new experiences....

Even though this was my third time to Japan, it was still full of new experiences. One of these was the public baths (ofuro) and onsen. Bathing in Japan is something quite special, and sharing that with lots of others is definitely something that was new to me.
In the ryokans that I stayed in they had shared bathrooms, and when I stayed with Hide we went to the public baths, which was the same thing on a much larger scale.
They're all gender separated, but basically - you go in (shoes are put in a locker), and you get a locker key for in the bathrooms.
When you enter the bathroom there's toilets, basins and mirrors, and lockers for putting all your stuff. You get undressed and take just your towel into the shower room. There's showers - sometimes with little cubicles (just some low walls) sometimes just in a line along the wall. And little stools and basins. You sit on the stool and wash yourself. (no one stands up really).
Then once clean you head into the ofuro (the bath). Being a volcanic country, Japan has lots of natural hot springs, so often the places with these will have lovely outdoor bathing areas. In the public baths we went to they had all kinds of pools of different temperatures. Big ones for soaking, and these tubs that fit just one person (like a big barrel) but the water was so hot! You soak for a while and ease all your aching muscles....sooo good after long days of taiko and lots of walking!
Then you head back, dry off and get changed. Or some places have saunas and other fancy things....there's waiting areas where you can chill out, read a magazine etc and there's massage chairs and stuff too.
The best part - they have Everything you need there! shampoo, body soaps, face washes, lotions, potions, even disposable toothbrushes!