Ten Thousand Waves
4.6(1.9K)google
4.2(765)yelp
Hot SpringSpa
Overview
Ten Thousand Waves is an internationally renowned, Japanese-style mountain spa resort nestled in the pinon-covered hills just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Inspired by traditional Japanese onsen hot spring inns, the luxury sanctuary features outdoor cedar-lined soaking tubs, premium therapeutic massage pavilions, and meditation gardens. It provides an exceptional wellness retreat blending classical Asian hospitality with southwestern landscapes.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeThis world-class, mountain-side Japanese outdoor hot spring resort nestled inside high pine groves peaks magnificently during the snowy winter months (December to March). Pre-booking a private outdoor tub session online months in advance for the dusk golden hour (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM) is highly advised; soak in the steaming thermal waters as winter snow blankets the surrounding alpine forests.
Getting ThereDiscreetly hidden inside the high forest canyon northeast of Santa Fe at 3451 Hyde Park Rd. No public transit routes exist; driving a car is your only access standard. Navigate uphill from the plaza via Hyde Park Road (NM-475 N) for a scenic 10-minute mountain drive; look for the elegant Japanese wooden lanterns to turn right into the resort's terraced, complimentary gravel lots.
Travel Tips
- Private outdoor soaking tubs and premium spa treatments require locking in slots 2-3 months prior online; checking for day-of walk-up spaces is almost always futile.
- The resort is terraced on a steep forested mountain ridge; paths consist of steep outdoor stairs that slick over with winter ice, making provided high-traction sandals vital.
- Set deep in the Santa Fe National Forest foothills, expect zero stable cell data carrier bands; take screenshots of entry barcodes before ascending the access road.
Reviews
Positive
- An elite Japanese-inspired mountain hot spring resort; towering pinon pines, rustic wood tubs, and Zen stone lanterns blend for immense mental calm.
- The open-air private tubs are flawless! Soaking in piping hot, clear mineral waters while stargazing under mountain pines offers maximum seclusion.
- The on-site Izanami restaurant serves staggeringly authentic Japanese izakaya bites and premium sakes with humble, flawless hospitality.
- Changing rooms and tatami lounges are immaculately clean, packed with luxury toiletries and fresh kimonos; a true masterpiece of luxury escape.
Heads up
- Pricing is staggeringly high, ranking as a luxury-tier expense; plus, private tubs fill weeks or months ahead online, leaving zero walk-in slots.
- Private soak blocks are rigidly capped at 50–60 minutes; just as you drift into deep relaxation, the timer alarms for checkout, feeling rushed.
- Built steep into the hillside, the layout is laced with wooden steps and uneven gravel lanes, making accessibility tough for wheelchairs or strollers.
- Cell service is practically dead on the mountain property; while free Wi-Fi is provided, the feed frequently drops out in outer open-air tubs.