Nagoya to the Onsen

Good morning!  It's is 4:30 AM here and I am wide awake.  My body seems to want to wake up early everyday.  Oh well, it's only for a week and it makes for jam packed days!

Yesterday was so neat.  I have been so excited to blog about it!

We woke up in Nagoya and went to a local bakery to get some breakfast.  Breads and pastries in Japan are SO different than in America.  They are so light and doughy and just plain ol' good.  I get really excited whenever I am tutoring and the mother's bring out a baked treat for me... made with love and with Japanese flair (my mom likes to call the flair "Japanese Spirit!").  DELICIOUS!

The bakery

Our selections

We did a little walking around and had lunch with my parents.  We were able to experience something one of my students, Ryo, had suggested to me: kai ten zushi.  In my family, we have always called it "maru sushi" for "circle sushi" but that's just my family.  Pretty much you sit in front of a big revolving circle.  The chefs make sushi, and put it in the circle where you pick up whatever you want.  The different colored plates represent different costs, and they calculate your total at the end.  My family has no problem racking up the plates...

One of our favorites... fresh, raw, crab.  Melts like butter.  The imitation crab sushi back home doesn't even compare!!

Bobby and Daddy next to our mountain of plates

Mom's ordering and I'm pointing out the conveyor belt!

To my students who live in Nagoya:  You have an incredible home city!  We wish we could spend more time in Nagoya.  There is so much to do!

I thought this was so cute... Japanese daycare.    Kids are  going around in buckets on wheels and very well behaved!

Nagoya city

We got on the train and headed to the onsen.  Daddy is the official spokes person for "CC Lemon."  He has gout and his foot is swollen up and looks like a Flintstone foot. 

Gout foot for your viewing pleasure

"CC Lemon... Great for Gout!"

A driver from the Shofuen, the place we were staying, pick us up from the train station.  On our way to Shofuen, we saw this huge statue.  The driver noticed our picture taking from the bus window and offered to take us to the statue.  VERY cool!!  Not sure if it's Buddhism or Shinto, but this is a god of fertility (hence the baby god in his arms.)  They also had a "Lover's Garden" where you could purchase locks and hearts and write messages.

Love

We then made it to Shofuen.  WOW.  This is one of my favorite things thus far.  Here are pictures... words just cannot explain our room!  We took video too, but blogger won't upload my videos!  Bummer!

"Kerby."  Since my parents reserved the rooms their names were on it.

When you walk into the room, you have to take your shoes off.

Our bathroom

Our tatami room.  This is how it was set up when we came.  At dinner, they changed it to our sleeping area.

Another view of the tatami room

Our futons hiding in the closet

The sun room.

Shofuen is right on the ocean.  Gorgeous.

At this "resort" (not sure what else to call it) they give you robes to wear around.  This is what we wore all around Shofuen.

Dad in the doorway... ducking.

Momma has to have ocha before the onsen.

Dad teaching Bobby how to tie the robe

With our hostess

To be honest, Bobby and I were a little freaked out about the onsen.  The onsen is the hot springs, and you get in, well, naked.  Men and women are seperated.  Once we got in, it was so relaxing!  We both really enjoyed it.  I was able to sneak some pictures in when there weren't people around...

Tea after onsen

After the onsen, you go to a room with a bunch of vanities.  They have all kinds of creams and lotions to try out.

Momma at the vanity

View into the onsen from the bathroom/changing room.  To the left you see one of the onsens.  There is another one further down, outside.  The little seats are where you shower before/after the onsen.

Sitting area

The baskets are where you put your things before going into the onsen

Closer view of the showers

Momma and Daddy drinking tea after the onsen

Dinner was a TREAT.  It was a "buffet" but really not a buffet like you would think of in America.  They had everything artfully layed out for you and a few things you could pick up as well.  It was almost too beautiful to eat... okay not really... we had no issue eating it! :)

The layout

Mom and Dad

Sashimi Deliciousness

Coffee Jello

When we got back to the room, they moved the table in the tatami room and set out our beds called "futons."  Not futons like you think of in the states, these are the real deal.  There is a mat, and a futon, and you are on the floor.  Growing up, Denny and I both had futons at one point, and my parents slept on a futon for a long time.  I think they are great!  Bob thought it was just "okay."  The beds in Japan, in general, are VERY firm.  I love it, and I think Bob is coming around. :)

We finished the evening with Bobby and Momma getting Shiatsu massages.  The tables are much lower than in America, and as you can see, the woman uses her whole body to give the massage.  They both really enjoyed them!

That was our day in a nut shell. :-)  Today we are going to visit one of my mom's old friends, go to a green tea garden, possibly another onsen, and Tokyo.