Yukata and the Dogo Onsen

A night ago we were in Matsuyama. Then a long day of walking and stairs to temples, a night at a hotel and then our last full day of walking.

Another nice thing we have gotten used to is the yukata left in every hotel room. It's a cotton kimono sleeved robe with a simple belt, and then a more formal jacket, kimono socks and slippers. Always in pretty patterns. Then, you are encouraged to wear them in and around in the hotel, and to dinner. It's a weird mix of pajamas and formal wear. When the whole group wears them to dinner, we all match and look and feel very formal as we sit on the mats and are served a baroque array of small fish and pickle dishes.

Last night we were in Matsuyama, where they have a famous hot spring. It's in a castle-like building that is only about 100 years old, but the legend is it is 3000 years old, when a white crane was seen sitting on a spot of earth with steam coming from it. We had a brief tour of the beautiful building where there is a special bath prepared for the emperor carved out of a single block of granite with gold leaf walls. Then there is a public bath you can go into for few yen. A large stone room with a big public pool. Hot! I got up early this morning and went and had a bath with all the old ladies.

Around Dogo Onsen, everyone walks around in the yukatas in the streets, the shops, to the Onsen, back to the hotels, restaurants and everything. So we strolled in the streets in the yukatas, and walked through the public park which was lit up by pink lanterns and had a whole ceiling of cherry blossoms. All the Japanese people were having picnics underneath the blossoms and lights on tatami mats--Cherry Blossom party! There was not an inch of space and there were coolers and beer and take out pizza. We walked about in our yukatas and had a great time. We suggest the adopting of the loose flowing everywhere appropriate garment at home.

And, just one more brief note about the toilets and the rooms. In the nice hotel we were just in, there is the sound of a waterfall and birds calling as soon as you sit on the seat. Then when you flush, the bowl is illuminated with violet light. And, we love the simple rooms with tatami mats. One room, all purposes. In the hotels, they come and change the room from a sitting room to a bedroom while you are at dinner. And then you sleep on the floor. Civilized.