Wake up with me… It is 5a.m…… And it’s chilly outside on a wet Autumn morning.… My bones are cold… each and Every bone.… I slowly enter the HOT water, big toe first. I can smell the wet cypress permeating through the morning chill. I am intoxicated with beauty. My eyes were blessed with yellows and oranges.
This is Japan…
If you want to learn more about Japan visit #TeamJapan @YasumiKikuchi
Great post @user_not_found the concepts of bathing in Japan are quite different from other cultures, good to learn about this aspect of the hot bath.
Paul
Hey @user_not_found ,
I cannot this of a better way to spend a cold autumn or winter day than go to the SPA and relax. Is this a popular thing to do in Japan? Perhaps you could share more about this place? Do many people visit it?
Thank you @PaulPavlinovich I learned these concepts from a former Japanese monk many years ago in Kanagawa Prefecture, plus I had an ex. who was a big fan of Japanese hot spas. They both took me around and taught me the real Japan through hot spas and Japanese sake. You’ve experienced these types of spas before, right? Not sure…
Love colour full autumn . @user_not_found leaf falling down to ground make me falling in love with this scene . Howlong time autumn for this year ?
Hi @MoniDi It’s not as popular as it used to be. The Showa generation really enjoy this kind of respite after a long day at work or after skiing. Especially on weekends, some couples will take long drives to remotely located pensions to stay overnight while taking a hot spring.
Myoko Kogen is a mountainous region in Japan with dozens of onsen(s) or hot springs dotted along the landscape. Some are connected to hotels while others are located in nature. Like most local towns in Japan, there is always a hot spring spa somewhere and has been apart of the culture here for centuries.
Hello, @user_not_found
Thank you for tagging me! As you have experienced there, the mix of early morning scent and wet Japanese cypress scent is something you can only experience in Japan!
#DeepJapan
Hi @Nyainurjanah ! I think Autumn is almost over, but the leaves remain pretty until mid-December around West Japan. Have you been to Japan before?
Hello @YasumiKikuchi Yeah. I think only in Japan you can experience your culture like this. You are so lucky to have this available to you. How are you travels ?
Hi @user_not_found
All my travels this year have been completed. Currently studying for university exams. I will be able to post to Connect soon.
Hot spa yes, Japanese hot spa no @user_not_found
One day 
Love a good sake though! This one is my favourite https://www.btotree.com/aizu.homare/products/food-beverages-alcohol-sake-aizu-homare-junmai-sake-aladdin-bottle-300ml/10022
Fantastic choice of sake @PaulPavlinovich ! Fukushima Prefecture is home to one of the ancient schools of Japanese sake brewing. The blue bottle cuts down on the UV and helps softer and more complex sake to evolve. Excellent choice. Are you drinking this in San Jose? Not sure where you are…
I drank that particular one in New York at Miyabi who had an awesome selection of Sake and prepared very beautiful sashimi and sushi.
You can find my photos and review at the place on Maps https://goo.gl/maps/1VT4fDuCTr64vfKF6
Paul
Wow, @user_not_found - you truly set the scene and I was just imagining sticking my big toe in the water before realizing I was vicariously living it through you, haha. Excellent imagery and I am now in need of a Japanese hot spa! The beautiful foliage just makes things that much more perfect.
Interestingly enough, there is a hotel here in Miami (Mayfair) where the rooms have Japanese hot tubs on the patios - I now am going to take advantage of one the next time I have a staycation.
If you don’t mind my asking @PaulPavlinovich How much did that set you back? Looks like an expensive dinner!
It looks awesome, and I have added to my list.
It’s a pleasure to hear from you @SP31 It was super cold that morning. I had to disrobe in the cold!
I forgot to include morning sake while sitting in the bath. That is heaven. And the Mayfair, I will check it out. Impressive to know other hotels are enhancing their accommodations by including hot spas on patios!
Btw, have you visited Google Tokyo yet?
Morning sake accompanies that experience? Sign me up! Even having to disrobe in the cold wouldn’t get in the way of trying that out, haha.
And I haven’t been to Japan yet, unfortunately, but hopefully I will in the near future.
@user_not_found
@SP31 Old heads drink sake like that. I think the younger generation doesn’t, and for the most part, are not that into the overall hot spring spa experience.
The way it used to be before the Millennials showed up was that the bathing experience was mixed and their were less inhibitions on public nudity between the sexes. It was not uncommon to share warm sake in a bath with the opposite sex - a complete stranger. Now, it is completely different in part due to the spread of Christianity and poor manners.
There are still some hidden gems in the north where you can have the sake the mixed bathing experience in Japan, but those baths are either unlisted or shut down.
Thanks for the background on how this experience has changed, @user_not_found . Although I’m not an old head and never have been to Japan, I do value relaxation haha and I would love these as a millennial.
In the meantime I’ll have to pack my own sake (which I do enjoy) and plan my stay at the Mayfair sooner than later, especially since we’re getting cooler temps now in Miami. Their japanese tubs are also on a covered balcony so there’s that if anything haha.
Surprisingly it wasn’t expensive @user_not_found that was a Sushi/Sashimi platter for two which I shared with my wife (actually I ate most of it!) and it was US$26 which is pretty good for such a large serve of some of the best and freshest fish I’ve ever had that is easily enough for two people.
Paul
