Don't Fart In The Onsen
After a whirlwind two weeks, I finally can sit down and give you a little window into our mountain life. After a long, but easy 24hr of travel, we pulled into Narita Airport and slept soundly. In the morning we took a bus straight to Hakuba. Arriving where we are now, and will be for the rest of the month. The Bohemian Shelter, a cute little hostel nestled in the woods, just 4ks outside of Hakuba. Bringing wonderful people from all over the world, coming together for one common reason, to shred the Japow. The first week we seemed to have come to a winter wonderland. It snowed almost every night and the town was covered under piles of snow. We were getting our first taste of the legendary Japan snow. Waking up at 6 everyday to catch our shuttle, and pick from one of the many resorts here in Hakuba. From there, it was all downhill. (No pun intdended...okay maybe a little.) Both Yosh and I catching some really nasty bugs going around the hostel and, apparently all of Hakuba. We had about three days off, and then another two because the rain had come to take over. Claiming all of the powder with it. Now we are left with slush and warm spring days. Which the optimist in me, really is enjoying. Now the realist in me really wishes there was snow. Pray for our next two weeks to be blessed with a bit more of the fluffy stuff! But I think the sun is here to stay.
Because we are set up in the woods. The sun has brought one good thing(s). SNOW MONKEYS!!! They are out in abundance right now. Mostly carrying their babies around, eating sticks, and nits of each others backs. Fluffy as can be and pink faces and butts. They are really something to see. Most days you catch a family in a certain part of the forest. Some days they are right behind the house, you get a rockstar view of a whole family sitting on your window sill. We've been spending the evenings cooking up dinners and going to Onsen's.
"An onsen (温泉) is a Japanese hot spring; the term also extends to cover the bathing facilities and traditional inns frequently situated around a hot spring. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsens scattered throughout all of its major islands."
Onsen's are divided by gender, and you enter fully nude. First into the bathing rooms to thoroughly wash yourself down, before entering the bathroom. At first I didn't think being naked in front of a bunch of people sounded so great. But after taking the plunge, and all my clothes off. It was really quite liberating. I think I will now become. a full time nudist. The whole concept is actually really lovely. One of the oldest traditions in Japan, with onsens dating back thousands of years. But as the title says, don't fart in the Onsen. Everybody will know its you.
We have started planning our next month in Japan, our travel month! The Japan Rail system making it incredibly easy to do. As foreigners you get a special, cheaper ticket for 21 days. They had to double check that Yoshi wasn't a Japanese man trying to sneak one. I am really excited to see more of Japan. To get away from a highly concentraded tourist area and see a more authentic Japan. It's here if you wait for it. When I've found myself doing nothing at all, is when I've found it the most. Waiting for the boys in the Onsen- all the families, men and women coming through to the Onsen, an activity thats based on self love. In the chalets at the ski hill, the music and language and Japanese ski culture. And of course, one of my personal favourite places to go while travelling... the grocery store. We are getting ready for the next month, but trying to enjoy where we are and what we are doing now. Because if you blink, it will be over.
Yoshi being Goldbug.
Okay I have to go to Japan now, I need to see those monkey butts. Plus all of the pictures you posted paint such a beautiful and unique picture of it and I have to see it for myself! I also can’t wait to see the pictures you take of some of the bustling cities, I feel like you’ll be able to find some weird shit to photograph.
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