Japan — 2006
Hakane hot spring
After four nights in Tokyo, we head south towards a hilly area called Hakone known for its hot springs. Along the way, we make a stop in Yokohama to see our friend Ruriko Mikami. Ruriko and her mom Akiko last visited us in Seattle a few years ago. Since that time, Ruriko has discovered scuba diving and decided to become a diving instructor. She happily shows off the new school where she now teaches scuba.
Ruriko takes us to visit the "Coast Style" scuba school in the
Yokohama area
From Yokohama, we hop from train to train to eventually end up in Hakone. We check into a nice ryokan, a traditional style of Japanese inn. A kimono-clad woman shows us to our room, and helps the girls change into yukata, a lightweight robe worn at this sort of inn.
Anya is so excited to wear her yukata robe
The room in the ryokan is great, with great big futons already laid out on the tatami mat floor. Better yet, there's a hot, hot bath in a little garden right outside our room.
Suitably attired, Anya can't wait to try the baths,
especially the one immediately outside our room
Liya's fascinated by the bath as well
Oooooh—this water is hot!!!
For the next two days, the girls continually hop in and out of the bath.