![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yesterday, after a rather frustrating hour spent trying to decipher a map that didn't quite resemble the actual roads we were on, we found the gorgeous onsen at Ichinomata. It was inside the main hotel there and we accidently didnt' pay (accidently cause we completely missed the vending machines that gave you the tickets which they never check for (and there was no way we were going to buy them with our hair wet clearly showing we'd just been to the onsen)) but that's okay cause we'll pay next time, or at least I will. It was probably the coolest onsen we've been to yet. Everything inside was done up in wood and bamboo. There was the hottest dry sauna I've ever been in (so much so that it was actually refreshing to dump a bowl of ice cold water over my head afterwards, instead of, you know, horrifying) and a nice indoor pool with huge glass windows showing outside. Outside were the kind of pools you imagine when you think of an onsen (or, you know, see in anime) with an artfully arranged rocky pool with all different kinds of rocks at different heights and places to give you plenty of places to sit, a faux bamboo power shower for the best massage and even another pool with massage jets and stuff. We spent a lot of time soaking and relaxing away the frustration of finding the place *L* Afterwards, we picked up the ingredients for kitsune soba and heading to my flat for another ep of Long Way Round since we were too tired to try to find another onsen.
Today, we went to Iwakuni for the Japanese-American Friendship day when they open the American air force base to visitors. It was a long train ride, about 2 1/2 hours to get there, but we scammed JR (as most foreigners who live here do) and managed a $44 dollar (round) trip on $7. It was extremely crowded when we got there (and extremely weird seeing non-Japanese people again...) but once we got in, it was a lot of fun. There was an airshow going on so we saw the Blue Angels doing synchronized stuff. I couldn't believe how low they flew. Then there was an F-17 having fun, and a biplane doing tricks. Sadly, we were mostly in it for the American food (I spent a lot of the trip there wondering just what qualifies as American food. Turns out it's hamburgers, steak, hot dogs, ice cream, corn dogs, giant pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and pizza.) The pizza drew us in, and we split one with everything on it (tasted a lot like a good Dominos pizza methinks), settled down with some Sprites on the tarmac and leant back and enjoyed the show.
We picked up some pretzels as well, then wandered around the whole place. There was lots of marines and air force stuff being sold, though all I picked up was a patch for my new carry bag. We got some snow cones, and went to gawk at the American soldiers who were on "take photos with everyone" duty. It was both cute and weird. I embarassed them further by asking one who was in a gas mask to take a picture with Sauron-chan. That is definately a picture you won't see every day *L* We then couldn't resist buying some cotton candy, after which we were floating on sugar, which was good since we were damn tired and had a long walk back to the train station and time to kill before our train. We stopped in a large mall nearby to pick up something for dinner and kill time. Bought souvenirs (proper ones with anko and stuff for giving to people) then waited for the train. After a very long ride home (the only good thing I can say about it was a least I was sitting), we parted ways and I am now home. Since I work Saturdays, I actually have to work tomorrow instead of have long holiday. So it goes. It's been a good day though, and I'm glad I went. Especially since I have cold pizza for lunch tomorrow *L*
Today, we went to Iwakuni for the Japanese-American Friendship day when they open the American air force base to visitors. It was a long train ride, about 2 1/2 hours to get there, but we scammed JR (as most foreigners who live here do) and managed a $44 dollar (round) trip on $7. It was extremely crowded when we got there (and extremely weird seeing non-Japanese people again...) but once we got in, it was a lot of fun. There was an airshow going on so we saw the Blue Angels doing synchronized stuff. I couldn't believe how low they flew. Then there was an F-17 having fun, and a biplane doing tricks. Sadly, we were mostly in it for the American food (I spent a lot of the trip there wondering just what qualifies as American food. Turns out it's hamburgers, steak, hot dogs, ice cream, corn dogs, giant pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and pizza.) The pizza drew us in, and we split one with everything on it (tasted a lot like a good Dominos pizza methinks), settled down with some Sprites on the tarmac and leant back and enjoyed the show.
We picked up some pretzels as well, then wandered around the whole place. There was lots of marines and air force stuff being sold, though all I picked up was a patch for my new carry bag. We got some snow cones, and went to gawk at the American soldiers who were on "take photos with everyone" duty. It was both cute and weird. I embarassed them further by asking one who was in a gas mask to take a picture with Sauron-chan. That is definately a picture you won't see every day *L* We then couldn't resist buying some cotton candy, after which we were floating on sugar, which was good since we were damn tired and had a long walk back to the train station and time to kill before our train. We stopped in a large mall nearby to pick up something for dinner and kill time. Bought souvenirs (proper ones with anko and stuff for giving to people) then waited for the train. After a very long ride home (the only good thing I can say about it was a least I was sitting), we parted ways and I am now home. Since I work Saturdays, I actually have to work tomorrow instead of have long holiday. So it goes. It's been a good day though, and I'm glad I went. Especially since I have cold pizza for lunch tomorrow *L*
