If you check the upcoming May 2008 issue of eurotuner you will see our show report from the Tokyo Auto Salon, where we walked the halls looking for interesting European cars. We managed to find a surprising number of noteworthy machinery and have photographed several examples for the BMW E90/E92 3-Series special issue in May.

However, any trip to Japan is remarkable for the cultural differences that it highlights. One such difference arose when we paid a visit to the Yunessun spa resort in the mountains around Hakone, about 2.5 hours outside Tokyo.

Although it was snowing in the mountains, we ventured outdoors in just a pair of swimming shorts and proceeded to make our way up the mountainside, sampling different hot pools as we ascended.

The water in the pools is heated naturally by the volcanic activity just below the earth’s surface, causing plumes of steam to rise from the ground. Where the steam is used to heat the pools, it provides wonderful relief from the freezing air temperatures.

What made this spa even more remarkable was that each pool was themed. The first pool had a giant 10ft wine bottle suspended over it. Several times a day actual red wine is poured into the pool to give it a great aroma. But while the smell was amazing, you wouldn’t want to drink it!

Other pools included coffee, green tea, sake and even chocolate water. We also ventured into the Dead Sea Spa, which used salt imported from the Dead Sea. Rich in minerals, it’s said to be good for the skin and the increased buoyancy is remarkable. But our time in this pool was cut short by the incredible stinging sensation caused by the salt on your skin.

There are short waterslides for the kids and a host of other pools and spas that combined to create an incredible experience.

Japan has another unique feature that is possibly the country’s greatest contribution to mankind. Never mind state of the art electronics, legendary cuisine or cutting-edge automobiles; Japan’s greatest gift to humanity is the “active” toilet. These little babies have a two-stage heated seat to ensure a comfortable stay. And once your business is complete, it has a combination of shower and bidet warm-water sprays to leave you shiny-clean. Fitted in our rooms at the Villa Fontaine Hotel in Tokyo, the management also provided a heating element behind the bathroom mirror to ensure it didn’t steam-up after your shower. Truly, the best way to start the day!