Well, we left Tokyo two days ago. Yesterday, we spent the night in a traditional Japanese ryokan (inn) in Hakone, which is kind of a mountain resort. After a long bus ride up a mountain, we rode a suspended cable car over some sulfur pits, and rode a boat across lake Ashi. The sulphur pits warm the area’s mountain spring water naturally, providing awesomely hot water for the baths (onsen) at the ryokan. The ryokan also involved a super elaborate dinner and breakfast.

Anyhow, the whole public bathing thing was a first for me, not only because of the public nudity, but fear of the funky faucet controls. A dial on the left controls temperature while another on the right alternates between the faucet and a shower head. You’re supposed to wash yourself thoroughly with this contraption with a wooden bucket while sitting on a low, wooden stool before getting in the hot tub. It took a bit of strategy before we were ready to venture to the public bath, including manners regarding use of the “crotch cloth” (that’s the term we came up with). But my dad and I found the onsen totally empty so it was no big deal. It’s totally relaxing and worth the effort.

We had some confusion over the yukata and slippers situation, especially the bathroom variety. I think each of us screwed up and wore them out of the bathroom at various times. Luckily, we didn’t do it when anybody who would care was around.

Today, we caught the Shinkansen west to Kyoto. The contrast between here and Tokyo is already evident - it’s more laid back; people don’t rush around, and folks certainly look more rural and down to earth.

The next few days look to be more awesome fun, checking out temples and eating more food - however, I’m actually starting to crave the more base American stuff like pizza and hamburgers. I may just use the excuse that the best Japanese food I’ll likely have in my lifetime was at the ryokan and the Tsukiji fish market.

Sorry for the lack of photographs so far - I need to toss some up here.

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