When in Rome....

The Japanese proverb “Go ni itte wa go ni shitagae” is similar to, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. I just found out that we will be staying in a ryokan on the night of June 22nd. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn which contains tatami floors (straw mat), futons for sleeping and communal baths (yes, you read that correctly). The water for the bath is usually provided by a hot spring (onsen) and yukata are worn after a bath. A yukata is a casual form of a kimono, meaning bathing clothes. Needless to say, this will be a true Japanese total immersion cultural experience. Bathing is an art in Japan and is taken very seriously. It provides a source of not only cleanliness, but also relaxation. To begin the bathing process, you first sit on a stool and clean yourself, shampoo your hair and rinse off. Then, you may enter the bath tub or pool to relax. The bath water is not drained after every use like we do in the US. Often times, the entire family uses the same bath water because you are clean when you entered the bath. Because of this, most Japanese homes have a separate toilet and bathing area. At the ryokan, a small towel (just 1) is strategically placed over the "important areas" when you move from the cleaning station to the hot springs bath. This should provide for some entertainment. I'll let you know how the communal bathing goes.....