Shoji Spa is the only private outdoor spa in Asheville, North Carolina. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this spot offers gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It opened in July 2005 to give visitors a relaxing escape into the natural forest surroundings.
Each outdoor hot tub sits in a serene wooded area. Three bamboo walls offer privacy while the open fourth side provides a beautiful view of the Asheville skyline. In addition to the private outdoor hot tubs, Shoji Spa offers all types of massages.
When you arrive, you’ll receive a robe, a pair of sandals, and a towel for each member of your group. Your experience starts with a rinse in the modern slate showers to clean off any perfumes, lotions, and oils. From there, your guide will show your group to the private hot tub, located in a quiet part of the woods. The tubs are numbered, with tub #1 farthest from the front desk. You’ll walk along a path in the forest to reach your outdoor tub. After you enjoy a relaxing soak, you’ll finish your experience with another shower.
If you booked a massage, you’ll meet your professional massage therapist next. Options include: ZEN (Swedish), OKUBUKAI (Deep Tissue), ANDO (Deep Tissue with CBD Salve) and HINOKI (Swedish Massage with 15-minute skin brushing and 15 minutes of scalp massage), and Japanese-inspired herbal body treatments. If you’re expecting, schedule the OKĀSAMA (Prenatal) massage, a nurturing Swedish massage given while you’re lying comfortably on your side.
We also recommend you try the cold showers or the wet cedar sauna while there. At Shoji Spa, you’ll see a good mix of locals and out of town visitors. You can also book an overnight stay at the lodge if you’d like to stick around for the evening.
During a visit to Shoji Spa, you’ll feel like you’re far away from the stresses and obligations of everyday life, but you won’t have to drive for hours to achieve this level of relaxation. Unplug and enjoy the experience while soaking away your everyday stresses. The spa is only 8 miles from the downtown area of Asheville, offering easy access. It sits 2,500 feet above sea level, bordered on one side by Pisgah National Forest. During the winter months, you may need chains or a 4×4 to get to the spa on snow-packed roads.
Insider Tip:
- Make sure to relax in your private hot tub as the sun goes down since the open side of the walls surrounding the tub offers an amazing view of the sunset into the woods.