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Moving on, today is the day we get to go to the onsen, (which is basically like a vacation hotel with hot springs), awesome!
We had our final breakfast at the hotel we stayed at which consisted for me of Chinese noodles(?) rice, orange juice, fish and a lot of other delicious stuff. We got to watch a weird Japanese TV show about eating food, flying in tiny helicopters and saving the rain forest while doing so.
After break fast we had some free time so some of us (Hannah, Buehler and I) went down by the bay (where the water melons grow) since we were already by an ocean and it would be really cool. On the way we saw a gigantic fish that was a part of a café (like five stories tall). When we got there, it was nice and refreshing. Looking at the ocean while still being able to see the mountains behind us, it was quite a spectacle. We sat down and chatted leisurely for a while as Chris transformed into lobster man. We were actually at a place called Earthquake Memorial Park with spacious surroundings, weird structures and a pirate ship.
Leaving for the onsen at noon we took a long ride up the mountain where we had nice scenic views of the rice fields. It was pretty long so most of us dozed off.
Our rooms were traditional Japanese style again, and we had the nicest view. While on the balcony, someone was playing a flute as we gazed at the mountains ( it was Hannah’s Japanese lover calling to her).
The onsen was huge, commercial looking and relaxing. The entry way was really western looking but it had a nice garden we could walk out into. I’m proud to say that I wore my yukata all day and like most everyone, went quickly into the baths. It was the ladies’ day for the big baths so we soaked to our hearts content. The open air bath had such a nice view of the mountains. With the cold air mixing with the warm water, it was really refreshing.
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Later at night we had another group dinner like that at Koyasan but more delicious. Eating back in America will never feel so whole again. After eating, we finally got our group picture with everyone in full Yukata gear. The hostess took our picture and told us we looked like a choir and asked us to sing. We sang Rocky Top and danced around, and I quote from her,” ah, to be young.” After dinner, most of us took another refreshing dip.
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Everyone just got really silly at night as we visited everyone else’s rooms. In the boy’s room we learned how to burp, talk while breathing in, play big booty, remember hand clapping games and act like Japanese ghosts with hair in our faces (mostly just Rochelle with a little Amanda on the side). Bernice almost stabbed Rochelle in the face with an umbrella, and Amanda made cat noises inside a closet.
Walking back to sleep, the beds were folded out so nicely in the dark, with a lone lantern guiding the way, I love onsens.