The Big Birthday Surprise

Because I have the most wonderful friends here in Japan, I was able to go on a surprise birthday trip. Bren and Christine took on the big responsibility and job of organizing a weekend away for the three of us. Friday they picked me up and we were off. I had no clue where we were going. Our first stop was in Shimonoseki. Selena was nice enough to let us stay at her house for an evening. It was also great chatting with the Shimonoseki crew.

The next day we woke up and headed out on the road. After a few hours of driving we arrived at our destination, Kurokawa onsen. This is an area in Kyushu (Kumamoto-ken) that is famous for its onsen. The little town is built around the Kurokawa (or Black River) and boasts the most wonderful onsens in all of Japan. With no time to waste we went to our first onsen of the weekend Yamamizuki. It was very old fashion and up in the hills of Kurokawa. The onsens looked over the river. When I first heard of onsens this is what I pictured. Lovely views of the landscapes surrounding the steaming hot baths. This was different then what we are used to. Usually you bathe before getting in the onsen and you can change in a comfortable dressing room. Well the dressing room resembled a hut. It was clean and nice, just different. We also didn't bathe before getting in. The water had minerals floating all around. After that we went to another onsen in town. No real distinguishing features in my opinion. Then we went to our cabin that was at the youth hostel. We had a nice picnic dinner and then went out for one last onsen of the day. It is Kurokawaso. It was nearly empty except for 2 Russian women that wanted to chit chat. We went outside and had the enormous bath to ourselves. It was a nice relaxing time because we had no where to go and nothing to do but enjoy nice conversations with eachother. While waiting for Chris and Bren in the lobby I started talking to a few Japanese people. One of the men was from Ube in Yamaguchi. So they invited us for a birthday kampai (cheers). It was great meeting them and talking to them. The one man was a chef at an international hotel in Ube so if we ever go down there he said lunch is on him.

The next morning we awoke very cold and looked out our window and saw snow covering the ground. (This winter it has snowed probably twice) We went on a hike in the snow which was beautiful. Then off to our last onsen of the trip. It was by far my favorite. At a ryokan set a little outside of town. The views of the river were phenomenal. There is a ladies side and a mens side and then a door to the beautiful river side onsen. Chris, Bren and I were the only ones out by the river enjoying ourselves. I went inside to do something really quick and all of a sudden Chris and Bren were back by the ladies pool. Apparently the beautiful onsen by the river is mixed. Some men had walked in. So we sat in the ladies pool for a little bit but didn't want to be deprived of the awesome view. So we gathered our pride and set off to the mixed onsen. I am not very shy when it comes to nudity but this, I have to say, was very awkward. Just walking down the street we are stared at because we are gaijin (or foreigners) now they were getting to see us naked. I guess it was their lucky day! haha... After that we shopped around the village for a little bit. It was a great, relaxing weekend. Thanks Bren and Chris!!