Japanese Spas Are Offering VR Experiences to Reduce Stress in Quarantine
Work From Home is a new vertical dedicated to life and culture in the strange and unprecedented situation of self-quarantine that many of us are dealing with right now. From what to watch to how to get a fit off and how to not think about anything, this is our guide to the great indoors. For updates on the spread of Covid-19 and how to keep yourself safe and informed, consult WHO and the CDC.
Several spa hotel owners in Japan have come up with a genius, novel way to tackle the plummet in tourism due to the coronavirus outbreak, The Verge reports. They’ve started uploading “VR footage” of their hot spring baths to YouTube so would-be tourists can reap the zen benefits at home — or at least feel like they are.
Ninety percent of Rykon (traditional Japanese inns that typically feature tatami-matted rooms and communal baths) have reportedly been forced to close in Arima, a town famous for its hot springs, due to the pandemic. The VR experiences are their way of helping people pull through isolation.
In a statement, the spa-owners state, “Japanʼs hot springs can help healing people in quarantine around the world, as well as increase the efficacy of the quarantine. This way, we may, even if only slightly, help reduce infections and suffering from the new coronavirus.”
Want to give the bath’s restorative power a go for yourself? Then check out one of the videos below or head to the Arima Hot-spring Baths VR Tour YouTube page to watch them all.
