Having your feet nibbled by an armada of small grey fish may not sound like a recipe for relaxation. But the quest for beauty in Japan, it seems, knows no bounds. Dr Fish – a pond in which feet are tentatively placed and nibbled smooth by fish – is one of the highlights at the themed hot spring onsen resort Ooedo Onsen Monogatari.

Visitors choose from a selection of cotton kimono before entering a wooden entertainment space themed on the old Edo era of Tokyo. Tuck into some sushi and green tea, pay a visit to Dr Fish and indulge in a shiatsu massage before crowning the experience with the focal point of any visit: a dip in the steaming the communal hot spring baths.