Series | Reiko's Room ♡ Embracing the Luxury of Doing Nothing in Finland

The 14th: An Ultimate Healing Experience in Finland, the "Happiest Country in the World"

Hello everyone, it's Reiko. I recently visited Finland. Did you know that Finland has been ranked the "happiest country in the world" for two consecutive years, in 2018 and 2019, by an annual survey conducted by the United Nations? Finland is one of the three Nordic countries. It's known for Santa Claus, Moomin, and Marimekko... but that's not all! It's brimming with a wide range of charms, from luxurious moments spent in harmony with nature to modern architecture enjoyed in the city.

Photographs & Text by Reiko

A "Happiness Guide" Who Knows Finland Inside Out

This was my first visit to Finland, and I always imagined it to be cold in winter. Many people told me, "Summer is wonderful!" and just as they said, early summer in Finland is incredibly refreshing and pleasant. It stays light until around 10 PM, which makes you feel energetic for evening activities!

This time, I checked into the capital, Helsinki. From there, the first place I visited was Hawkhill, located about a two-hour drive northwest of Helsinki. Through the "Rent a Finn" campaign, which allows visitors to experience the diverse charms of Finland firsthand, "happiness guides" from various regions introduced the attractions of their local areas.

Lush green Hawkhill. When I woke up in the morning, all I could hear was the chirping of birds and the sound of the wind!

Over 75% of Finland's landmass is covered by forests. Outside of Helsinki, many cities offer endless vistas of green and lakes, creating a truly relaxing environment. Although Finland is slightly smaller than Japan in land area, its population of 5.5 million is less than that of Tokyo. For me, living in the concrete jungle of New York, Finland is truly a healing country.

At Hawkhill, I was welcomed by Juho, a happiness guide. Born in Japan, his handsome appearance combined with his fluent Osaka dialect created a charming contrast that made my heart flutter.

I stayed in a wooden cottage standing before a picturesque lake! It was like a scene from a painting! "Hawkhill Nature" offers several cottages, with catering services available upon request, and facilities where you can enjoy a Finnish sauna. The cottages are new and stylish, which is a delightful point for women.

The cottage I stayed in had a kitchen. It's designed to be enjoyed by groups or couples. Being made of wood, it has a warm and relaxing feel.

A key feature of "Hawkhill Nature" is the authentic sauna experience that Finns cherish. While Japanese people might easily understand this, saunas not only relax tense muscles and detoxify the body through sweating but also serve as a place for communication through shared nakedness (even with few words!).

Given its lakeside location, a common practice at "Hawkhill Nature" is to jump into the lake after warming up in the sauna, regardless of the cold outside. I was too timid and only managed the sauna, which was a bit of a letdown. Still, cooling off in the lake after warming up sounds wonderfully primal!

Undeterred by winter! With this kind of location, you'd want to jump into the lake! Yet, I was too nervous to go in the lake at night.

Coexisting with Nature is the Ultimate Luxury

I love the phrase "the luxury of doing nothing," and my happiness guide, Juho, proposed exactly that. During my stay at "Hawkhill Nature," I was encouraged to not overschedule, but rather to spend my time as I pleased—reading a book, going for a boat ride, exploring the forest, or cooking.

We decided to have a barbecue, so we went into the forest. While strolling, we picked young shoots from pine-like trees that grew everywhere. Apparently, these are packed with vitamins. Blueberries are also one of Finland's representative fruits. They're easy to miss if you're not looking carefully, but we were told they would be used in the barbecue later.

The luxury of having nothing to do is something you truly feel when you're constantly chasing time and schedules in daily life. By connecting with nature, it seems you can achieve a simpler lifestyle and a clearer mind. The staff at "Hawkhill Nature" helped us with the barbecue.

With its many lakes, salmon is a popular fish in Finland, and here it was smoked. The young shoots we picked earlier were added to sautéed vegetables. They had no strong flavor at all, making me wish I had picked more! Catering services are also available as an option, so it's recommended if you want to try authentic Finnish cuisine.

Blueberries were used as a topping for bruschetta and in tea.

Juho's favorite pastime is taking a book onto a boat and reading on the lake. How luxurious is that! The cottages are equipped with boats, so venturing out onto the calm lake is also an option. The endless greenery and the background music of birdsong truly heal the mind and body. Hawkhill is a recommended spot for a stay surrounded by Finnish nature.

Juho is quite skilled at rowing. With no waves, it really is perfect for reading!

Hawkhill
www.hawkhill.fi/en/

Visit Finland
www.visitfinland.com/ja/

Finnair
www.finnair.com/jp/jp/

Reiko
An editor, writer, and coordinator based in New York (also planning a new venture). While deeply loving champagne and travel, she finds herself approaching forty while dreaming of the ideal man. Her requirement for men: they must be gentlemen ♥︎