Echigo Yakuso Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture; President: Kazushi Tsukada) has announced that the opening of its thermal wellness facility "Echigo Yakuso Lava Mugwort Steam" and herbal cafe "ON CAFE," set to open in Azabu-Juban, Tokyo, has been moved from the originally planned June 2026 to August 8, 2026. The change comes after delays in the arrival of construction materials caused by the situation in the Middle East, which pushed back completion of the store.
Alongside this update, details have also been released for "GOROLI," a patented lava mugwort thermal capsule developed by the company.
GOROLI is intended as a response to the "low body temperature" increasingly seen among modern people. Developed using the power of lava and medicinal herbs, the device is designed to warm the body from its core. Amid factors such as lack of exercise, changing diets, and high-stress lifestyles, average body temperatures have been trending downward year after year, with some projections suggesting the average could fall into the 35°C range by 2030. A healthy average body temperature is generally considered to be around 36.8 to 37°C.
Lower body temperature is known to contribute to reduced immunity, slower metabolism, and chronic health issues, making warming the body an essential part of modern health management. Even so, few wellness facilities have taken a serious, dedicated approach to this issue — which is how GOROLI came to be.
Warming the Body, Not Just Heating the Skin
The recent boom in saunas and mugwort steaming has brought growing support for "thermal wellness" that warms the body. While this is a welcome trend, few approaches focus specifically on raising core body temperature; many instead emphasize the sudden sweating and sense of indulgence that come from heating the skin's surface at high temperatures. Raising a person's average body temperature calls for warming the body gently rather than heating it intensely, which is why an approach that targets core temperature — like GOROLI — is needed.
Features of the Next-Generation Thermal Capsule "GOROLI"
Key Features
- A next-generation, three-in-one thermal treatment that combines the best of mugwort steaming, hot stone bathing, and enzyme baths
- "Three-direction heating" — radiant heat (far-infrared), respiratory warming, and latent heat — raises core (rectal) temperature with zero feeling of breathlessness
- Direct absorption of the benefits of 66 carefully selected medicinal herbs
- An original "koji tsuyatama glow extract" leaves skin smooth to the touch
- Just 30 minutes of lying down is enough for efficient thermal wellness
GOROLI offers a new kind of thermal wellness focused on deep, core-level warming. At its heart is a distinctive design concept: a room kept at 40°C and 80% humidity for 30 minutes. Despite this relatively low, body-friendly temperature, the capsule is able to warm the body deeply thanks to three heating approaches:
Radiant heat (far-infrared from Mt. Fuji lava rock)
A lava plate from Mt. Fuji built into the floor reflects far-infrared rays at an efficiency of over 92%. The heat reaches deep into the body without passing through the air, warming it gently from within.
Respiratory warming (steam infused with 66 medicinal herbs)
Steam filled with 66 carefully selected medicinal herbs — centered on mugwort, known as the "queen of herbs" — draws on the company's 50-year history of herbal research. Heat reaches the body not only through the skin but also through the breath, allowing for efficient, deep warming without any feeling of breathlessness, while also delivering the benefits of the herbs directly.
Latent heat (heat energy released as steam condenses on the skin)
In the high-humidity environment (80%), the moment steam touches the skin and condenses into water droplets, a large amount of heat energy is released onto the body's surface. This transfers more heat than dry air would, warming the body without raising the skin's surface temperature excessively. The humid environment also limits evaporative cooling from sweat and moisture on the skin, making the warming process more efficient.
By combining these three heating approaches at once, GOROLI achieves surprisingly efficient core warming at a gentle temperature of around 40°C, rather than rapidly heating only the skin's surface as with a conventional sauna.
The inside of the capsule is designed for complete relaxation while lying down, and — true to its name, evoking the sound of flopping down to rest — guests can simply lie back for 30 minutes and experience a deep, genuine warmth rising from within.
An Original "Koji Tsuyatama Glow Extract" Inspired by Niigata Sake Brewing
Another major feature of GOROLI is that it lets guests pursue beautiful skin at the same time as thermal wellness. Guests can apply the in-house fermented extract "koji tsuyatama glow extract" over the whole body for smooth, supple skin. The extract was developed after the company took note of a local saying in Niigata that sake brewers' hands are beautiful.
Ingredients derived from koji mold in the extract work on skin that has been gently opened up by the warming treatment, softly breaking down old, dead skin cells and oxidized sebum. The extract's activity is also maximized at GOROLI's operating temperature of 40°C. After the treatment, skin feels smooth and silky to the touch, as if coated in a natural beauty oil.
Hands-Free Visits: Amenities
The facility is designed so that guests can drop in completely hands-free, whether on the way home from work or out running errands, with a full range of in-house amenities including skin lotion and emulsion.
Loungewear provided in the facility includes a quick-drying, moisture-wicking T-shirt and shorts that can be worn by both men and women, with towel rental also included at no extra charge.
Opening Schedule
The opening, originally planned for June 2026, has been pushed back in light of construction delays caused by disruptions to material procurement linked to the situation in the Middle East. The facility will now grand open on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Looking Ahead
The facility brings together "ON CAFE," where guests can enjoy medicinal herbs through food, and the thermal wellness facility, where guests can experience herbs through bathing, proposing a new lifestyle that incorporates the wisdom of medicinal herbs into everyday life. Rather than a health routine that demands willpower or self-denial, it aims to offer an environment where anyone can comfortably and naturally live alongside medicinal herbs. Details of ON CAFE's specific food and drink menu and services will be announced in a third press release.
Facility Overview
Address: 2-9-2 B1 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Grand Opening: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Facilities: Thermal wellness facility "Echigo Yakuso Lava Mugwort Steam" / Cafe "ON CAFE"
Features: Uses a patented lava steaming device; a complex facility offering medicinal herbs through both food and bathing
