It's Your Birthday- Japanese Style!

It's a feel good weekend in Japan. Celebrating Brett's 35th Japanese style. How long has he been 35? Ha, well... that's just between us ladies.

(is that Grimace?)

You can blame an A's game on a wedding anniversary for inspiring the extravagant getaways. After that I officially put myself in charge of the Millburn Adventure and Romance Committee. We hold few meetings and spend too much money- but I'm... I mean, WE are efficient.

One of Brett's favorite places has been the Oirase Gorge, so the Oirase Keiryu Hotel seemed like a natural choice to enjoy the end of the season scenery. However, most of the trees where dead. But this is what it looks like in summer:

This is what it looks like when I take a picture:

Still awesome. It was great because hardly anyone was there. It made it easy for us to find a English speaker when I lost the hotel room key.

However, looks like someone stole the legs to our table and chairs...

Just kidding! That's how we do it in JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!! We sit on the floor!! (exclamation points!)

The rooms really are separated by screens. And they gave us yukatas (robes), socks, & slippers to enjoy our stay in. About half Japanese wore them to dinner and half did not. We were among the traditional half.

After dinner you could enjoy a hot dip here:

They had 3 different areas to soak. One had a bunch of fresh bright red apples floating in it, and the other was outside. Very cool... or hot, actually.

We were able to choose from a Western style room (with a mattress) or the "tradish"- the futon.

"Futon" in English actually means "incredibly uncomfortable/confusing as to why you paid to do this." By the end of the night I had collected every slightly fluffy thing I could find and created a nest in the corner of the room. But still, a good "Japanese experience."

They had a dinner buffet that was off the charts for you mushroom & seafood lovers.
But a breakfast with seafood involved? Hmm. Pass.

I hope the plate doesn't gross you out. But I'm posting it anyways. This breakfast buffet had a lot of seafood, mushrooms, "rice gruel", and fruit. Now you know why Japanese people are so skinny.

Lastly, always remember to put on the special bathroom shoes when you use the toilet. (Brett is so embarrassed by my post...sorry... Happy Birthday Sweetie!)  

Thanks to Brett for being so adventurous. I love this guy. He puts up with my jokes, funny and not. He is an amazing father and the perfect husband. Not a day goes by when he doesn't tell me how much he loves me and how pretty he thinks I am. If I write too much people might get divorced so they could marry him, so I better stop.

Brett, you're the best. Period.