Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

5/4/2005, Mom trip day 8: Aioi, Akane-no-yu public baths

Today was another day of relaxation.  Yesterday and today were national holidays with lots of tourists everywhere.  So, we wanted to steer clear of tourist spots.  We lounged around in the morning.  In the afternoon, we went to my favorite coffee shop in Aioi, Kurinoki (literally: chestnut tree).

After coffee, my good friend, Mr. Minato took us to a public bath near Aioi.  The place is a lot like a hot spring.  Since they don't have the attraction of a real hot spring, they have lots of relaxing attractions to fill the gap.  Many relaxing baths to choose from.  Different temperatures.  Indoor and outdoor.  One is scented.  Another has water that is imported from a real hot spring with all the associated minerals.  It tells you which hot spring it came from.  They have both dry and wet saunas.  The wet sauna smells really good.  They have massage in various settings (nothing indecent here, really).  It's all dignified and very relaxing.  They have some very soft, unintrusive music playing.  It's a popular spot with Japanese people in the area.  As you may know, the Japanese love baths, especially hot springs.  My mom loved this place.  She commented later that she'd like to live there.  It was about my fourth time.  I like it a lot, too.

We took these photos in the area, in Tatsuno (I think).

Just pretty scenery from the area.

Just pretty scenery from the area.

Just pretty scenery from the area.

In the evening, we went to Himeji to eat ramen (Japanese noodle soup, originally Chinese) at a ramen shop.  We found one.  The ramen was average at best.  Not bad, but nothing to get excited about.  But, the kitchen was dirty and the cook was filthy.  He had some kind of skin condition on his arms and was working with no gloves.  He had a bandage on his finger when he started tossing a salad with his bare hands.  After tossing the salad, the bandage was gone, apparently lost in the salad.  Not the best first Japan ramen eating experience.  We were both a bit grossed out.  For the record, it was just off Miyuki-dori, across the street from a starbucks.

This establishment is full of little crane games where you pay money to try to fetch a stuffed animal or other object of nominal value.

They had this little marginally cute Mickey Mouse knock-off toy toddling around the store, apparently to attract customers from the street.

Note: Photos marked with "(HQ)" were taken by my mom.

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