Health resorts and heavy drinking
don't usually go hand in hand, but that hasn't stopped the Japanese
from flocking to the newly-opened Beaujolais Nouveau spa.
The retreat, part of the Hakone Yunessun spa, offers guests the chance to bathe in the wine while they drink it.
Visitors can enjoy a Beaujolais Nouveau bath at the hot springs
Beaujolais Nouveau is enjoying growing popularity in Japan, which long ago replaced Britain as its biggest export market.
"To us Beaujolais
nouveau means France, it allows us to experience a little bit of French
culture," said Akiko Yajima, a journalist with Nippon News Network said
earlier this week. "Also it is not too heavy. Japanese ladies are very comfortable drinking it."
Japanese drinkers consume 11.5 million bottles, nearly a quarter of the entire vintage.
Makers of the wine recently launched a Rosé version, which is also expected to be big in Japan.
