Here we are, in our beautiful ryokan, Andon Ryokan Tokyo. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn, and though traditional in a lot of ways, there are definitely some modern elements to this place. Our room is probably 8 ft. by 11 ft., and has tatami mat flooring (it looks like woven reeds with a cloth border). There is shelving on the walls, but no furniture other than a tiny folding table. Our futons are rolled up at the back of the room, and we will put them out tonight when we sleep. All this sounds totally minimalist, but the kicker is this: we have remote-controlled air conditioning for our spot.
Everything smells like a sauna, since many of the walls are made of cedar. Green tea is always available at the front desk, and we have been given slippers (thick-soled flip-flops with a felt upper) to wear as we walk around inside.
The trip was amazingly easy, and we were a great team as we navigated Narita airport to find the Keisei Express commuter rail into Tokyo, and then Ueno station to find the subway to Minowa, our local stop. Things got a little more complicated on foot, but after a lot of wandering as we zeroed in on our placed, C spotted the tell-tale willow tree (not a 7-eleven) that indicated where to turn, at last, to find Andon.
Off to find some udon, then to bed, in our snug and beautiful cedar closet.
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