In the journey of discovering poly I’ve experienced many peaks and valleys. For some this process of construction and deconstruction and reconstruction could seem exhausting. For myself, it’s been a journey worth undertaking. For all the heartbreaks I carry, there are twice as many cherished memories. Even if some of those memories can be bittersweet. The beautiful individuals who helped me create them have left an indelible mark on my life, largely for the better, that I’d rather not forget. One such individual is the Tokyoite, and one such memory, was a seaside trip to a small Japanese city called Atami.
As some of our readers know, early on in my poly journey, one of the first individuals I met was the Tokyoite. He was the first guy I fell in love with after my Fiance and I had opened our relationship. He & I were also separated by an ocean. He lived in Tokyo and I lived in San Francisco. During our time together, I’d had only two chances to visit him in Tokyo. The first time was when we met initially. The second time was when we were there for one of my Fiance’s business trips.
That second time was when the Tokyoite and I had the opportunity to go to Atami. Just the two of us. For two days and one night we had the opportunity to spend time together, alone and hand-in-hand.
We took the bullet train from Tokyo and arrived in the early afternoon to Atami. The first thing we did upon arrival was to find our hotel. The hotel turned out to be nestled up a hill-side following a few very sharp and harrowing switch-backs. The pay-off however was a stunning view of the surrounding bay from our private balcony, which also came with its own private little onsen. The tokyoite had made all the arrangements, unbeknownst to me, and I loved it.
After dropping off our bags, we promptly left the hotel to traverse back into town. It wasn’t a big town mind you. We could probably have walked end to end in about 45 min. Perfect for two lovebirds, wandering hand in hand, lost in each other’s company.
The first stop we made was at KiunKaku, a historical inn. We learned the area had once been known as a destination for newlyweds with the hotel at its center. Even with the rain pattering down around us we could see why. The hotel was serene. We took our time wandering through the low slung rooms, admiring how each view into the garden was curated and picturesque.
Following our self-guided tour we’d ended up at a small family-owned restaurant to try the locally harvested seafood. I’m not always the most adventurous of eaters, but this time, I took a leap and tried to be. While some of the texture were, unique, I found the dish to be overall enjoyable.
After lunch we decide to tackle the second of the tourist attractions in the town, Atami Castle. From afar it looks rather imperious, but we had been warned the whole thing was a campy tourist trap. It did not disappoint. It was campy, cheesy, and the two of us had a blast partaking in all the gimmicks the castle had to offer!
Late in the day while exploring Atami castle, we discovered a welcome surprise on its 5th floor balcony. For a hundred yen we could rent a towel and soak our tired feet in the little heated foot bath while we watched the sunset over the ocean and the mountains in the distance. We ended up sitting there for a spell. It was peaceful and perfect, and just the two of us. When we’d spent the majority of our relationship apart, we had quickly come to cherish those intimate moments whenever and however they manifested.
The next morning we spent the time basking in each other’s company before having to check-out. Seeing as our train back to Tokyo wasn’t until later in the afternoon we spent the day exploring the other half of Atami. We saw the cherry blossoms, walked through the incredible MOA Museum of Art, and sampled all manner of street foods for lunch. Before we left the Atami we’d find ourselves once again soaking our tired feet in another, different, heated foot bath outside the train station. On our ride back to Tokyo that afternoon I remember he had his head nestled on my arm, while I watched the scenery blur by, reflecting on the past few days. With one very unfortunate exception it had been a perfect trip.
I didn’t know it then, but Atami would be one of the last memories we’d share together. The future would hold some rough roads and hard choices for us, but in that moment, on that train, I was happy. We had done what up until then we’d thought impossible. A private getaway for the two of us. Atami had been exhilarating, exciting, and at times heartbreaking. I wish the last part didn’t have to be true. Unfortunately life is not always the hallmark movie we wish it to be. I cannot say how the Tokyoite views that trip today, though I do talk to him from time to time, but for me, with one exception, it remains one of my fondest memories. One I am very happy and thankful I was able to share with him.
-Always in Love, Poly Guy 1
