It was an exceptional experience to spend several days living in a part of Japan that is not readily frequented by westerners. Our stays at the ryokans, the traditional Japanese inns, were relaxing and humbling. These are peaceful places where everything is in Japanese and the people speak little, if any, English. We had wonderful young women who held multiple jobs around the inn and in the dining room, but took the time to come to our room to show us how to dress in the yakatas that were worn by all guests at dinnertime. Our accommodations were beautiful with multiple rooms and a soaking tub fed by the areas' hot springs. Tradition dictates that you must shower before entering the soaking tub in order to keep it clean for the next person.
Our first ryokan was in the Aso mountains in a natural setting.We met with the gardener early one morning and leaned about his methods of caring for the bushes and trees on the property. His impressive tool collection was sharpened and sparkling clean, and Dave was quite impressed with the three legged ladders.
In Yufuin, our ryokan was in the town, so after sightseeing each day we strolled the narrow streets. Most of the shops sell beautifully packaged food - all kinds of sweets, rice crackers, honey, jams, and lots of soft swirl ice cream. Our group was a novelty, and when we said good morning, good afternoon, or thank you in Japanese, the people got quite a kick out of it. On our last day, the inn staff all came out to say good-by, waving until we were gone, and when we arrived at the train station to depart, the owner of the hotel and the manager were both there to see us off.
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| One course from kaiseki dinner |
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| Hot Spring Tub |
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Japanese Sitting Room
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