Part I – The Meeting
Onsen bathing is one of the highlights of any trip to Japan. Add meeting an intriguing woman for a memorable experience!
There are onsen (hot springs) everywhere in Japan, literally hundreds of places with naturally heated water that comfort millions of Japanese who go on meccas for the best onsenburo (hot spring bath) experiences. Weekends are often fully booked at popular onsen towns, especially near Tokyo and Osaka, the two most populated regions in the country.
I'm a 40-something white guy from the Southwest USA, assigned to Tokyo as a human resources specialist and employee counselor. I was fortunate to find a job in personnel, thanks to my M.A. in human resource management and M.S. in psychology.
I needed a break from the typical grueling work schedule, six days a week with many evenings out for socializing with co-workers and the bosses. I thought it would be fun to go to a rural onsen in a small town, mostly to get away from the busy metropolitan areas. Nikko, a couple of hours from Tokyo, seemed like a good prospect with lots of ryokan (traditional inns) with their own onsenburo--especially on a weekday when fewer people are traveling. I did my research online and found a small ryokan with only a few rooms and their own onsen baths, not too far from the train station.
From Tokyo, I took a JR bullet train to Utsunomiya going north, then transferred to the local Nikko Line. On the way to Nikko, I happened to notice a beautiful Japanese woman sitting across the aisle. I'd say she was in early 30s, about 5'8", slender with long silky hair down to her waist.
What really caught my attention was that she was nicely dressed in a simple white skirt and blouse, coffee-toned hose, and 2" heels--like she was going to work in a big company in Tokyo. Really elegant! Every so often, I glanced over to my left to check out this beautiful woman. Her face was gorgeous, like one of the many beautiful models in ads for Shiseido or Sony.
We finally arrived at Nikko Station. Exiting the front entrance, I glanced around for the taxi waiting area. A line of taxis waited for people going to area hotels and lodging.The woman and I approached the taxi in the front simultaneously. I bowed to her and said "Dozo, osaki ni" (please, you first).
She replied in an enchanting soft voice, "Domo, sumimasen" (Thank you). She instructed the driver that she was going to Harunoya. The driver opened the automatic door to let her in.
I said to her, "I'm going to the same ryokan. May we go together?"
She replied, "Yes, of course. That would be fine."
I followed her into the back seat while the driver placed our small suitcases in the trunk. As she scooted over to the right side (riders enter from the left side), her skirt rode up her shapely legs and revealed a little more of her coffee-colored hose to almost mid-thigh.
Ooh, I thought, she has excellent taste for hosiery--not the usual matte-finish cheap cream-colored pantyhose that the typical woman in Japan wears--but a super sheer pantyhose that must have been 10-15 denier (I'm a stocking lover as you will see). It was a rare sight anywhere, especially with the unfortunate decline in women's hosiery nowadays.
She settled into her seat and pulled her hem down after realizing that a lot of her legs was showing. I tried to avoid admiring her legs, but it was difficult!
The driver got underway after checking on the ryokan's location (no numbered street addresses in Japan, so you really need to know the city!). The late afternoon light came in from the right side, shining through her sheer white blouse with warm backlight. I looked down and noticed the backlighting also revealed the texture of her skirt material. It looked like a very light, finely woven linen.
Then I noticed the telltale bumps of garter clips and outline of garter straps! I could almost make out the line of the stocking tops--not the lacy type, but the original banded top. As the late afternoon sun swung over a little, I saw what looked like the glint of shiny metal garter clips--not the cheap, unreliable plastic clips.
The light also revealed a little more detail showing through the thin skirt--a thin light line across her leg, a hint that she may be wearing the old Hanes stockings with the light-colored edge on the stocking top. She wasn't wearing a slip! I thought, "This is turning out better than expected!"
We finally arrived at the Harunoya ryokan up in the hills, about 20 minutes from the train station. We split the cab fare and exited the taxi on the left side.
As I helped her out, her skirt again rode up her long legs. This time, a little more of her gorgeous nylon-clad legs was revealed. I noticed the edge of the dark stocking tops peeking out. I could also see the light-colored garter strap and shiny garter clip showing through her linen skirt.
As we picked up our suitcases and walked toward the main entrance of the ryokan, I saw the signboard listing the guests for the evening. I saw my name, then the only other guest that night: Naito Erika. Nice name!
We entered the genkan (entry) where we were immediately greeted by the okami (owner) who welcomed us to her ryokan. As is customary, we took off our street shoes before entering the ryokan. I untied my shoelaces and walked up a little step to put on slippers.
Erika slipped out of her heels and walked up the short step. She was wearing RHT stockings with reinforced heels and toes. I haven't seen RHT nylons for eons! She slipped on her ryokan slippers and followed the okami to her room. Another ryokan assistant took me to my room, across the hall from Erika's.
Going down the hallway lit from the back by an open window, I could easily see the outlines of Erika's legs through her thin linen dress. It was easy to imagine her without her skirt and just admiring her stocking-clad legs. Mmmmm.
She entered the room and smiled at me, saying in surprisingly excellent English, "Good to meet you. See you at dinner." The okami had reminded us that we should take a bath in the ryokan's daiyakujo (public bath) or the kashikiriburo (private bath)--and even an uchifuro (private family bath). They were all open 24 hours without reservations. Great!!
After unpacking and resting for a moment, I threw off my street clothes and donned the yukata (bathing clothes) provided by the ryokan. It fit perfectly. How did they know my size, "L?"
As I exited my room named "Fuji no Hana" (Wisteria), Erika came out of her room, named "Sakura no Hana" (cherry blossom). Nicer ryokan often have rooms with special names.
She was also wearing a white yukata with a sakura flower design. The yukata was made with rather thin cotton, perfect for the hot, humid summers in Japan. It was so thin, in fact, that as I followed behind her, I thought I saw the outline of a white garter belt, white panties, and dark stockings.
As my eyes followed her slim legs downward, I noticed the back of her heel in the ryokan slippers--RHT heels! She hadn't bothered to take off her stockings! She was going to wear them into the women's bathroom!
We both approached the daiyakujo (public bath) for men and women. The main entry had the Japanese character for "yu" (or hot water), the universal symbol throughout Japan for a hot bath, both hot springs and regular public baths with heated water. It's an essential Japanese character to know if you like hot baths.
She entered the women's side signified by a red noren (a curtain in the entryway). I called after her, "Have a nice one!"
She smiled back and said, "You too!" As her door closed behind her, I saw her slipping off her slippers, exposing her RHT nylon-covered feet.
Across the top of the wall dividing between the two sides, I could hear walking around the dressing room, placing her clothes in the bamboo clothes basket, and entering the bath area. I did the same and entered the bath area also.
Of course, it is mandatory in Japan that everyone takes a complete bath before entering the furo itself. This is so that the furo water remains clean and absolutely free of body oils, soap and other contaminants. It is said that bath managers will drain everything if he/she catches a bather entering a furo otherwise.
Across the open divider between the men's and women's bathing areas, I could hear Erika showering and bathing for almost 10 minutes. I also enjoyed the scalding hot water, the nicely scented shampoo and conditioner, and body soap. My room had a local specialty, horse-oil soaps which have a creamy texture that leaves the hair and body silky smooth.