Japanese Mountain Retreat Mineral Springs & Spa

1. All negative feedback I have read in my opinion are mostly true
2. I've given feedback and nothing was changed from what I see in the reviews following
3. If you are contiplating going and still went then let this be a lesson. I told you so:)

This retreat had the idea and potential, however it lacks proper setup, planning and management.instead everything is barely minimal to create "smoke and mirrors" only to disappoint to those that know and experience what a "luxury" retreat actually is.

I attended mid-week for the 50 minute massage and 50 minute spa experience. I love mother nature, and I love bathing and mineral springs - its my happy place. Therefore I have tried it out in many parts of Melbourne, Victoria and many places around the world.
The massage was nice and good pressure, in a very nice spa environment, reminiscent of Morocco.
The private outdoor bathing experience was nice and quaint, with fresh mountain air, reminiscent of Japan.
The reason for the 2 stars comes down to value for money. For the price of $345 for a 50 minute massage and a 50 minute bathe, this represents extremely poor value for money, especially compared to other options in Victoria.
They did not provide a towel so I had to use my robe, and the hair dryer didn't work so I had to drive to my next appointment with wet hair.

Despite the defensive response from the venue which seems to be pretty standard looking at other reviews (ie.blaming the customer and not accepting responsibility), there were no towels, and the dryer was not working (I am not a complete moron).
Also, the Japanese lady who "welcomed" me and showed me through was surly and intimidating. There is no way I was going to ask her for anything else!
For this reason, I now give one star (reality) rather than 2 stars (at best) that I originally gave to be polite. Feedback was left for the venue to improve their services, rather than provide them an opportunity to blame the customer.
Bottom line - there is much better value around - I am not talking about CHEAP, I am talking VALUE FOR MONEY, based on an educated experience from locally and around the world. This is written to an audience of LIKE MINDED PEOPLE who benefit from knowing this information. Be warned!

I booked this as a surprise for my partner’s birthday - I booked for a private bathing session + a massage. Booking over phone was easy enough - customer service was convenient and quick. Payment is required in advance which is understandable.

On the morning I didn’t realise it was co-located with Balinese Retreat, and Spa de Marrakech so that was a surprise. We were running a little late and that was our fault, so we did miss out on 10 minutes of our private bathing. I recommend getting there 10 minutes before your time as there are forms that require filling out. They stick very closely with their times allocated so be aware of that if you’re wanting more time to bathe. Pictured is the front of the retreat, and then the private bathing space my partner and I were allocated. It was a clean area, and they provided complimentary robes, slippers, and water.

When your time is up, they ring a bell to let you know it’s time to finish. Then they take you to the spa for the massage. The massage was very calming and relaxing. It was the first time my partner had ever received a massage and he really enjoyed it. They listened to requests around pressure, and what areas you want them to focus on. They provide a complimentary tea and Turkish delight at the end of the session.

We left there feeling very relaxed, and kind of sleepy which is usual following a spa experience! Recommend booking with them. It’s costly, but a pleasant experience.

It was a beautiful experience: we arrived a bit late from the airport but the staff did their best to make up for it to make sure we had the best of our booking. The massage was amazing, as well as the spa area, we were accompanied from one location to another with smiling and friendly staff, and felt welcomed. The dinner was refined and delicious, just the right amount of food, with great service. We had booked the afternoon spa package. Our only suggestion would be to allow 10 minutes between the spa and the dinner to allow us to prepare for dinner, as there is only a shower next to the bath, no mirror to touch up your appearance and no other personal items than the clothes and handbag you arrive with. We will definitely keep the address in mind for another booking!

My husband and I stayed in the Balinese villa for our honeymoon and it was breathtaking! The food was honestly the best food we had ever eaten and we’re huge foodies! The massages and facials were incredible! What a slice of heaven this place is! Would highly recommend and will definitely be back!

The best experience ever. The receptionist tonight were soo amazing she is the most accommodating made us feel so welcome. My partner and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Really enjoyed the Japanese Mountain Retreat! - Stayed for the 50-minute private outdoor bathing.

The outdoor bathing was fantastic, beautiful location, well presented and enjoyed!

Service was fantastic ️

Wasn't cheap, but wasn't disappointed with the experience.

A quality experience. The staff were lovely and the food and service was great. Loved the treatments and the facilities were just stunning!

Went here with my wife and we got the bath, massage and lunch package.
The facilities here are great and well maintained. For bathing unfortunately the outdoor Japanese spa wasnt working so we were upgraded to the Roman baths. The Roman baths was ok but would have preferred the Japanese themed outdoor spa. Roman theme seemed a little out of place.
Had a relaxation massage and that was very good and room was large and relaxing.
The highlight for us though was the lunch, food was fantastic and service was too. The dining space was very nice with a nice view of the gardens. Cocktails were also on point.
Would definitely recommend going here, even if it's just for lunch.

We really wanted to love this place. Purchased the 'Date Night Outdoor Bathing' package for $1088, which includes:

- Couples massage 50 mins
- Private Outdoor Bathe 50 mins
- Poolside covered daybed
- Pre dinner cocktails
- Six course (Omakase) Japanese fine dining experience

First of all, the massage itself was fantastic. Both my wife and I agreed that both our masseuses did an excellent job and we could not fault them one bit. The decor in the Spa house where the massage rooms are located is also beautiful and unique, setting the tone for a memorable experience. After our massages concluded, we were ushered into the front waiting area/lounge for someone else to come and usher us over to the Private Bath area. Unfortunately the wait time was at least 20-25 minutes, which wouldn't have been an issue if that time didn't impact the 50 minute allocated time for the Private Bath House.which it did!
The receptionist who was working on the day (she was great by the way) was also the same person ushering us to and from the different areas of the facility. She did mention that she was the only staff member working at that particular time and is why we had to wait so long after our massages for her to come and get us. Again, we wouldn't have had an issue with the long wait time if it didn't impact the time we got to spend in the private bath area. To our disappointment we only ended up spending 25-30 minutes before she had come back to collect us and walk us over to the restaurant for our six-course dinner. I do need to mention though that the private bathing area is just perfect and there is no faulting the actual facility itself; the daybed, the large space, the tranquility of the spa.amazing!
Dinner - OK so once more, the operational timing of this place needs mass improvement! Not only was out private bath experience significantly cut short, but when we got to dinner we were left waiting at least 45 mins before our first course was served. Why were we ushered from the private bath area 20 mins earlier only to go to dinner and have our first course not served until 45 mins? The cocktail of the night was fantastic, I could've had them all night. However, the food was somewhat disappointing. Could be the fact that we were left waiting so long in-between servings, or the food itself lacking the flavours needed to be considered 'fine dining'.

Overall - Staff are great! Massages are top shelf. Facility is unique and exclusive. Scheduling needs massive improvement. Keeping tabs on the time so the guests aren't left in a) limbo and/or b) short of their booking time would go a long way. Food is average at best. $1088 is a little excessive for what you get, especially given the timing issues. More than likely won't come back again and won't be buying these as gift vouchers for family & friends.

What an amazing place for a day spa trip away from busy life. Staff are polite and super friendly during the whole experience. Beautiful scenery and delicious lunch courses.

Very disappointing experience! I purchased the ‘Date Night Roman Bathhouse’ package which included private bathing, massage, cocktail & 6 course Japanese dinner for two. The private bathing was nice, however the drinking water they provided us was not cold and quite unpleasant to drink in the heat of the Roman bathhouse. The 10 minute alarm that they sound to let you know you’re nearing the end of your session is almost inaudible. Thankfully I set a timer on my phone so I knew when to shower off and get ready for my massage, otherwise I would have been charged for staying longer. The massage itself was amazing, truly relaxing and the therapist was very professional and skilled. After the massage the wait for someone to take us to the dinning area was a little too long, which left us feeling bored and agitated. The dinner was a complete let down. The first two dishes were amazing and packed so much flavour, but the rest of the dishes were very average. The complimentary cocktail was delicious though. In the dinning area the tables are quite close together, and I felt as though I was on top of the other two couples who were also dining at the same time. The poor single server was rushed off him feet, attempting to juggle the requests of three tables and bring each dish from the kitchen outside across the way. Dinner ended up taking a whole three hours which is completely unacceptable. Had I known they would have been so severely understaffed I would have requested to book for another day or at least be provided with a reasonable discount to account for the slow painful experience. I won’t be returning.

The bathing scenery was nice but the bath and steam room was average. There want cold water available, just warm bath temperature. The massage was fantastic, nice room and the therapist was excellent. The dinner took 3 hours in total to be served, absolutely ridiculous. The host had to walk from the restaurant up the hill to the kitchen and return multiple times. He was doing his best but didn’t end up being a nice experience as a guest. Would not return.

Lovely stay as an engagement present!
Friendly staff that were super accommodating during dinner, the included massage and breakfast!

Sensational experience with ambience and professional service provided! Relaxation and fantastic food and beverage.

We stayed at this place in 2019. For the price.this place does not even come close to a japanese retreat. For the record, I have lived in Japan for 6 years and have stayed at a multitude of japanese retreats in Hokkaido, Kyoto, Yamagata, etc. This place is an abismal attempt to replicate a true japanese romantic getaway experience.

Had a massage at this place and it was a bit pricey. We'd expect it will be worth the price paid but it wasn't.

I attended before the July lockdown and will be returning for a visit with my mum this month. The staff were exceptional and the atmosphere amazing.

Had a great weekend with my wife.the experience was great and definitely recommend, especially for parents who need to escape. I think to have made this a 5 star experience would be to have an additional treatment included.

Absolute best staycation I've experienced in Melbourne ever. The level of luxury here is incomparable to even Crown! Loved every second of our visit it was truly special.