Bit of a hiatus… But for good reason. I just got back from 8 weeks in Japan for our summer vacation. Not that I couldn’t have posted from abroad, but honestly, I was busy entertaining the kids while traveling across the islands via plane, train, boats and eating waaaaaay too much sushi.
The one overwhelming thing I came away with during my travels has to do with nakedness. Japanese women are cover-uppers. I brought a bunch of tank tops and shorts because I knew it would be hotter than balls and as humid as a jungle at the equator, but I noticed that not a lot of women bare their shoulders. Why haven’t I noticed this before??? Probably because I have not spent a lot of time in Japan during the summer… And also maybe because I’m now a mom and I notice these things in my old age? Even young girls seemed to dress more on the conservative side with their shoulders and legs covered. Quite a change from what my Southern California roots are used to seeing where teens and even young girls don the shortest skirts and shorts and where crop tops and bare shoulders are the norm on a hot summer day. I, as a mom of a “certain” age felt a bit under-dressed whenever I was roaming around the country and especially when I was around a temple/shrine, which we visited quite a few in Kyoto, I felt the need to layer to look respectable. Bare shoulders and even longer length mom shorts seemed like too much skin was exposed.
Then, there are the public baths and hot springs.
There, modesty goes out the window! If you’ve been to a Korean Spa here in the States, you know the drill. Undress (completely), put clothes in a basket or a locker, walk into a communal bathing area (naked), shower off next to another naked lady (no individual stalls), dip into a large communal bath tub, enjoy the view. (Not of the other ladies in the bath, but the actual view which is usually of a scenic mountainside, the ocean, or nature of some sort.
Some people State-side may think this is weird. All this nakedness in front of complete strangers. But every Japanese person thinks this is totally normal. Public baths and Onsen (public hot springs) are everywhere and families go to these places as destination locales for family vacations. I encourage anyone traveling to Japan to get over their personal body issues and partake in some communal bathing. It’s awesome!
After a hot, 100% humidity day out and about, nothing feels better than a bath. As a matter of fact, during any time of the year a good, long, relaxing bath feels good. At one location I was in an Onsen with my cousin. Yes, fully naked and it was totally normal. No weirdness, no judgement, because what’s to judge? Just smiles and a cold beverage afterwards as we walked out in our Ukata robes to our rooms. Everyone’s doing it and so should you!
Get naked and love the body you were given!
-K