Yu Select is known for its ashiyu with a twist. Instead of a tub, the café in Tokyo’s Ota ward
uses its original ‘foot bath boots’ called Onpon. The concept is simple: take a seat on the sofa and insert your feet into the ashiyu boots next to you. Equipped with removable plastic inserts, which hold the water, this knee-high footwear is made from a soft quilted fabric which encloses layers of aluminum foil, keeping the water warm for a long time.
Your 20-minute ‘private’ foot bath comes with a drink of your choice and costs ¥800. You can choose from eight different types of foot bath additives, with options catering especially to those with tired feet, who are extremely sensitive to the cold, simply want to relax, or wish for flawless skin. Guests with a sweet tooth can also upgrade their experience to the cake set for ¥1,200, which gets you a chocolate cupcake, a piece of cheesecake or fluffy chiffon cake. If you enjoy the session, you can even purchase a pair of Yu Select’s special boots to recreate the experience back home.