtime called foot zone therapy is an alternative medicine or method involving the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes even the hands and ears.
My favourite site for news about Japan is found in The Japan Times. There is an online version http://www.japantimes.co.jp/ . There are many articles and archive that can be found here. Life in Japan can found on this http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life.html
