Ongsens

Leaving Midori's today was bittersweet. Girl you kick ass and are an awesome hostess! But there's not much time to get sentimental as our day ahead of us was calling our tired legs and feet, today we're off to the hotsprings. Not knowing what to expect, but assuming the best considering how everyone kept raving about hotsprings in Japan. We left with the combined feelings of excitment and nervousness, the nervousness due to Mystikals constant taunghts about seeing me naked. Masa picked us up in his pimp ride and escorted four silly girls to Yunessun (the largest hot springs in Tokyo). On a clear day we're told that you'd be able to see Mt Fuji while sitting in the springs...unfortunately as the picture displays, it was clearly not a clear day, but all the same the scenary was beautiful. After we parked, we took a tram up to the...park? Well, that's what it seemed like when we got there...not at all what I was expecting. So much more modern looking than I had pictured it. It looked more like a luxury spa resort/amusement park than the old school traditional image I had in my mind. Mad props to the japanese brains that created such a place, so simple and easy = relaxing to the max. Currency is not needed in here, instead you buy your entrance ticket, they slap a cheap plastic looking bracelet on you and for the rest of the day if you need nourishment of anykind you just slide that handy bracelet across a magnetic stripe and it is added to your tab that you will settle at the end of your pampered journey. The bracelet also acts as a key to your locker...can we somehow incorporate something like this to our everyday lives? I'd be a huge fan of not needing to carry id's, credit cards, or anything for that matter. Let's just insert a magnetic strip into our palm and go from there. Sounds like a plan. So, the ongsen consisted of two sides; the modern and traditional. The modern side affords you male and female interaction as you are allowed to wear your swim suits. We started here so that Masa could join us (really...we wanted to warm up to losing our bikini's). I couldn't describe this place to you and do it justice, just know that it had everything you could ever want when relaxing. There were springs of different temperatures, liquids (including, water, coffee, carcoal, saki, wine, and green tea), and environments (indoors, outdoors, waterslides, lounge areas, quiet areas, loud areas) They had imported water from the dead sea (don't go in after just shaving your legs...ouch!), they had turkish baths, saunas, massage palors, and of course a food court. With all this, we of course with got split up. With not much time left and signs of chaffing from walking around in our wet state, Misty and I (or actually just Misty and me going with the flow) decide to try the traditional side. That was the longest time I ever took undressing. I felt like I was back in the 6th grade in the girls locker room for the first time. Yea you know the feeling, only this time you have a voice that is making it so much more difficult (you know who you are). So if I'm gonna do it, do it quick. Once your in your birthday suit, you get a towel, which is cool...the only problem is the towel is the size of a hand towel, and they're not use to cover up with. Instead, the locals fold it into a neat square and place it on top of their heads..yes, I said that correctly. Let's just say you could tell that we weren't locals. Oh, but the worst is still to come...after leaving the locker room in our birthday suits, my immediate reaction to seeing the springs outside is to jump in the water for a bit of cover. However, you're not allowed to get in the water until after you've bathed...in the next room there are about 100 showers where you have to take a shower and clean yourself. If you're clean the water stays clean, smart thinking eh? Another thing about the Japanese, they are not cheap. Shiseido soap, shampoo and conditioner. There are a coupla stand up showers but the majority are all shorter stalls with stools, ummm yea...we opted for the standup shower. After my shower I lead the way out (how that happened...I don't know), and to my surprise my naked cousin is walking towards me (keep the eye contact). I remember her words exactly "wow, didn't think you two would have the balls to come in here". Eat your words Phansy! Uh huh. So we make our way outside, and to my surprise to get outside you have to climb up a short flight of stairs...okay, who the heck built this place, to make people climb stairs when naked. Is that necessary?...aren't we already self-conscious enough being without any clothes, and why am I always stuck in front when it comes to these situations? You can imagine the view as we were walking up the stairs..yea, ha ha ha. Outside I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable, til' Naoko tells me that tattoos are frowned upon here because they are associated with the Yakuza...Crap! There goes the comfort. Kind of a tough one to hide when naked...whatdaya gonna do? Remember the jumping in the springs comment I made earlier? Well...that's become quite a trick in this situation, cause the water doesn't come higher than your knees. The cannonball is a no go..Ha! Can you imagine trying to get in the water in a ladylike way. Trust me, it was a very akward situation. After coming to grips with it all, I realized the drastic difference in how our two cultures embrace sexuality. Maybe Americans can learn a thing or two and take on the maturity level that the Japanese have instilled in their culture. All in all , the experience was unforgettable. To be able to sit in the clearest water I've ever seen, with good friends, surrounded by forestry that you see in only movies....definately no regrets here, and that....is my naked story. =)