New Year's Day

My first experience at a unisex bathhouse today.

I almost didnt leave the apartment at all, due to laziness and bit of loneliness after a rather sad NYE. But, I decided what better way to open the new year than with a long, refreshing bath.

It was my first time to Onuma-sen, just two blocks from my apartment. It had been recommended to me by a Japanese friend. Turns out I knew the proprietor already; we met at a festival several months back in Higashi Naruko while carrying a shrine and drinking homemade sake in the streets. Anyway, he recognized me immediately, invited me into his office and poured me some wicked strong green tea (he appeared to make it from some paste, which I hadnt seen before; Delicious). After chatting briefly and discussing the possibility of private English lessons for him and his mother (how much? he wanted to know), he showed me to the bath.

While the bath is unisex, men and women have seperate changing rooms (which have heated floors!) and enter the bath through seperate doors. Had the place to myself for about 10 minutes, before two elder couples joined me. The bath was quite steamy so it still felt semi-private. One old guy plopped down right beside me and when his naked wife came in, she brought him a beer. Is that as good as it gets or what? Anyway, they made no notice of the gaijin and left me to my relaxation. While in the bath, I began thinking of the hundreds of cold showers I took in Panama, and suddenly felt even warmer.

After my long soak, I dressed and went to thank the owner/bid Happy New Year/ pay. He, of course, wouldnt accept any money and told me to come anytime. I immediately offered free English lessons for free baths; he accepted, though promising dinner as well. The conversation inevitably led to more invitations, including rice-planting and harvesting in the coming year, as well as mochi-making at the end of this month. Needless to say, I am certainly glad I went out!