Next stop Kagoshima -Volcanoes, Ibusuki Sand baths, Samurai and Kamikaze Pilots on the Satsuma Peninsula, Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan

16th and 17 October
We were heading to the South of the Island of Kyshu today, going to Kagoshima via Mount Aso.
At Mount Aso we planned to follow a hiking trail up to the active volcano, but when we arrived at the visitor center we were informed that there had been a very strong explosion a couple of days earlier that resulted in the Volcano being on a level 2 alert.

This meant that we were restricted to a distance of 1 KM from the crater, we did get a good view from the car park. I think the 1 KM was near enough for me anyway. 

The rope-way from the car park to the crater was also out of action, and looked very dilapidated, we were told that it had been like this since 2016, but none of the guide books I had read said this. 

Mount Aso, Japan 

Mount Aso, Japan 

Ash in the Car Park, Mount Aso, Japan 

We stayed at the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel in the center of Kagoshima. 
The hotel room was the opposite of the one in Beppu, this was the smallest hotel room I have ever stayed in.
We had to put our cases in the corridor and we were still squashed. to sleep we had to pull the bed away from the wall.  We did however have a spectacular view of the Sakurajima Volcano from our window.

Sakurajima Volcano

This volcano is one of the most active on earth. It covers the town of Kagoshima in a fine, grey, volcanic dust, the dust gets everywhere and made you feel quite grubby at the end of the day.
We strolled around the town, going up to the view point of Shiroyama. Then later finding a street food market where we enjoyed our meal.

Kagoshima City

Kagoshima 

What to have?

The next day we were exploring the Satsuma Peninsula. 
Our first stop was at the Ibusuki Sand Baths (I was determined to experience this Japanese phenomena).
The Ibusuki Sand Baths was a very commercial and slick operation. Open from 08.30 to 20.30, located in a large concrete building on the beach.

Ibusuki Sand Baths 

To get your sand bath you follow these steps;

• When you get your tickets you are given a Yukata – or Kimono-and a small towel
• You then go to the segregated changing rooms and removing all of your clothes, and underwear change into the robe
  
• Then make your way out of the back of the building and down to the beach

  

  Ibusuki Sand Baths 

  
  

  

  Ibusuki Sand Baths 

• where the attendants bury you in the hot sand; the sand is said to be over 50 degrees C. At first the sand does not feel too hot, but soon you can feel it burning your back. I did manage to stay about 10 minutes

  

  Ibusuki Sand Baths 

  
• The next step is to go back to the building and into the Onsen and enjoy the traditional Japanese bath.

This was a great experience, and although it’s a long way to travel to get to Ibusuki, but I think it was far better than what was on offer on Beppu.

Next we drove to the very end of the peninsular, Nagasaki-bana. We had hoped to get some lunch here, but this was an odd place, with some rickety souvenir shops selling odd stuff.

Souvenir stalls at Nagasaki-bana, Japan

Kaimon-dake

at the end of Kyushu Island, Japan 

We then drove to the small town of Chiran, this town has some original Samurai houses that you can see and wander around the gardens.

Chiran, Japan 

Samurai house, Chiran, Japan 

English Samurai???

Samurai house, Chiran, Japan 

 Chiran, Japan 

Just outside the village of Chiran is a site that was used as a base to train Kamikaze suicide bombers during World War II.
The road to the base is lines with stone lanterns, one for each of the young pilots who died-there are a lot. It was a sobering place.

Kamikaze memorial, Chiran, Japan 

Kamikaze aircraft 

Kamikaze pilots, Chiran, Japan