Shuzenji

In July we visited Shuzenji, a little spa village in Izu peninsula south of mount Fuji.

Turning Japanese.

We took a local train to the peninsula.

Shuzenji is an old spa village that was popular in the 60's. Nothing seems to have changed since.

Pop-guns from way back.

Pachinko from the 60's.

This was insanely difficult. Johannes didn't hit a target once.

The proprietor was proud that the lights still worked.

Some decades later model.

Nobody understood English in Shuzenji.

Johannes ordered "a fish" for dinner. He remained a bit hungry.

The village is beautiful.

There was an old feet-washing hut with a hot spring. Legend says the hot spring was found by a famous monk Kōbō-Daishi in 807.

Our Goyokan-spa was the only establishment in the village with any English language service, due to the new generation proprietor who had studied abroad. The spa was newly renovated and very beautiful.

New toilets in Japan are very complicated.

WC remote with 36 buttons (more on the back).

Every afternoon before our bath time, tea was served in our room.

Afternoon tea.

In the morning breakfast was announced to be ready via room telephone and by the time we got down to the breakfast room, the fish was about ready to be turned.

There were many cups.

There was one small private spa and two large communal spas that one could also book just for oneself.

Stone bath.

Wooden bath.

Shuzenji village had a few temples.

A yearly festival was on!

After all the deep cleansing and relaxing it was time to leave the time capsule.

Solar panels.

Next stop: Tokyo!