I went to the local public bathhouse.
The public bathhouse used to be a common scene here. Every town used to have them but with the increase of bathtubs included in Japanese house, many families now have their baths in the privacy of their own homes and the number of the bathhouse have been dwindling steadily. There was a few around where I live but few have closed down from the lack of business.
In each bathhouse, after entering the main entrance (nothing more than a curtain) shoes are taken off and put in the lockers. From there, there are two separate entrances, one for women the other for men. Before world war 2, bathhouses were unisex, men and women shared the same space. This ended when General MacArthur during his occupation of Japan thought the practice as unchristian and promptly banned it. (Damn you MacArthur!!!)
Last week, when I walked in, two old ladies were removing their shoes, while having a conversation. One open the main door while I was still outside removing my shoes. She held the door open while still talking to her friend. I had a good view inside the womens’ side. Inside was a fairly young lady, showing her nice smooth back and ass. I had a good look before I had to walk in. Without doing so I would have made it obvious that I was there just to perv.
Immediately after entering there was a lady sitting high up, where I paid my entrance fee. She probably ran the place. I didn’t know how much entrance fee was and paid, and while the lady was counting my change I had another good look at the naked lady on the other side. In the changing area on one side were lockers, on the other side was the dividing wall, with a mirror. It also had a coin operated dryer. I picked out a locker, and started to undress myself. I felt the glare from the lady, watching me undress. Maybe she hadn’t seen a young naked male foreigner in her public bath.
I got in the bath area. Along the walls were hot and cold taps, shower heads and mirrors. There were stools and small shallow buckets for people to use. I picked up a stool and walked over to wash myself before entering the bathtub. In here was also the wall dividing both sides but it only came up half way. I could hear the women on the other side washing themselves while having conversations. I was getting a little rise just thinking, listening and imagining the women on the other side naked.
There was an older male and young boy, probably the father together. The father was washing himself while the young boy was sitting on the edge of the bathtub waiting for his father.
I was washing myself when I felt the little boy watching me. I looked at him and smiled but he was too nervous to smile back wondering how to act in the presence of a foreigner. After the father finished washing they both sat in the bathtub, enjoying a little father – son time.
By the time I finished washing myself they had both left and was getting dressed in the changing space. I sat in the bath tub, enjoying the hot water still imagining the women on the other side, wondering if I was going to get another peek at another female leaving the bathhouse.
In addition to the bathtub, there was also sleeping and sitting water jets pools and wet and dry saunas. I managed to sit in each before feeling refreshed and cleaned.
I walked out still naked to my locker to get my towel out. The lady was still there watching me get out and dry myself. If she enjoyed looking at me so much I decided to let her look. After drying myself, I walked over to the fridge where there were drinks for sale inside. Instead of wrapping the towel around my waist, I threw in over my shoulder. I took my time choosing my drink. I picked up what I wanted, and went to the owner to pay. I knew how much it cost but I didn’t give her exact change hoping, while she counted the change I could look to the womens’ side. this time there was nobody. She gave my change and I took my drink and sat down on the table in the middle of the changing space. Still naked, I was in front of the main door. Any male opening the door and any female with good eyes behind would be able to see me naked. I took my time enjoying my drink, while 2 older men were having a conversation. Both men were wearing their underwear, and I felt weird being the only naked one. I got to my locker, grabbed my pajamas, and my hair brush and made my way to the mirror to comb my hair. The lady was still looking at me. I turned and smiled at her.
The men started looking at me and said I was tall, saying I must be 2 meters. I took that as my cue to talk to them. They were surprised, including the lady at my fluent Japanese. The lady even said if she closed her eyes she wouldn’t think it was a foreigner speaking Japanese while listening to me. I was slowly enjoying my drink while cooling down. I asked her about the area which we were in. She verbally explained where everything was, the small mom and pop shops, the alcohol shops…I thanked her and got dressed. While leaving she started to draw a map and I was forced to stand where she was giving me a great look towards the womens’ side. But by this time there was no one, so I thought. A few moments later a young girl, probably in high school had a water bottle in her hand, trying to get the lady’s attention to pay. She was already dressed. The lady gave me the map and I left the place.
It was a nice experience which I hope to repeat. Sitting in a large bathtub beats standing in a cramped shower stall.
