16.9.2008

Onsen

Well I spent 5 hours at an onsen, a traditional Japanese spa today with Takako, her sister and her parents. The Japanese really know how to do this in style. For a cost of £40 we had unlimited access to all the outdoor and indoor pools, hot baths, steam room, sauna, hot stone sauna and an hour long shiatsu massage. You have no reason to leave the place. Everyone is dressed in their gown, can have tea, lunch, ice-cream, play games on machines, children can run around in their designated areas and basically you can simply stay there a whole day, dipping in and out of baths, rejuvenating and getting polished. Women and men are in separate areas because you don't wear anything at all. Just walk around with a slim long towel to cover your bits as you enter and leave places but otherwise enjoy the nakedness, the freedom and lose yourself in sensations of great pleasure and relaxation.

We are now back at home and Takako's parents are singing traditional Japanese songs. They are both tone deaf but that wouldn't stop them, they have a small musical instrument that is supposed to tune their voice but all it does it make their voices around even more out of tune. They really are a cute couple.

Today after the onsen we had gone to an old part of the town where Takako's mother randomly got talking to an old lady in the street and it turned out they went to same school 64years ago. This lady then dragged her to a shop round the corner that was owned by yet another classroom mate. Apparently she instantly remembered Takako's mum and said that she hasn't changed a bit in the past 64years.