A memorable year for us, Ikeda Spa turns 10 this May. To commemorate our tenth anniversary, we bought you Sapporo Beer! Yes, you heard that right, your beer is on us! Invite a friend for free beer and for every successful referral; we will give you an additional two cans of beer!
What makes us Ikeda? Our signature Japanese onsen? Upscale quality spa services? All of these, but most importantly, YOU, our loyal friend who has travelled with us throughout the decade. Thank you for you. Your unwavering support and dedication is our motivation. You have a share in each and every one of our achievements and accomplishments.
The Founding Story: Ikeda Spa
We had a big plan with Ikeda Spa – our mission is to bring the Japanese ryokan culture into Singapore so that more people could experience such hospitality and come to understand the culture. If you don’t know what is a ryokan, you are seriously missing out on something big in Japan. Ryokans are Japanese style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. More than just a place to sleep, ryokans provide the best opportunities to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality. Traditional elements like tatami floors, futon beds, Japanese style baths and local cuisine, make ryokans popular with both Japanese and foreign tourists alike.
Ryokan
The lack of ryokans in Singapore meant that we had to do it the hard way. We travelled to numerous places in Japan to visit the different ryokans to draw inspiration for the conceptualisation of the spa. At that point in time, there were no interior designers in Singapore who had designed a traditional Japanese inn. Hence, we couldn’t find anyone to do it. So we did it ourselves – from sketching on napkins, hiring draftsmen, drawing the technical diagram, to working on-site with the contractors to build the spa.
Our hard work paid off when Ikeda Spa opened on 1st May 2009 at Bukit Timah. Then only a humble shophouse, we had little marketing funds to spend on advertising, so we relied heavily on word-of-mouth. To our pleasant surprise, it was a customer who wrote into the newspapers and radios to share about us. As a result, Ikeda Spa became the talk of the town overnight. Until today, we still have no idea who this customer is. If you are reading this, we sincerely thank you for your kind gesture. Ikeda Spa would not be who we are today if it were not for you.
The birth of IRÉN
Fast forward to 2015, we wanted to create a new skincare brand that encompasses the true spirit of Ikeda – the purest and best for our customers. Over the years, as we became more familiar with the skincare industry, we were shocked to learn that the skincare industry is ill-regulated. Ingredients that are proven to be toxic or potentially harmful pass through the checks of health regulations with ease. Products that contain these ingredients may cause skin problems after prolonged usage. We were motivated to create the cleanest and safest skincare products – non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free and proven by science. Therefore, we collaborated with top scientists in A*STAR and re-invested all our savings from Ikeda into the project. We never gave up on this dream to create the best for our customers even when we met with various obstacles.
In December 2017, IRÉN was born. Formulated in an in-house lab and made in Japan, IRÉN prides herself in the super strict standards in the formulation and production process. We promise you that we will continue to strive harder to find the best products for all our Ikeda customers. Please support us by giving your genuine feedback!
Regardless of the number of brands and the years that have passed, we will stay true to our Omotenashi spirit behind the services of Ikeda Spa. We will continue to deliver WOW to you on your every visit. We are proud of ourselves for sticking to our mission from day one the past decade.
What motivates us to continue for the next ten years is to have you join us on this journey. Part of a Japanese tradition, we should toast for this special occasion. We are waiting for you in Ikeda Spa, with free beer.
