Traditional Japanese

 Why do you have to be so rude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIh2xe4jnpk

 It has been a few weeks since I was in Japan and it is hard to remember all of the events that happened. After a few nights of craziness in Tokyo Junya and I headed to the mountains in Japan for some skiing. The plan was one night of skiing and one day of skiing. The hotel we stayed at was a little more traditional where they do not see many foreigners. We took the bullet train which was about an hour long trip. When you are on it you realize just how far Tokyo stretches out. 

I remember having a smile on my face as I could start to see the mountains and see snow.  If I was by myself I would have never stayed at this hotel. It was interesting to see the formalities that were taken place in front of me. At this hotel they really go through the details of everything especially for meals. 

When we got there they gave us a tasty drink and a hot towel. Although I do not speak Japanese there was the off thing I could pick up as Junya and the hotel staff were talking. Regardless of the language there are words throughout several languages that will sound familiar. 

We were shown to our room and upon entering you take off your shows and they do have slippers you can wear throughout the hotel. The hotel even had slidey doors and windows! :)

 

 

 

At the entrance of the room

These were way too small for my feet.

Look slidey doors

When I first got into the room my initial reaction was "Where are the beds?" Junya explained to me that they bring supper in and afterwards they remove the tables and make the beds. The beds are actually right on the floor (pictured later). The views from the room were quite stunning.

Hotel room you have supper in the room then the tables are removed for the beds to be made.

View from the hotel room

View from the hotel room

View from the hotel room

At the hotel they have hot springs in the hotel. One thing to note about the hot springs is you well you go to them naked. Men and women springs were separated. Junya showed me how to wear the clothes pictured below. Most people wear these clothes and head to the hot springs. I am sure my fellow Canadians can appreciate not being very comfortable being naked around strangers.

Getting ready for the hot springs

Getting ready for supper

After the hot springs came supper time. You tell them what time to bring it in and this it nothing like a meal in Canada. Supper takes a while here! Plate after plate after plate came in. In one sense it could be a several course meal.The meal was a lot of varieties of seafood - raw fish upon raw fish. I ate everything but did not enjoy every dish. This is a little bit of an acquired taste. It is like sushi without the surrounding rice etc. At the dishes came out they were all explained in Japanese which my friend Junya translated to me.

Crab flavoured chips and sake

After supper they came in to make the beds. This was one of the most comfortable beds I have ever stayed in. Overall it was a really neat experience being at this hotel. The experience would have been different without having a local friend. It was definitely a unique experience being here. This was one of the times that it helps knowing a local. 

A few other blogs coming up running into a fellow traveler, hiking in Korea, a night in Malaysia among many others. Right now I need to go enjoy some sun since it is;

My Life
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My Time

Tuna Tom