This is us sporting the yukatas while enjoying a hot springs foot soak in the lobby of the ryokan...
One would think that having lived in a house full of girls, a college dorm, and a sorority house would have prepared me for the day when all modesty would be lost. The bus ride to the ryokan was one of dread and panic...who would have thought bathing would be met with such sheer terror by us Americans? Bathing is an art form in Japan, and this total "immersion" cultural experience in Japan was about to include an "immersion" in a hot springs bath at a ryokan with 10 of our best naked friends. A ryokan embodies the very essence of Japan and is surely the accommodation of choice if you wish to personally experience the uniqueness of Japan - the architecture, lifestyle, nature, traditions and culture. Staying at a Japanese ryokan offers a splendid opportunity to familiarize you with the spirit of Japanese hospitality and graceful customs that have been passed down over many generations. You can experience the elements of Japanese culture and customs: staying in a room with tatami (straw mat) flooring, changing into a typical yukata (robe), taking an onsen hot-spring bath, sleeping on a futon (bedding) put down directly on the tatami floor.
We arrived at the ryokan, perched high on the mountain of Tsukuba, one of the most famous mountains in Japan (obviously behind Mt. Fuji). Click here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Tsukuba My host family kept telling me I was going to "scuba" and having pictured scuba gear and diving...I was a little confused though elated when we pulled up to the gorgeous inn, nestled in the mountain and surrounded by trees and nature. We quickly changed into our yukata for dinner of a lavish feast followed by the dip we had dreaded. The sake flowed like the river below our feet, which just gave us the needed confidence to get in (Stacy dared me to do a cannon ball, but the bath was just too shallow...maybe next time). It was actually a very nice soak, though it took a lot of sake and a lot of "I'll never see these people again" thoughts to get me in there, but I'm glad I did. As loud Americans, we sometimes found it difficult to be "graceful and still" like the Japanese, but I think we accomplished just that on this trip to the ryokan. However, it does take a little grace (and a prayer) to position the towel just right over the "important" parts as you move from the shower to the bath, then quickly move it to your head where it won't get wet...and the scalding hot bath stuns you into the stillness we all needed...
TO MY FAITHFUL READERS: Please bear with me as I get recover from jet lag and try to get caught up on my postings. I will be posting every day for awhile, so please check back often. I will also get my pics up ASAP!
We arrived at the ryokan, perched high on the mountain of Tsukuba, one of the most famous mountains in Japan (obviously behind Mt. Fuji). Click here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Tsukuba My host family kept telling me I was going to "scuba" and having pictured scuba gear and diving...I was a little confused though elated when we pulled up to the gorgeous inn, nestled in the mountain and surrounded by trees and nature. We quickly changed into our yukata for dinner of a lavish feast followed by the dip we had dreaded. The sake flowed like the river below our feet, which just gave us the needed confidence to get in (Stacy dared me to do a cannon ball, but the bath was just too shallow...maybe next time). It was actually a very nice soak, though it took a lot of sake and a lot of "I'll never see these people again" thoughts to get me in there, but I'm glad I did. As loud Americans, we sometimes found it difficult to be "graceful and still" like the Japanese, but I think we accomplished just that on this trip to the ryokan. However, it does take a little grace (and a prayer) to position the towel just right over the "important" parts as you move from the shower to the bath, then quickly move it to your head where it won't get wet...and the scalding hot bath stuns you into the stillness we all needed...
TO MY FAITHFUL READERS: Please bear with me as I get recover from jet lag and try to get caught up on my postings. I will be posting every day for awhile, so please check back often. I will also get my pics up ASAP!
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