Honeymoon Day 7: Traveling to Ito and Public Bathing

Today we sadly left Tokyo to move on the the indescribable amazingness of a Ryokan or a traditional Japanese style home or hotel. The train ride was about two hours long but we drove through the most amazing countryside. After you leave the city things take on a different kind of beauty. There were tons of cute homes all neat and tidy surrounded on all sides by jungle bushes! There were also houses built in clusters all the way up the mountains and Japan mountains are real mountains, not like those we have in Oklahoma.
Once we got to the Ryokan we checked in an opened our door to the most adorable room ever on earth! The floor was covered in Tatami mats and you, or course had to take off your shoes before you came in. There were also slippers meant to just be used in the bathroom, which was weird, but whatever. The toilet was also weird with about a thousand buttons and when you flushed it automatically turned on the sink to guilt you into hand washing. After we and the other couple we shared a room with got settled we went to go eat dinner at a ramen shop. Our cook had no teeth. His food was awesome. Then my female roommate and I decided to use the Onsen, or volcano hot spring. Yes it was public. Yes it was nude. After the first time you do it it's not that awkward. We did however get constantly stared at because we were white and they were concerned that we didn't know how to properly use the bath. After each person made sure we were doing things right, they pretty much left us alone except for one lady who insisted on making friends. She only knew like 10 English words, but she was really sweet, and totally thought we were lesbians on our honeymoon together which took a lot of explaining/miming to correct. It was a very good an relaxing day and the Futons (floor beds) are seriously comfortable. See you all soon!

Love
Dacia & Walter