We're planning to go to Japan in spring of next year. Art is busily making reservations for the trip. We've already bought the plane tickets and my brother has put in for leave from his job at the Police Department.
We went to Japan together with him in 2008. In fact, the only way we could get my mother to travel again was to tell her we were thinking of inviting Dennis to come along but he couldn't come unless she did because we needed an even number. It was my brother's first trip to Japan and we had a great time. We went from Hokkaido in the north to as far south as Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima.
This time we're planning to go even farther south to Kyushu and Shikoku where there are a number of famous onsens (mineral hot springs). Now here's where we're going to run into some tricky situations.
When I was in high school, we all hated taking our clothes off to shower together after gym class. I would still find it very difficult to take my clothes off and jump into the hot mineral springs with other ladies. My mother is even shyer about it than me. If my aunt were coming along, she'd be the first one to jump in. Unfortunately, she won't be with us to provide that courage.
As it is, I had to coerce/cajole/bully my mother into the mineral springs in Hokkaido in 2008.... and it was only a FOOT bath. She was hard enough. But my brother? It took both my mother and me to get him to stick his feet in.
They loved it! As Dennis said with a broad smile, "Tingly."
It really did feel wonderful. I'm wondering what it'll be like to be totally submerged in the hot springs. I know it's going to take some doing to overcome my acute modesty, but how am I ever going to convince them to do it. Art is always game for anything. He keeps telling me they must provide towels for strategic places to cover. It better be a big towel for my mother and me. Can I have one for the front and one for the back?
I can assure you of one thing. There won't be any pictures of that experience on this blog.
We went to Japan together with him in 2008. In fact, the only way we could get my mother to travel again was to tell her we were thinking of inviting Dennis to come along but he couldn't come unless she did because we needed an even number. It was my brother's first trip to Japan and we had a great time. We went from Hokkaido in the north to as far south as Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima.
This time we're planning to go even farther south to Kyushu and Shikoku where there are a number of famous onsens (mineral hot springs). Now here's where we're going to run into some tricky situations.
When I was in high school, we all hated taking our clothes off to shower together after gym class. I would still find it very difficult to take my clothes off and jump into the hot mineral springs with other ladies. My mother is even shyer about it than me. If my aunt were coming along, she'd be the first one to jump in. Unfortunately, she won't be with us to provide that courage.
They loved it! As Dennis said with a broad smile, "Tingly."
It really did feel wonderful. I'm wondering what it'll be like to be totally submerged in the hot springs. I know it's going to take some doing to overcome my acute modesty, but how am I ever going to convince them to do it. Art is always game for anything. He keeps telling me they must provide towels for strategic places to cover. It better be a big towel for my mother and me. Can I have one for the front and one for the back?
I can assure you of one thing. There won't be any pictures of that experience on this blog.
Oh, brother. And I don't mean the health benefits of the mineral springs.
ReplyDeleteI find nudity fascinating and draw a lot of pictures of nudes but am far too modest to disrobe in front of others. However that does not keep me from having the desire to run naked through the forests and fields. Certainly we are all so compelled by nature. It will be interesting to hear how your adventure goes.
ReplyDeleteNo photos? *Chicken*
ReplyDeleteThen instead get one of being buried in mineral sands, or something.
Kyushuu & Shikoku are great! I'm envious!
(Check your bags for stowaways before you leave - simultaneously check to ensure I haven't mysteriously gone offline for a while!)
The Kagoshima Bay area in the south of Kyushuu is where the Navy practiced for the Pearl Harbour raid. If you go there you'll certainly see why, the landform is eerily like Oahu, with Kagoshima Bay as Pearl Harbour.
With that total lack of irony the Japanese nation can be prone to, in that area they see themselves as having a special relationship with Hawaii, on the grounds that they are on the same latitude.
"Aroha" was used a lot (it may still be, my visit was a few years ago) to remind everyone of how Hawaiian the place is.
Pointing out they are at latitude 31, while Hawaii is more like 21, is most undiplomatic, and spawns for a response that unique Japanese obtuseness. (Anyone who has mentioned pollution in Japan, & then been subject to a long comment about how what you see is really dirt will know what I mean)
Aren't you tricky. Your mom doesn't read your blog I guess to find out how you tricked her.
ReplyDeleteI would have an easier time being nude if everyone else was a stranger. You know it will feel good. Just be quick.
I can't think of any motivation that would entice me outside my comfort zone. I have too many boundaries. Why does it have to be nude? Water gets under swimsuits. I'm a fan of showers;sitting in tubs of anything doesn't appeal to me. Just me, enjoy it if that floats your boat!
ReplyDeleteIt's not a problem but for my shy spouse... no way. She fights even going into the local lake in a bathing suit. Thanks for visiting our little nature blog. Stop by again sometime. I really would like to go to Japan sometime. We gone to Europe on trips several times but Japan has always seemed so far. Your pics of the arboretuem in Chicago were fantastic. Its now on my go to list as its only about 5 hours from home. :)
ReplyDeleteWould this be co-ed? Why aren't swim suits allowed? Personally, I would not want to be nude in a social setting even if I had a Playboy figure. I am too modest.
ReplyDeleteI think I would be reluctant, but would have to see how I felt when I got there. Once there it might just feel like the "natural" thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI know. It would be difficult for me too, but I think it would be worth the experience and would GO FOR IT!!!!
ReplyDeleteBe Brave :)
blessings,
Niki
I've been nude in hot springs before. I did have a little difficulty at first when showering in the Y's bathroom, but that's gone now. Mostly I don't mind nudity when it's separated by gender, but they don't usually do that in Europe, I found out! I stayed in a bunk house and both men and women shared a room and a shower...
ReplyDeletewhy don't they wear swim suits? They did in Iceland's hot springs but even then I didn't go...lol!
ReplyDeleteWhat, no photos? Lol.
ReplyDeleteOoo, Kay -- Surely you can wear your swimsuit under your clothes, and disrobe to the swimsuit. Do they forbid you to wear a swimsuit? The huge hot tub at my local indoor swimming pool is absolutely wonderful for tense shoulder muscles. Will you be able to see your relatives in the northern part? DrumMajor
ReplyDeletehaha..that would be fun..
ReplyDeleteUh, Granny Annie --
ReplyDeleteYou will get scratched if you run in the buff in the forest. I've known people in Kansas who got poison ivy after "frolicking" in a simple "field." Be careful in your dreams... DrumMajor
No...I could never do that in my current shape. Ugh. Even I don't like seeing myself in the mirror. But I did have to go to the bath house in the 70s when I visited my grandfather in Japan. The other ladies did not even look at my body. I may have been the only one staring at them. I have never been to an onsen, that may be different with so many tourist. I find it interesting that the Japanese "shame" is not like our Western modesty about nudity or transgender phobia. The Japanese seem to embrace these natural human forms without embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteL.
Hmmm. Is it really 'nude only'? Not sure if I would/could either. And yet the purpose of traveling is to collect new experiences.
ReplyDeleteNo photos, huh. OK, I'll believe you without photo evidence.
Couldn't you wear a bathing suit, or shorts and a tank top???
ReplyDeleteNo way for me..but my husband would have no problems..good luck on this one..why can't you wear a bathing suit?
ReplyDeleteEverybody: I understand that it's just the way things are done in Japan. You're just not supposed to wear clothing in the mineral springs. Perhaps because there's no guarantee that the bathing suit is very clean. You're also supposed to wash yourself before entering the bath. This is the custom. Cleanliness is very important. Sighhhh... Remember the saying. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do?" Someone even said you'd be stared at more if you wore a suit.
ReplyDeleteRemember the sscene in the film, The 'Bridges at To-ko-ri' where the Americans bathe with the Japanese family? Grace Kelly and William Holden naked?
ReplyDeleteDon't think I could do it, but it probably feels great. I get naked in the showers at the gym. After you have seen a few breasts it gets boring. Don't know about going in with men, however. Dianne
I would love to do it, but I'm such a chicken!! Maybe if I put a bag over my head???? No, probably not then either!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Kay,
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think you SHOULD take your clothes off to get in those hot springs. If the clean Japanese find a need to do it that way, then I say DO IT!
Think about it, are you going to see any of the people that you see there again? So, what does it matter?
I'm with you 110%!!!!!! This old bod is no longer fit for public viewing -- as if it ever was!!!!
ReplyDeleteNot me. No way. I would have to take a pass on getting naked. I'll put this old body in a bathing suit and go in public, but nude is out of the question.
ReplyDeleteI won't go into our own hot tub without a bathing suit!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention big towels, though. I was just telling Dick today about finding towels 34"x64" in the Sears catalogue. He said "Do we need them?" and I said "No, but I just love buying towels."
I don't know why, but I do.
Going into those mineral springs sounds wonderful. Can't you wear a bathing suit?
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Well I have had a lot of reading to do on your blog to catch up.
ReplyDeleteThe photos of the beautiful Gardens are wonderful! The new sofa's look great and hopefully easy to care for and I have a very noisy heart also. (My brother and Mother too!)
Last but not least, I want pictures of the Hot Springs.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Bring a pareau!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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The trip sounds wonderful, but I know I'd feel like you about getting naked. Surely they have some hot springs just for foreign tourists?
ReplyDeletew. come on Kay, just one, just kidding. I am like that, I never dress in front of anyone. I remember your last trip,I sre did enjoy all your pictures.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on context. It would not bother me to go nude in places where it is not remarkable, such as in swimming pool changing rooms or even where casual nudity is customary.
ReplyDeleteI never sauna in the U.S. for instance, because people wear bathing suits in them. But in Switzerland I went into saunas once a week with friends and we wore nothing, and that was just fine.
I don't enjoy doing this where people are either prudish or lecherous, of course, or think that only perfect young bodies should be on display.
From my understanding, you will not be allowed to wear a swimsuit in the onsen, and even if you were allowed to, it would be considered disrespectful to do so. That's what a Japanese friend of mine told me, anyway. She says that communal nudity among Japanese women at an onsen is a bonding ritual, in addition to the purpose of bathing. She says that most female relatives and friends bath nude together at an onsen.
ReplyDeleteI myself have never been to an onsen in Japan, however, I've been to a Korean spa in my town, and nudity is mandatory in the bathing pools. I've been there on a few occasions. Once with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law. And a couple of times with friends of mine. The nudity is not as big of a deal as you might think that it will be. I promise you that after a few minutes you'll forget all about the fact that your nude.
I may have to have my daughter read this blog entry of yours? She doesn't seem to believe me when I tell her that there was a time when students (Myself, as well) were required to shower in the nude together in a group shower-room in the girls locker room at school. She seems to think that I'm making that up,for some reason.
Kimberly H
Steve: Actually, we are planning to go to the mineral sands place since we can be covered in a yukata. But what will I do with my camera? Just leave it on the sand? Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid we weren't planning to be in the Kagoshima area, but now you've got Art curious. He's going to check it out.
troutbirder: Thank you so much for your visit and comment. I don't much like being in a bathing suit anymore either.
Kimberly: So very nice to meet you. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I know you're right about the nudity thing. We'll just have to suck in our gut and try it.