Japanese baths

The rain never did stop yesterday, just got worse. Was confined to the apartment, apart from a quick nip back to Jusco to get some food for dinner. After coming out the checkout, stopped off at the display of massaging chairs. They're in the middle of the store, no sales assistant, just sit back and relax (the Japanese people do it too, it's quite normal). I plumped for a big red leather one and it was amazing. Like 4 people pummelling at you at once, it has a remote control with loads of different programmes. It does yoir head, neck, all down your back, and even squeezes and massages all down your legs.

Rained all through the night and through to this morning but brightened up about 12 and I bicycled into town to have a look around. In the evening, went to the 'cento' - a japanese bathhouse. There's seperate sections for men and women. you go into the changing room and strip completely naked before entering. In the main room is a big hot tub with fountain in the middle and a jaccuzi. all round the wall are washing stations with stools and shower heads, and you have to wash thoroughly with soap and shampoo before getting in. My flatmate told me that the women would be watching to make sure I washed properly but they didn't pay all that much attention to me really. She also told me that if you had a tattoo you would likely be ejected! Upstairs, there are several more tubs, and best of all, an outdoor tub on the roof with a Japanese rock garden, bare trees dotted around and a little waterfall in the corner. I had it to myself for ages. Was quite a strange feeling lying there completely naked on top of a roof behind a shopping mall!