Traveling Through Japan

The day after I arrive I hop on the Shinkansen (the bullet train) and head for Osaka. I had originally planned to go to four towns in three-and-a-half days, but this turns out to be a bad idea because I find myself on trains way too much, and that's not what this is about. I arrive in Osaka at my hostel, and have to remove my shoes before I go in. So Japanese! When I walk into my room there are five other beds. Three of them have people sitting on them, and the firstthing one of the girls says is, "YAY, another girl!" It feels so good to already have a friend. I get to know the three of them and find out they are Canadian, and traveling through Japan together.They invite me to go to dinnerwith the three of them and I graciously accept. We walk two minutes down the road, and enterthis tiny Japanese restaurant.Each of them seem to befamiliar with the customs because as they each step inside this petit restaurant, they do a small bow with feet together. We sit down and I confess that I don't eat seafood. It's a good conversation starter, but also prompts them to insist I eat an octopus leg. So I take the dare.ICK! They are familiar with the lady behind the grill because they ate here the other night. When we leave they give her a small gift and she invites us behind the grill for some photos. It has been a wonderful night, and the next morningwe all go our separate ways. I walk around Osaka, and go to a pagoda/museum.

I head for Hiroshima.When I arrive in Hiroshima, I find out my hostel is not in Hiroshima, but is in fact twenty-five minutes away by tram in a town called Miyajima. I'm a little put off by this because I have plans to see the Atomic Bomb sites and I'm staying further awa

y than I had realized, but I don't have much of a choice. The second I arrive at the hostel, I'm invited by Yoshi, a guy who works at the hostel, and two british guys who are getting ready to go fishing for clams and oysters. They put a beer in my hand, and we immediately take our shoes and socks off to go on the pontoon. The pontoon is more like a huge raft that we have to walk really far out

on. This is amazing. Across the water is a mountainous island known as Miyajima Island. So here I stand, just arrived, and I already have a beer in my hand and I'm standing on the water with a spectacular view. This is the life. We catch dinner, and go back to the hostel for a Barbecue. About eight more people join us. This is when I decide I have to stay another night.

The next day I head to the Atomic Bomb sites out in Hiroshima. There is an entire park exactly where the bomb fell. I go into the museum, and come out pretty depressed. The museum tells stories of mothers trying to peel clothes off of

their burned children, and their kids dying in their arms. There are people in the park

approaching tourists and asking them to sign a petition to outlaw A-Bombs. How do you say no after that?

It isI make my way back to the hostel, and decide to go across the water on the fairy to explore Miyajima island.

beautiful, and is so Japanese. I take some awkward photos, and head

back to the hostel after getting an ice cream. The second I get back to the hostel, I meet two Californian boys who want to go to Miyajima island. Johnny, one of the boys, invites me along and tells me they're going to the hot springs. We arrive back at Miyajima island, and walk around as the sun sets. One of them was born in Japan and speaks Japanese. We arrive at the hot springs, and it looks more like a traditional Japanese hotel. We are given towels, and are ushered down to the lobby of the hot springs. "Okay, we'll meet back here in one hour." So we go our different ways (boys and girls). I'm a little nervous since I don't know the protocol for Japanese baths. I slide the paper door open, and shut it behind me. It's dead quiet. I slide open another door to reveal a room full of baskets for customer clothing and a huge vanity that wraps around the room. I remove all of my clothes, and put on a towel. There are signs around the room, but they're all in Japanese so I just hope I'm not breaking any rules. I'm told that as long as I don't have any tattoos I'm okay.

Tattoos here are associated with a well-known gang, so you aren't allowed to have them if you join a gym or go in an Onsen (bath). I begin to use their products, and pamper myself. Okay, now it's bath time.

I slide open the next paper door, and there is one other woman in there. I watch her out of the corner of my eye to make sure I'm doing this right. This room has a vanity that wraps around one side of it. Each spot has a little wooden stool and a bamboo bucket. I sit down and pamper myself with hot oils, shampoo, conditioner and salts. Then it's bath time. The spring is hot, and there is a floor to ceiling window pressed right up against the mossy mountainside that has fresh water flowing over the rocks. This is the life.