Happy Chinese New Year 2014! Let’s kick it off with a unique foot bath at Yokohama Daisekai located in Yokohama Chinatown. Deemed as a traditional Turkish remedy and officially recognized as a medical treatment in Germany, the Dr. Kiss Fish pedicure delivers so many mixed sensations. From shrieking to giggling, it’s a perfect way to relax from all of the sightseeing you’ve done by foot and an unforgettable fifteen minutes of your life to boot (puns intended).
Rules:
Safe keep your valuables (jewelry, phone, camera, etc)
Remove shoes & socks and place them on the shelf
Roll up your pants to knee level
Rinse your feet off in the foot shower
Take one small towel for use after pedicure
An attendant will escort you to an appropriate foot bath and will place a digital timer next to your seat. If your face exudes any hint of fear to step in, she’ll actually countdown from five for you, as she did for me. I finally found the courage to dip my feet in! And although this has been my third encounter with the Kiss Fish, it never fails to keep my cringing laugh sealed from the curious onlookers.
The Dr. Kiss Fish are also known as the species Garra Rufa. They don’t have any teeth and are basically foraging to slough off dead skin. Imagine snorkeling and holding a handful of fish pellets at the shallow end of the bay. You slowly open your hand and in seconds a dozen fish come to “attack.” Well, in this case your feet are the fish food pellets and hundreds of one-inch sized carp swim up to give you a “kiss.” Many of them, for a long time, and just in time for Valentines Day!
The cost for an Adult is 1,000 yen and 500 yen for small children. Total time allotted is fifteen minutes. But to make it more adventurous, the attendant will then ask you to dip your hands into the water ten minutes into the pedicure. Just when the tickling has subsided and you're no longer laughing out loud, your smile grows until your eyes are completely shut as your hands are frozen in the water. Come on, you only live once so give it a try!
From Exit 3 of Motomachi Chukagai Sta, Yokohama Daisekai is just a few blocks from the China Town East gate. As you approach the 8-story entertainment center, you'll immediately see the large panda entrance and Hello Kitty standing by to greet visitors. Dr. Kiss Fish is on the second floor.