Komono - A town of healing where you can soothe your soul and body, surrounded by nature
Komono Town, located just 30 minutes or so from Yokkaichi City, is a laid-back and picturesque area with a mountainous backdrop of the Suzuka Seven Mountain range. The area attracts visitors who come here to hike the mountains, soak in its many hot springs and try the locally grown food at one of the many outstanding cafes dotted around the town.
Written by Pete Leong
AQUAIGNIS
One of the most popular and initial stop-off points for visitors to the area is a complex known as AQUAIGNIS. This is like its own little village, featuring amenities such as farms, fine dining with a sweets shop, and a bakery. There are also various types of lodgings, spas, massage facilities, and of course hot springs.
AQUAIGNIS, meaning water and fire, has a concept of sustainable and healthy eating, as well as creating a relaxing atmosphere with its creative architecture and various wood-themed cabins for guests to stay in. Many of the ingredients used throughout the restaurants and other shops are grown right there organically on the grounds or sourced from local farmers.
The sweet shop, Confiture H, features seasonally themed sweets of all varieties and colors and is led by one of the leading patissiers in the country. Even someone like myself who does not have much of a sweet tooth will be hard-pressed not to give it a try at least once, thanks to the attention to detail and various natural ingredients used to make these fancy treats.
My favorite shop here, however, is the award-winning bakery. For me, nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Especially as it’s wafting outside from their Spanish brick oven. There are too many amazing pastry treats on offer here to mention but their team has represented Japan at the 2020 bakery world competition and placed 3rd – so need I say more?
Just across the grass field where markets are often held on weekends you will find a 100-meter long greenhouse where more than 10 varieties of strawberries are grown. From December to May, guests can enter and enjoy an all-you-can-eat strawberry feast for 40 minutes.
These same strawberries are used throughout the complex for the various dishes at restaurants as well as in cakes and other desserts at the sweets shop.
These same strawberries are used throughout the complex for the various dishes at restaurants as well as in cakes and other desserts at the sweets shop.
You can also soothe your body with the natural hot springs and the mineral mist bath. There are also the SPA Café and the Rest area where you can cool down after bathing.
