My special noodle

Darin mentioned several times during our 'legal marriage' honeymoon that he felt like a noodle. I asked what kind and he said 'udon'. You may ask why he felt like a noodle. Well, going on a traditional hot springs holiday in Japan makes you feel soft and relaxed like a noodle - it's really hard to do anything but just sit around and wonder when was the last time you felt this good. I completely recommend it to you all.

Our legal marriage was a success and the mood was bright even though it was raining on the way to the city office. Although the leaves have fallen off most of the trees in Japan, a few red leaves remain in Tokyo. This is a picture of us on the way to the city office:

To get to the city hall we have to walk past the Tamagawa Josui, one of Edo's (old Tokyo) original water sources. Damn I just read that the Tokyo government plans to build a highway and part of the Tamagawa Josui is to be included!! NO!! This is really a beautiful and historical area - I will be writing a letter to Governor Ishihara.

Here is part of the Tamagawa Josui:

We finally made it to the city office with our papers in hand. Someone directed us to a small room at the back of the building. At first we thought we'd made a mistake - it was a tiny office just filled with security guards (it was a Sunday after all). But no, we had found the right place and the right man (pictured below viewing our application to be married)

Here's a picture of another guy in the office (he looked real bored):

So we stood outside this little office for a while taking random photos,

and then after the guy had gone off for 15 to 20 minutes photocopying our id, he came back and told us everything was in order (not congratulations mind you) and that was it. We looked at each other and that was that. We were married. So now you know that getting legally married in Japan involves no congratulations, no words of caution, no traditional words of encouragement, just a nod to tell you your forms are in order.

Me and my noodle outside the office about to celebrate with a bottle of champagne (Thanks Rae!!)

Popping the champagne cork!!

For those that want to know, I didn't really wear anything special except my handmade flower pin as we left the city hall to go staight to Shinjuku to catch our bus to Ikaho Onsen in Gunma (a 2.5 hour bus ride from Tokyo). Thanks for the tip, Nicole!! After we reached our Ryokan (Japanese style hotel), we had some tea and snacks that were provided in our 10 to 12 tatami mat room, booked an hour in the private rotenburo (outdoor bath), changed into our yukata and waited to be cooked like a noodle.

Here's a picture of us clad in our yukata - we have a strange expression on our faces:

This is the private rotenburo at Moriaki Ryokan. It was heaven.

We then walked around the quaint little onsen town a little before going back to the ryokan to be served an absolutely delicious dinner in our room.

After that we sat in more outdoor hot springs (they are open 24 hours) and became more noodle like. We did more of that the next day after a delicious Japanese-style breakfast. For the rest of our Ikaho Onsen photos, click here!! Thanks to you all for your warm congratulations and support - you rock way more than pinku does!!

EBAY AUCTIONS

Thanks to everyone who bid on my auctions! I feel excited to share the love of Japanese knitting patterns with you all. I was planning on listing another 10 or so books, but I don't think we'll have time before we leave for Thailand. So, after the new year I will be listing those books on Ebay so stay tuned. I am also thinking about selling some new Japanese craft/knitting books including the flower pin book that I used to make mine. Everytime I go into the bookstore here in Tokyo there are more and more new books and I am always tempted to make a purchase. I need to share the love.

Comments

[Rossana]

What a charming honeymoon! Yay! And have a great time in Thailand!

[Shelby]

Congratulations on your legalities :) It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. My husband & I spent a day at a Japanese style spa here in the states a couple of months ago and "noodle" is a good way to describe it.

[monica]

Congratulations! Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!

[Hub Snobber]

Good onya guys!!! You both look super happy. And i must say super sexy in those yukata!!

[gleek]

hahaha, noodle.. definitely after being cooked in those hot springs for so long! congratulations! you look like a happy couple :) oh, and i loved bidding on those auctions and i'm so glad i was agressive enough to win two. i would gladly bid on more should you have the time to put them online. in the meantime, enjoy thailand! say hi to those pesky tuk-tuk drivers for me.

[mariko]

Omedeto gozaimasu! Your legal ceremony sounds very Japanese! The onsen looks fabulous. There's nothing like feeling like a noodle.

[freecia]

Congratulations! Married, Onsen, Thailand. Lucky girl :) Thanks for spreading the japanese knit mag love. I just got my package yesterday with the gorgeous stamps and spent some serious happy time with them.

Wishing you the utmost happiness with you and your noodle. Udon's a good noodle to be.

[frecklegirl]

Congratulations! You and your noodle are adorable.

Please let me know if you do have one of those flower books to sell... I would definitely be interested!

[nicole]

Congratulations!!

[kristine]

Congrats! You guys look like you had an awesome time. If you're not already into scrapbooking, you should start because you have some really good pictures! I scrapbook and I have a blast with it.

[mona]

HI pinku, you are proof that one need not have a white dress and all the trimmings to be a radiant bride.
Congratulations!

[drh]

Congratulations! I wish you and your husband many years of happiness and fun!

[Mim]

Van harte gefeliciteerd! (dutch congratulations;o))

All the best for the two of you.
Lucky you got to feel like a noodle. I wish i could feel like a noodle too....

[alison]

Congrats on your legal marriage, Mr. & Mrs. Noodle!

[mindy]

Mazal Tov! Looks like a lovely, lovely honeymoon, you both look really happy - - and relaxed! All the best to you both.

[Heidi]

Another congratulations to you both! And thanks for sharing all those pictures. It was cho natsukashii. I am very jealous of your onsen visit, it looks like it was divine.

Best wishes!

[mochi]

Omedeto gozaimasu! Have a wonderful time in Thailand!

[Kinki]

Welcome to Marriage! It's a wild and rocky ride...

[rae]

Seems like a pretty perfect legal marriage day! So happy for you and Darin. Thanks for sharing photo's of your 'first' special marriage day and omedetou gozaimasu!

[shiz]

Congratulations!! You guys look so cute.... I loved the photos... I think I'm PMS'ing so I almost started crying, congrats! :)

[Vina]

hi!! do you have any more of those japanese knitting books??
Because I really really wanted the Vogue knitting one T-T...
but will you be able to ship it to Australia? because last time it only said that it is only available to United States.
It would be really good if it can be available to ship to Australia, or I can buy it from you straight away if u want ^-^
thank you for the help,
Vina

[kat]

Vina, I will be selling more Japanese knitting books when I get back from my winter vacation in sunny Thailand. Of course, I will also ship to australia - that's where I'm from after all!!

[Julia]

Congrats! Enjoy Thailand... (does that need to be said?)

[travelita]

Wow...wonderful setup for a marriage

[D R E W]

Yay! Congrats on your marriage. Sounds like you had a lot of fun.