Anton Ivanov
Now for the main thing. Okinawan onsens — they exist. There's one indoor bath and one outdoor. The outdoor one has aeration — some kind of bubbles. The water is slightly brown but without a distinct smell. The description mentions something about a "beauty bath." As is typical for Okinawa, the aesthetics have a strong American influence. Basically, this is about how I imagined the exercise yard at Guantanamo: a solid plastered yellow wall one-and-a-half person heights tall and a lawn of fine gravel. We went once in the evening — didn't feel like going back. The hotel itself is in the middle of nowhere, which is actually nice: there's an outdoor pool and a beach. For 12,000 yen for two with breakfast on Okinawa during Golden Week? Can't complain. Nearby — a factory producing "salt with 25% less salt content than regular salt," but with the entire rest of the periodic table in the mix. #okinawa