Onsen's

The second opportunity I had for public bathing came at one of Japan's most culturally significant activities. The Onsen, or hot spring bath. These were not wilderness pools, but more like spa's built over naturally occurring hot water. The pools were created with several seats and lounge spots, and were divided by temperature. Before anything you took a nice shower, so that you were completely clean before you got in. Then near the shower was usually an indoor bath, in case the outdoor temperature was disagreeable. Outside was a lukewarm pool for beginners, and then a bigger, hotter pool for some serious lounging. You were expected to be completely naked while bathing, so after you showered you would keep only a hand towel or modesty cloth if you were a little shy. Thankfully each gender had their own locker room and bathing pools, so there was no reason to be super shy. The pools usually had a small fee to enter, and being a value minded American I preferred to soak in the pools for as long as possible. Most of the locals though seemed to stay only as long as it was enjoyable, not risking heat exhaustion just for a few hundred yen. After 45 minutes Zabeth and I would usually meet back near the entrance area, sit in front of the fan, and drink a nice sweet tea from the vending machine. I was happy to learn something Cam has known for a long time, there's nothing like a nice bath.

The Capsule Hotel

For our second night in Tokyo, Zabeth booked us in a capsule hotel. It was ironic because when I told people where I was going they often made a joke out of asking... are you going to stay in a capsule? But, I actually was, to save money and for the cultural experience. Maybe one was weighted a little heavier than the other. I had actually never heard of them before, but they are actually quite brilliant. Instead of getting a hotel room all to yourself, the capsule capitalizes on the idea that some people are only just looking for a bed. So thats what they give you, just a bed. Its right next to about 1,000 other beds that hold people who only want a bed. Its handy if your maybe just passing through, or maybe out all night drinking. Anyway, we walked in and the first thing the staff does is give you a wristband with a four digit number an a key on it. You walk back into the locker room (for lack of a better term) and find the locker that matches your number. You put all your luggage in the locker, and hanging up are a pair of blue boxers and a blue robe. When your ready for bed you can put them on, and leave your clothes in the locker. Then you walk up and lay down in your capsule, which from the outside looks like a bunch of little oven doors attached to the wall. But inside each oven is a mattress, sheets, and a little shelf. Very convenient, maybe a little short but I wasnt complaining. The real cultural experience for me came in the morning when I went back down to the lockers. Everyone who had been sleeping in the capsules was now wide awake, and cleaning up for the day. The hotel had a spa, hot tub, showers, and any soap/razor/shampoo/toothbrush combination you can think of. But being that its efficient, everything was communal. So all these fellow guests were now naked and running to and fro the showers, sinks, and their lockers completely naked. I didnt know where to start cleaning. So I just took my towel off and walked up to one of the plastic buckets that sat in front of a shower nozzle like everyone else was doing and started washing my hair. It was great, i was so clean and I didnt even have to bring my own soap.

Ramaadan

Was a crazy month. It took place back in June. Its the Muslim month of fasting, which means no eating, drinking, insulting, or intimate contact from sun up to sun down for the entire month. The times of the fast were actually based on prayer. There was no eating after the early morning prayer. The prayer normally takes place at six am every morning, but seemed to be even earlier during Ramaadan. People awake roughly around five and eat something small like bread, or a little bit of leftovers from the night before, and maybe some tea. Then they do not consume anything until the final call to prayer which comes around seven thirty in the evening. As soon as the call rings out, a jug of water is on hand and everyone pours themselves a cup of water, and bread is passed out to everyone. People will take a bite, and a drink, and then go around and congratulate each other on another day of fasting done, and one less to go. Then big bowls of sweet breakfast porridge are served, and everybody relaxes and cleans up. They then head out to a big community prayer, to ask for strength in the next day of fasting. Most prayers throughout the day and week take only 10 minutes, but this one every night during the fast took almost half an hour. Then people come home, and just chat and relax. A big dinner is served, but usually isnt eaten until well nito the night, maybe around 11. No matter how late you wait to eat though, you still have to be up around five the next morning, trying to stuff smoe food down just to get you through the next day.