"So when was the last time you saw your mom naked?" asked a Japanese friend.
"Ummm what? (hesitation and puzzlement) I don't know at whatever age it's no longer appropriate to shower with a child."
She looked puzzled.
My mind started wondering, should I rephrase my question or just go with it. Was something lost in translation? We are in Japan after all, maybe it's different here.
"What about you?" I asked hesitantly.
"Oh we take baths all the time, she washes my back, I wash hers. It's really nice."
Now I was puzzled and so began my first Japanese hot spring experience.
"Ummm what? (hesitation and puzzlement) I don't know at whatever age it's no longer appropriate to shower with a child."
She looked puzzled.
My mind started wondering, should I rephrase my question or just go with it. Was something lost in translation? We are in Japan after all, maybe it's different here.
"What about you?" I asked hesitantly.
"Oh we take baths all the time, she washes my back, I wash hers. It's really nice."
Now I was puzzled and so began my first Japanese hot spring experience.
My mom came to visit us in late March/early April (lots of photos coming soon!) and one of our friends, we liked to privately call them our Japanese parents, invited us to a Japanese hot spring in the mountains near Sendai. Reading up on what to expect at a Japanese hot spring made me a bit nervous, naked bathing in natural hot springs... Oh boy! Do we get a towel or do we just let everything fly? By the way, guys have it so much easier, just one body part to worry about covering!
We arrived at the Yuzukushino-Yado Ichinobo on an overcast Monday morning. The resort was beautiful, very grand yet serene. We paid our dues and then quickly left our shoes in a little storage locker where we were also given a towel. Hallelujah! No naked walking around for us, I thought. Our hosts also gave us a small long towel that one could drape over intimate parts. In our slippers we walked through the big resort to a changing room where we put on traditional hot springs robes.
Then it was off to the hot springs. My mom and I followed our host to the first bathing area. We took off our robes and here we were standing naked (so much for that towel!) in a room with other ladies waiting to shower before entering the bath.
Awkward doesn't even begin to describe it!
The traditional Japanese shower is much different than in the west. Its very low and you actually sit on a stool while showering. Strange at first but very convenient and comfortable the second time around. We showered and then draped our long towels over our bodies before entering the bath. My awkward feeling began to ease, and bathing with others made it strangely comfortable. Hey we were all in this together! The ladies all smiled and their sincere smiles made my mom
and I feel welcome.
There were three different baths, ranging from hot, very hot, to burning hot! The hottest one topping off at around 115 degrees Fahrenheit. We took our time sweating perfusely and checking out the different baths. We alternated between the baths and a cooling station, cool water never felt so wonderful!
From the first indoor bath we checked out two more bathing facilities. The second one was semi outdoors with a nice nature view of a forest. The facility was all made out of stone and wood. Very traditional Japanese design - simple and beautiful!
The last bath was probably our favorite, all outdoors surrounded by rocks. The natural mountain hot spring actually flowed straight into the bath. We were all thankful it was a little chilly outside because otherwise we wouldn't be able to stand the 100 degree water.
At the hot springs I finally learned what it means just to "be" with someone. In the West we are so occupied with talking that sometimes we forget to take a deep breathe and just "be." To the Japanese, silence is golden, and many just enjoy ones company by sitting in silence. Like many westerners I was uncomfortable with silence until I came to Japan, the lack to understanding the language and only being able to express myself with limited English taught me the importance of spending quality time with people without verbal communication. So the three of us were just boiling in the bath, relaxing, taking in the scenery and feeling comfortable in our own naked skins. Not only were our minds at ease but so were our bodies. The hot spring water relaxed our muscles and let us put our guard down.
After the baths we met our male companions(the husbands) at the hotel restaurant for lunch. Cold soba noodles (buckwheat noodles dipped in wasabi and soy sauce ) never tasted so delicious!
I have to admit, my first Japanese hot bath experience was amazing! Not sure if the personal connection is the same for males, who just cover the old fella with a hand towel and hang out in the hot waters. But for a female, the experience was very personal and moving. Never in my life did I think I would take a bath with my mom when I was 27 years old nor with a plethora of Japanese women, but the experience proved to be very rewarding and I can't wait to do it again!
We arrived at the Yuzukushino-Yado Ichinobo on an overcast Monday morning. The resort was beautiful, very grand yet serene. We paid our dues and then quickly left our shoes in a little storage locker where we were also given a towel. Hallelujah! No naked walking around for us, I thought. Our hosts also gave us a small long towel that one could drape over intimate parts. In our slippers we walked through the big resort to a changing room where we put on traditional hot springs robes.
Then it was off to the hot springs. My mom and I followed our host to the first bathing area. We took off our robes and here we were standing naked (so much for that towel!) in a room with other ladies waiting to shower before entering the bath.
Awkward doesn't even begin to describe it!
The traditional Japanese shower is much different than in the west. Its very low and you actually sit on a stool while showering. Strange at first but very convenient and comfortable the second time around. We showered and then draped our long towels over our bodies before entering the bath. My awkward feeling began to ease, and bathing with others made it strangely comfortable. Hey we were all in this together! The ladies all smiled and their sincere smiles made my mom
and I feel welcome.
There were three different baths, ranging from hot, very hot, to burning hot! The hottest one topping off at around 115 degrees Fahrenheit. We took our time sweating perfusely and checking out the different baths. We alternated between the baths and a cooling station, cool water never felt so wonderful!
From the first indoor bath we checked out two more bathing facilities. The second one was semi outdoors with a nice nature view of a forest. The facility was all made out of stone and wood. Very traditional Japanese design - simple and beautiful!
The last bath was probably our favorite, all outdoors surrounded by rocks. The natural mountain hot spring actually flowed straight into the bath. We were all thankful it was a little chilly outside because otherwise we wouldn't be able to stand the 100 degree water.
At the hot springs I finally learned what it means just to "be" with someone. In the West we are so occupied with talking that sometimes we forget to take a deep breathe and just "be." To the Japanese, silence is golden, and many just enjoy ones company by sitting in silence. Like many westerners I was uncomfortable with silence until I came to Japan, the lack to understanding the language and only being able to express myself with limited English taught me the importance of spending quality time with people without verbal communication. So the three of us were just boiling in the bath, relaxing, taking in the scenery and feeling comfortable in our own naked skins. Not only were our minds at ease but so were our bodies. The hot spring water relaxed our muscles and let us put our guard down.
After the baths we met our male companions(the husbands) at the hotel restaurant for lunch. Cold soba noodles (buckwheat noodles dipped in wasabi and soy sauce ) never tasted so delicious!
I have to admit, my first Japanese hot bath experience was amazing! Not sure if the personal connection is the same for males, who just cover the old fella with a hand towel and hang out in the hot waters. But for a female, the experience was very personal and moving. Never in my life did I think I would take a bath with my mom when I was 27 years old nor with a plethora of Japanese women, but the experience proved to be very rewarding and I can't wait to do it again!
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