Nagano Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, who has shown stress-related symptoms since he regained the post two months ago after a fallout with the prefectural assembly, is undergoing five days of "fasting diet therapy" in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Tanaka traveled to the spa resort town on the Izu Peninsula on Saturday and checked in at a sanitarium where he will be put on a restricted diet, which includes mixed carrots and apple juice, till Wednesday.
The diet is supposed to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
Tanaka's aides said his atopic dermatitis has deteriorated recently and he gained weight during the election campaign in late August.
"This is not for weight loss. I am simply trying a health therapy at a different location," Tanaka said, citing meetings at the prefectural assembly as a source of stress.
The sanitarium in Ito is often used by politicians and celebrities.
Tanaka, a popular novelist before turning to politics, forced the gubernatorial election Sept. 1 after the prefectural assembly, angry at his determination to cancel costly public works projects, especially dams, passed a no-confidence motion against him.
Tanaka received about 820,000 votes in the election, double that of his closest contender.