You can now bathe in a pool of red wine and yes, it's actually good for you

Sky-diving, swimming with dolphins and flying first class might all be things on your bucket list, but here's one that you probably didn't even know existed. We can all thank the brilliance of the person who took two of our favourite indulgent pleasures – red wine and hot tubs – and mashed them together to create an actual pool filled with vin rouge that you can bathe in.

Yep, it's a real thing, and it's waiting for you over in Japan. Because where else would all your craziest fantasies come true? The red wine pool is open at Yunesson Spa Resort of Hakone in the Kanagawa Prefecture – a mountainous area just south of Tokyo with views overlooking Mount Fuji. Historically, Hakone was a spot to rest and relax when making the long journey between Kyoto and Tokyo in imperial times.

This spirit lives on, with the red wine bath actually providing a host of health benefits. The spa describes the richly fragrant "vinotherapy" as a "bright vintage wine bath" that can be considered both aromatherapy and skincare. They mention that Cleopatra of Egypt was particularly fond of the pampering treatment (and we already know Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher also swears by red wine baths too).

Yunesson Spa Resort also offers a traditional Japanese sake bath, as well as a green tea and coffee one too. Each claims to have different health benefits, and you've got to admit that it's worth it just to say, "Oh I spent the morning bathing in coffee, and I'll probably head back to the red wine pool later."

It's not the first time that we've heard a glass of red is actually good for us. Thanks to something called resveratrol found in red wine, studies have found that it can help you lose weight and even live longer. When bathing in it, skin is stimulated and the growth of new skin cells is boosted. Even the National Institutes of Health state that resveratrol is extremely beneficial to skin health.

"The polyphenols from red grapes are some of the most effective natural antioxidants with numerous studies that back their use in the field of cosmetics and skincare," AIRE Ancient Baths, another facility offering wine baths, state on their website. "It is scientifically proven that the polyphenols have an elevated antioxidant capacity, higher than that of vitamins C and E."

AIRE's wine bath, which is offered in their New York and Chicago locations, is more private (and a bit less gimmicky) than the one at Yunesson Spa Resort. Only one or two people are allowed inside "an antique venetian well of the XVII century" that is filled to the brim with the good stuff. Visitors get a 15-minute craniofacial massage during their 30-minute soak, followed by an hour-long massage using grapeseed oil.

But if you're not willing to splurge on the high-end spa or plan a trip to Japan, don't think that pouring a bottle from the supermarket will have the same effect. The alcohol will dehydrate your skin, so you need to add a few other things like grapeseed oil or red grape tannin powder to make it a true vinotherapy experience.

Well, will you be adding it to your bucket list?