Traveling across Japan, you will find communal bathhouses almost in every neighborhood. They are called Sento (if you want to know more about them, watch this video). I decided to use them on my trip to stay clean; I was so convinced it was going to work that I didn’t search for other alternatives.
[2019-10-08]
I spent the day wandering around Yokohama, mainly in the bay area. I was on my way to set my tent for the night at Kamon-Yama Park when I passed by a nearby Sento. I was tempted to get inside but felt so awkward between the locals, so much like an outsider, that I wasn’t confident enough to do it. Also (and again), I wasn’t sure about leaving my bike outside.
Thankfully, I had read an article that gave me a different idea for cleaning myself on trips like this: almost everywhere in Japan, you can find public restrooms, including for people with disabilities; the latter being spacious and with very functional drainage. You could use those in hours when no one would need them (at midnight) and preferably in remote places.
After eating something and resting for a while inside my tent, I went to the park’s restrooms at midnight, when no one was around. Inside the bathroom, there was enough clean and dry space to leave my clothes and towel. There wasn’t any showerhead or corded faucet, so I had to shower using my water bottle.
When I finished, I made sure to leave everything clean and went back to my tent. Just to be awoken later by an earthquake. But it wasn’t so bad, so I quickly returned to my dreams because I needed to wake up at 5:30 am.
[2019-10-09]
I woke up early and fast, as usual, knowing that I was in a public park in the middle of Yokohama. I was thinking that, at any moment, people would start to arrive to exercise. So, before 5:40 am, I was all packed up and ready to leave.
I noticed that a big group of older people started to gather in a big open area at the park; I was a bit confused, but suddenly a woman took out a tape recorder and played an exercise routine. Then I remembered Radio Taiso (lit. Radio Exercise): a broadcast warm-up exercise that runs at 6:30 every morning with guidance and music.
This time, the woman put a CD, and everyone formed a big circle around; she then guided the routine. I was a bit ashamed at first, but then I joined them; it was enjoyable and healthy, and I felt entirely awake after finishing.
After I ate some bread and a hot fresh coffee at the Konbini, I was again on my bike.
I crossed through Yokohama’s Chinatown, one of the biggest in the world. It was fascinating with such colorful and detailed temples and full of variated stores.
But everything was still closed. I started to notice the inconvenience of wandering so early with everything generally opening at 10:00 am. I was on the road between cities when that hour came that day, so I didn’t enjoy anything in that bright neighborhood.
Before leaving the metropolitan area, I noticed something on the floor that caught my eye and made me stop. I didn’t find the Yokohama PokéLids, but I discovered a manhole cover personalized with a representation of the city. I didn’t know anything about it or if I would find another in other cities, but after that, I started to search for new ones.
After taking the photo, I continued my way to explore a beautiful and huge traditional Japanese garden [all about it in my next post].
Don‘t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below.
Leave a Reply