The path to serenity begins in the mountains. A climb up winding stairs through tall pine trees leads to a soothing soak in a hot tub beneath piñon and juniper trees. After a traditional Japanese shiatsu massage and grilled miso bass paired with sake, a peaceful night’s sleep awaits at Houses of the Moon, inspired by a Japanese ryokan, or inn. It’s easy to imagine you’re at a spa resort in the majestic mountains of Japan—but you’re actually tucked into the foothills of Santa Fe.
With its Japanese-adobe architecture and a design aesthetic that blends wood, rock, and water, Ten Thousand Waves is steeped in the customs of Japan’s, hot-springs resorts that have been around for centuries. Owner Duke Klauck opened the spa in 1981 as a modest, Japanese-influenced bathhouse after stumbling on the joys of natural hot springs. He’d been traveling the country and living in his Dodge van when he discovered that hot springs could be a great substitute for elusive showers and an easy way to meet people.
