Japan has a unique healing culture that has been developed over hundreds of years.
It is not simply “massage” in the modern spa sense, but a traditional wellness culture created to help travelers, warriors, and working people recover from physical exhaustion during long journeys and daily life.

The Origins of Anma and Japanese Bodywork

The roots of traditional Japanese massage come from “Anma,” an ancient hands-on therapy originally introduced from China.

In ancient Chinese medicine, it was believed that the body contained flows of energy and blood, and that pressing, rubbing, and manipulating the body could restore balance and improve health.

This knowledge was introduced to Japan around the Nara and Heian periods and gradually evolved into a uniquely Japanese style.

In Japan, these techniques naturally blended with:

• Tatami culture

• Clothing-based treatment styles

• Hot spring culture

• Samurai culture

Unlike Western oil massage, Japanese bodywork developed mainly as a fully clothed treatment performed through comfortable pressure and stretching.

Edo Period Travel Culture and the Hatago Inns

During the Edo Period, most people traveled on foot.

Samurai, merchants, pilgrims, and travelers walked for days or weeks along historic roads such as:

• Tokaido

• Nakasendo

To support these travelers, traditional inns called “Hatago” developed throughout Japan.

A Hatago was much more than a hotel.
It combined:

• Lodging

• Food

• Bathing

• Social interaction

• Entertainment

• Physical recovery

Travelers often suffered from:

• Leg fatigue

• Lower back pain

• Shoulder stiffness

• Swelling from walking long distances

At night, massage practitioners would go room to room offering Anma treatments to exhausted guests.

Modern hotel-room massage services in Japan are deeply connected to this historical tradition.

Samurai, Sankin-kotai, and Physical Recovery

One of the most important systems of the Edo period was Sankin-kotai.

Regional lords and their samurai were required to regularly travel between their domains and Edo.

These processions could involve hundreds of people traveling long distances on foot.

Samurai carried swords and, in earlier periods, heavy armor, placing enormous strain on:

• The hips

• Legs

• Lower back

• Shoulders

Because of this, bodywork and recovery treatments at inns were not considered luxury services, but important methods of maintaining physical condition.

In many ways, this function resembled modern recovery therapy or sports massage.

Samurai Injuries and Traditional Treatment

During the Sengoku Period and afterward, injuries were common among warriors.

Without modern hospitals, people relied on combinations of:

• Bone-setting

• Acupuncture

• Moxibustion

• Hot spring therapy

• Anma massage

Traditional Japanese bone-setting techniques are considered one of the roots of modern Japanese osteopathy and judo therapy.

Martial arts schools also developed deep knowledge of joints, muscles, and pressure points, which influenced traditional treatment methods.

Hot Springs and the Toji Healing Tradition

Japan also developed a unique healing culture called “Toji,” or therapeutic hot spring stays.

People would spend days or even weeks at hot spring towns to recover their health and restore the body.

Famous hot spring areas include:

• Kusatsu Onsen

• Beppu Onsen

• Kinosaki Onsen

After bathing, the body becomes:

• Warmer

• More relaxed

• More flexible

This made massage and bodywork especially effective after hot springs.

As a result, many ryokan inns and hot spring towns developed traditions of:

• In-room massage

• Shiatsu after bathing

• Therapeutic stretching and bodywork

These traditions still exist throughout Japan today.

The Birth of Shiatsu

In the 20th century, traditional Japanese massage evolved further into Shiatsu.

It was systematized by Tokujiro Namikoshi and became internationally known after World War II.

Shiatsu focuses on:

• Deep pressure

• Slow rhythm

• Breathing synchronization

• Working on muscles and the nervous system

Today, “Shiatsu” is recognized worldwide as part of Japanese wellness culture.

For many international visitors, experiences such as:

• Onsen hot springs

• Ryokan inns

• Tatami rooms

• Zen aesthetics

• Shiatsu therapy

represent the essence of traditional Japanese healing.

A Unique Experience in Japan

Traditional Japanese bodywork is not only about relaxation.

It is a cultural experience connected to centuries of travel, recovery, hospitality, and healing.

When visiting Japan, I highly recommend experiencing:

• A hot spring bath

• A traditional tatami room

• Japanese Shiatsu or Seitai bodywork

It is a chance to experience the same healing traditions that supported travelers and warriors in Japan for generations.