Muse

Cec poses with ticket

Zepp OSAKA

Before we almost got kicked out for taking pictures

私は残念である!

私は外国人である! 私は日本語を理解しない!

Koyasan

March has been a pretty eventful month, with several trips and events planned. Last weekend I travelled south of Osaka to Koyasan, an amazing mountain rife with ancient temples and known as one of the most sacred mountains in Japan. In fact, many prestigious leaders and cultural icons have been buried in its extensive cemetery and many more desire to be buried there.

Perhaps the neatest thing about Koyasan is the accommodation – in a working temple. You walk along the with monks as you make your way to the Onsen (public baths – similar to a spa) and while brushing your teeth. (The Onsen, by the way, was an outdoor one with a view of the night-sky. Words really don’t describe how relaxing it was.)

We stayed at a temple called Fukuchiin.

The accommodation also included a vegetarian dinner (we were staying in a Buddhist temple after all) – complete with many small dishes.

After the onsen we found our room stuffed with down futons with wool blankets and after a refreshing sleep, we woke up bright and early to pray with the monks.

After a wonderful breakfast, we took a look around the mountain, not without taking a few shots of Fukuchiin’s wonderful garden.

Our next stop was Okunion – a massive graveyard with more than 200,000 standing stones. The sheer number of the stones was mind-boggling and impressive, as well as hauntingly beautiful.

An absolutely wonderful experience!

Hot naked lurv

Today marked my fourth trip to one of Japan’s most luxurious experiences; the Onsen.

An Onsen, or Bath House is a public place where people come to bathe and relax in human-made or natural hot-springs (holy hyphens Batman!). One of the more unique nuances of an onsen visit is that your luxuriating is done totally nude.

Nude. Naked. No clothing. Something that we all know I am very comfortable with. Didn’t catch the sarcasm did you? Ok. In most instances, I’d rather poke myself in the eye than be naked in front of anyone (including but not limited to family pets, people on TV and myself) thus making my first onsen visit a study in awkwardness and full-body blushing. But you know? I find it fascinating how quickly we (the mouse in my pocket) get over these sorts of fears and how willing I am now to take my clothes off at the slightest provocation. I should probably edit that sentence, but it’s just so damn funny I can’t bring myself to do it.

Today’s Onsen journey was a gorgeous 45 minute bike-ride through some harrowing switchbacks in the mountains surrounding Himeji. The landscape, while a little brown from winter, was still beautiful – the fields were an amazing colour of green, one that the photo does little justice, as well as the river, which was swollen from the rain we’ve been getting.

The Onsen itself was lovely – the nicest I’ve been to so far. Complete with an interior garden and water sculpture. We were also surprised to find that apart from two large pools inside of the complex, there was a large outdoor pool which we spent a good amount time in. It was a breathtakingly beautiful spring day, with the warm sun on your shoulders and a nice, cool mountain breeze coming off of the mountains and a the sweet smell of budding plum trees blossoming in the distance.

Unfortunately, because of the nudity in the Onsen, no photos were allowed, so you’ll just have to trust me on that one.

I had an excellent morning and afternoon, filled with genuine, strong conversation with friends, a nice bike ride, relaxing hour in an amazing hot spring and the promise of a warm bed when I got home. I can’t wait to do it again!

Tanuki-san

どうも有難う!