My first spa experience in Korea… Korean style, fully nudity !!!
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Spa and/or Saunas in Korea are called “Jjimjilbang”. Korean likes Spa and Sauna so much, so there are spas everywhere in the country!
Busan has SPALAND which a large facility that can accommodate 1500 people a day!
This is a highlight in Busan and I would encourage everyone to go, I’m feeling some regrets that I was in Busan for more than a year but I went Spaland just once before I moved to the other city!
Spaland is in Shinsaegae, the big shopping mall in Centum City.
You can take the Subway, Green line to Centumcity Station and follow the sign for exit 12.
Spaland opens every day from 6am to Midnight, but it will close once a month following the Shinsaegae Mall schedule.
If you want to go for a Spa before the mall opens at 10am, you have to get in Spaland at Gate no.4, it’s on G floor or 1st floor in the Cosmetic department.
The cost is 17000won for weekdays and 20000won for weekends. Before 9am and after 8pm there are some discounts. You get to stay 4 hours!
Today is just for me, and I was 3 mins late for a discount price. I paid 17,000won ($16) at the reception area, then she gave me a ticket “161”, this number for my shoe locker.
Then take the escalator up to the 3rd floor. Find the locker number and put your shoes in the locker.
Then take out the locker key wristband, this key is very important. Anything that you need to pay extra inside, they will record it from your key number!
Using the key to enter the Spa.
After entry, there is a counter on the right side to take your towels and clothes.
Then go to ladies or gentlemen, it will be full nudity so men and women are completely separated!
You will look for a locker that has the same number as your key to put your belongings and clothing.
I didn’t take off my clothes, like fully naked until I got inside the bath area. But most people do, they are fully naked and walking around! Pictures are very restricted, NO PICTURE IN the BATH AREA!
Before you’re getting in the pool, you have to take a shower!
You can take a shower either standing or sitting on the stool, they provide Shampoo and Bath gel, but I saw most locals their own favorites!
The point is, the 2 towels they provide are very small and don’t cover the whole body!
I tried to bring a towel with me but whenever you are in the pool make sure that the towel is not inside the pool!!!
There are different pools with different temperatures.
Well, I thought I was here for just Korean Spa, I never heard about scrubbing!
There is a small room in the corner where ladies wearing bra and panties, all in black! They can do 10mins- 12000won for back scrub, 25mins- 25000won for full body with a cucumber facial mask.
I wanted to try the full body scrub, I tried to tell her that I don’t want the facial mask but I don’t think she cares what I said, once I laid down, they just put the nasty fresh cucumber paste on my face – I wasn’t sure I like it but I had it on my face!
The scrub was not painful like they did for others but it’s very different from what I used to have in Thailand which we call “Art of Touch”!
But well, I feel cleaner after I get scrubbed over here. And I think it’s the best thing about Korean Spa!
I think the scrub lady sees me more than I ever saw all about myself!!! It’s kind of tickle and shame, I just kept my eyes close!
Yeah, it was so relaxing and I didn’t know I had so much dirt on my body.
I think I don’t need to take a shower after this for 10 days!
After the scrub, the lady will take just your key number to put in her system.
I went to get a sauna after the scrub. During the weekday, the sauna room was just right, not too busy!
My experience in a sauna room. The lady next to me , she was doing yoga in the sauna room! I think it’s a good idea but I wasn’t ready to follow her!
You can enjoy this bath area as long as you want in 4 hrs or you can put the clothes (they gave) on and try RELAXING ROOM! Where all customers both ladies and gentlemen can be together.
In fact, if you and your boyfriend or husband are shy to be naked in the bathing room. You just change your clothes and come to this RELAXING AREA.
I saw many locals or tourists doing “Sheep Head” or Yang-mori by folding the towel with 2 buns on both sides and put it on their heads. This becomes very famous as seen as many Korean celebrities do on the show!
So I think the reason they gave us this size of the towel…just to make a sheep head towel!!!
There is a big hall just for you to relax. Most people just lay down, playing with smartphones or just take a nap!
This time is also for exploring the sauna room. They are all themed (Turkish/Roman/Egyptian Pyramid and so many more), you can get in the room with your clothes on!
Don’t forget to try the roasted eggs! 3 for 2500won (~$2). I don’t know why they gotta have “roasted eggs” after sauna but I had some too!
Today was a rainy day, most of the customer stayed inside to relax. It’s actually an outdoor foot spa pool but it’s closed today because it’s raining!
It is also equipped with lounge chairs, and area with business-class style airplane seats with individual TVs, restaurants, massages etc.
Any food/massages have an additional cost which is payable at the end of your day, payment is via your electronic key.
Once you are done exploring the enormous multi-story spa area return to the change room, change back to your clothes. Go to the front desk and return your electronic key and pay for additional charges.
All I was in Spaland was about 2.5hrs by myself, and all I paid today is 44,500won (~$44, included Scrubbing and roasted eggs!)
Remember that some people travel to Busan just for Spaland, so if you have a chance to try, do it!
