Typically, Ron and I are on different excursions but for this country, we’ve been together til today. I went off to experience an onsen – Japanese hot spring bath and he took a trip to a volcano geopark on Mt. Usu.
Public onsens are definitely part of Japanese culture – and I never took advantage when I lived here so it was high time. I checked out the protocol online before I went and fortunately, Nori, our guide, spoke great English and gave more detail about this particular location. He said public bathing (yes, it’s nekked) is a great equalizer and that there’s a phrase, “Hadaka-No-Tukiai” for the kind of conversation you can have – translates, he said, to “naked communication”.
Some protocol:
I knew from my original time here, that tubs, whether public or in your house, are meant for soaking. You clean up before you get in. That way, the water stays clean (and warm).
And, tattoos are verboten. There’s still a connection between tattoos and the Japanese mafia. Some businesses are beginning to allow them from what I’d read – this one didn’t.
Although very familiar with the “no shoes” policy, I’d forgotten how tough it is to walk in the slippers provided. They’re called slippers for a reason – if you walk too quickly, you can project a shoe forward off your foot in the blink of an eye. So, we all practiced the shuffle walk.
I didn’t know that hot springs establishments often have pools with different temperatures – ranging from 95 – 113. That set of baths in our resort was being refilled so we had a very, very large shallow pool at a comfortable 103/104 overlooking the woods. It was heavenly!
Lunch took place at a fish restaurant. Once I let Nori know that I was registered with the ship as a plant eater, he followed through with the restaurant. He was delighted to find out that I’d eat ramen, said I could order off the menu and that he’d help. Another win (and another translation hiccup – he stated at one point, once he knew that I’d eat ramen, that I should go to a restaurant for “normal” people so I would be away from… and then he gestured to the rest of the bus. I assured him I’d be fine).
We also had a stop at Norboribetsu Jigokudan in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It’s also known as Hell Valley since it resembles the Buddhist idea of what hell would look like since it has bubbling cauldrons and steam and weird colors. It is believed to be occupied by demons – and there are a few statues around town to give you some idea.
Finally, since we’re in the northern most island, we were keeping our fingers crossed that we’d see some blooming cherry trees – and we did! Admittedly, it was a smattering, but we saw them.
Since we’re now on the northern-most of Japan’s main islands, Hokkaido, there are bears here.
A drive-by of a couple of cherry trees that still had blossoms. Huzzah!
The only real picture I took at the onsen resort. This shows the rooms at the resort and the location of which kind of bath. No, you’re not supposed to shoot selfies…
Representations of the demons who live in this volcanic, hot spring area. These were about 15 feet tall.
