Takamatsu and the Onsen

We jumped hurriedly on the bullet train from Hiroshima today but we hardly left the station when a grumpy conductor told us we weren’t allowed on that train and told us to get off at the next station. In a stroke of luck we were only going one stop, about 100 kms though. We’d better read the red notices of our Rail Pass more clearly!!

Takamatsu is something of a small non-descript town on the island of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. We are using it as a base for 2 nights to journey around the Island tomorrow.

We checked into our hotel after an hour walking in Ritsurin Garden which is world famous on this island. Quite nice, very Japanesey, no surprises there with quaint little bridges and bonsai type conifer (pine) trees. I think Pukekura Park in New Plymouth was better and I spent a fair bit of time there as a school boy…they even have a Japanese Bridge.

Back in the hotel, checked in and it is time to check out the “onsen”. This is usually a hot spring but ours on the 11^th floor didn’t seem to have quite that authenticity. First shock was that it was segregated, not blacks and whites but boys and girls. No worries, I didn’t have my camera anyway. First up you get yourself starkers, a bit uncomfortable in front of others these days but I’ll never see them again…and no one laughed, very polite the Japanese. You then need to wash completely so you line up at a booth similar to a modern dairy unit. Stainless steel piping, concrete wash away flooring and shampoo and conditioner. I was expecting to see teat salve on the shelf, but no. Mind you the ladies may have had it although I’ll never know due to the aforementioned segregation rule. The pool was 4m by 3m and about 400mm deep. (Roughly 15 inches for those still in imperial) and 40 degrees. I had 15 minutes of that, a quick rinse at the milking station then into the sauna for 5 minutes at 98 degrees. Another rinse and back in the big pool for 10 minutes and I’m well and truly cooked. I stood up to get out but most of my blood stayed in my lower body so I took things easy waiting for redistribution of blood. Another wash, and out to the changing room…carefully. I am very light headed and my muscles (if that’s what they are called now) seemed wasted, used up. I have never run a marathon but think I would feel like this (probably at the 10k mark!). I walk carefully sure that if my right leg gives out there is no way my left leg will recover me. I’m walking nimbly like a ballerina waiting for my strength to return. I am fairly pleased with myself stepping out of my comfort zone and gaining another experience but when I get to the lift and can’t read the numbers I realise I left my glasses in the pool area and need to go back. I’m not allowed in that room with my clothes on but due to my delicate state I’m not taking all my clothes off again so ease back in hoping no one notices. I did get a dirty look from someone I hadn’t seen before but what the hell, I’ll never see him again….not naked anyway!!!