---
title: "日本町"
slug: "nihonmachi"
date: 2021-09-27T08:08:59-07:00
description: A quick staycation getaway to San Francisco's Japantown with Tess.
draft: false
resources:
- name: "buchanan"
  src: "images/buchanan.jpg"
  title: "Buchanan Street Pedestrian Alley"
- name: "ramen"
  src: "images/ramen.jpg"
  title: "A bowl of ramen from Marufuku"
tags: ["Travel"]
---

{{< figures/image name=buchanan >}}

This past weekend, {{< tess >}} and I took a short, one-night staycation in San
Francisco's Japantown. With all the flurry of things happening in our lives, it
was so great to get away from home for a short time and relax.

We stayed at the [Hotel Kabuki][hk], a historic hotel in Japantown, and booked
time at the [Kabuki Springs][ks] bath on Sunday afternoon. We sat in the warm
bath, dunked in the freezing cold pool, sat in the sauna and steam room, and
lounged on the beds around the pools. The lights were low, the music was chill,
and it was so good to disconnect. This was my first experience in a communal
bath, and I left feeling like I wanted to go every weekend. (Tess and I are now
considering memberships.)

One of the wonderful things about a clothing-optional communal bath is the wide
variety of bodies you see. It was a great reminder of how diverse we are, and
how broad the definition of "woman's body" can be. I can't say for sure if Tess
and I were the only trans women there, but I think both of us came to feeling
like just one of the women there to enjoy the baths -- not out of place or
strange at all. It was a really great feeling.

We spent the rest of our time in 日本町 wandering the shops in Japan Center,
walking around the neighborhood, eating, and relaxing. For only being just over
24 hours away from home, I was impressed how much it felt like a real vacation.

Tess also [wrote](https://tess.oconnor.cx/2021/09/japantown) about our trip.

{{< figures/image name=ramen >}}

[hk]: https://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/california/san-francisco/hotel-kabuki
[ks]: https://kabukisprings.com
