Sand Bath
・Satsuma Peninsula area has a group of hot springs. Especially Ibusuki onsen is best known for its steaming sand bath and attracts many tourists throughout the year.
・Hot spring water does not come from the sea, but comes from the deepest place in the ground with marine minerals. This enables us to use the sand beach as a natural sauna.
・A steaming sand place was found 300 years ago. At first, people saw it just a dangerous place.
・Recently, its positive, unique benefits have been proven by medical researches. Sand bathing activity increases blood circulation in the body. So, it makes blood flow smoothly.
How to take a sand bath
1 Buy a ticket, receive a yukata and towels.
2 Change into the yukata in the dressing room and put your bag and belongings in the locker.
3 Go down to sand bath area at the seashore with a towel to protect your face from sand.
4 Lie down on your back at the designated place one by one. An Attendant called “sunakake-san” covers you with sand. 5, 10 or 15 minutes later, you will sweat a lot, get up and dust off the sand, return to the shower room to wash sand. Then soak in the hot bathtub to relax.
Mt. Kaimondake
This is a volcano located at the southern edge of Satsuma Peninsula with a height of 924 m. Its shape is a beautiful cone, and it is called “Satsuma Fuji.”
Nishioyama Station
Nisiooyama station is a small, unstaffed train station with only 4 or 5 trains stopping a day. But this tiny station attracts many tourists. Why? Nisiooyama staion is well known as the southernmost station of JR, and also a stunning view spot for Mt. Kaimondake. On the platform, (enter fee for free) you can enjoy the perfect figure of the Mountain imposing in front of your eyes. Stepping off the platform, you will find a yellow old-styled post box placed, which can bring happiness to your dear one.
Lake Ikeda
It is a caldera lake 40 km away from Kagoshima City and the largest lake in Kyushu with the shoreline of 15 km shoreline and the deepest point of 225 m. It is inhabited by large eels, 1.8 m long and 60 cm around, designated as a National Natural Monument. Also, a big dinosaur -like monster is believed to live in the lake, and this mythical creature, called “Issie,” attracts a lot of tourists like Nessie in Lake Loch.
