Today is a Thanksgiving Day Holiday in the USA. Back when I was still travelling in Kyushu, I was amazed with all the hypes about Halloween. Everywhere from train stations, retail stores, local 7-11, etc, were advertisement for the Halloween. I saw parents and children searching for their favorite candies and costumes. And there I was - wondering and pondering, what is going on... I recall back in 1992 or 1993 when I visited Japan before the earthquake, bakery stores were selling pumpkin pies for the Thanksgiving Day. I am not sure what kind of feeling I had, but it was like... amazed? But we have many things to be thankful for throughout our lives. Everyone can have their own Halloween and Thanksgiving Day just as much as we do in the State. Onward... after the last tour stop on the way down to Kagoshima, we stopped at the "Japan's Number 1 Beautiful Cave" - Furen Cave and a pit stop where I saw the million $ "MELON", we were well on our way to reach KAGOSHIMA. *By-the-way, I only remember calling that Persian melon as "MELON" in Japanese. How revered this MELON is can be seen in JapaneseTV Drama "Doctor X". I shall buy one on my next visit to Japan and enjoy it to the fullest.
This time, the Hotel FUKIAGESO's room is larger. The hotel has been around for a long time. The parking lot is small. Enough for 12 or 14 cars to park (for fee) in front of the building. The lobby is large. Various local tour information & brochures are available. Large waiting seating room. The restaurant where our breakfast is served is nice and pleasant. As soon as you present your meal tickets, you are free to any seats, then, a trayful of beautiful breakfast is presented.
Beautiful evening view from our hotel room - eighth floor. We can see the famous Mountain.
The hotel's ONSEN spa is right across from our room. Very convenient.
Breakfast at 7 am.
What is that in the container? It's NATO.
Second day's Breakfast. Wow, there is the MELON slice.
Woooo.... MELON and Muscat grape
Time to venture out to Mount KAIMON. But look how lush and dense the forests are.
Now pick a table and sit. Notice the Green and Blue Motorized Noodle Water Well. They don't stream noodles down the split bamboo any longer (since COVID.) The web site still show the noodles running down the split bamboo. Green ones are the single tier and water circles counter clockwise for the right handed guests. Blue ones are two tiers noodle server. Bottom circles counter clockwise and the ones on top tier circles clockwise for the left handed guests. Pretty engenius.
There is Window Station #3 to pick up your drink orders.
We got just in time before the rush hour and tour bus arrival. This place is packed with tourists during the summer months. Here is the Blue 2 tiers noodle server. 
You dip the scooped noodle into your bowl filled with very tasty dipping sauce.
Next, we are heading to the SAND ONSEN in IBUSUKI beach.
Yay! SAND ONSEN is our next destination.
The whole beach is on top of thermo bed. The SAND ONSEN is way out and down there on the left.
We couldn't take picture while we were in there with us buried in the sand bed, but I managed to take telephoto with my phone.
Looks like we are getting real close to the beach.
After you pay for the towel and for SAND Spa, you are handed YUKATA and directed to take elevator to the bathroom area to change. You wear your YUKATA and take your towel with you. After you lock up everything, you head out through a back door that leads you outdoor to the beach. They will give you a pair of sandal to wear. You walk out the back door of the bath house to outdoor. See above photo, then, go down stairs to the beach where I pointed out above about where the SAND ONSEN area is to the left. You line up and wait for the worker to guide you which spot to go. After you sit down, they take your towel and wrap your head and neck area with it and ask you to slowly lie down on the sand. They ask you to be in a comfortable position, then, they start shovelling the warm sand onto your body. No you do not go bare. The warm sand is placed on top of your YUKATA. I was hoping that we get to be on the beach under the sun and use the sunbrella, but we were under this shaded area. Maybe next time in the summer instead of late October.
At the sand onsen - they advice you 10 min to 15 min relaxation, but you can stay in there as long as you are alert and feeling comfortable. You are welcome to getup and leave at will. LOL. I heard a lot of snoring going on while I was covered in sand. The sand weighed very heavy on my body when the worker begin to shovel them on me. It felt like if a 15 pound blanket got placed on my chest. The sand is hot. Part of my inner thigh felt slightly 'burnt'. (Later I checked my thigh, and it was red.) After good 30 min, I walked back the same way I came or the return entrance.... hmmm...can't remember .... LOL. You return your sandal. Then, brush off slightly the sand off YUKATA, wash off the sand on feet and body. There is rinsing tub with scoopers available to everyone. You use that to rinse off your body. Yes, it's public. And you head into the ONSEN bath house area. There is a sauna, cold water bath tub, hot water bath tub, warm rinse water tub with ladle bucket; shampoo, conditioners, and body soap available. Everyone is just quietly enjoying the relaxation. When done, you return to your locker room, change, dry your hair... make up ,,, and take home your small onsen towel (it's yours to keep as a gift).
Outside the warm beach air felt really good. Beautifully decorated stairways. Am I in Hawaii?? 
It says KAGOSHIMA'S ROMAN STRIP. Not sure if the "roman" they are referring to means "romantic". Time to return to KAGOSHIMA.. where my hotel is. I would have reserved a hotel in the area but the affordable ones were all fully booked. Be sure to book hotel 2 to 3 months ahead. Not 3 weeks before your arrival.
Just a photo of my favorite car maker Toyota. Thet call it "TOYO PE'TO". Cute.
On our back to KAGOSHIMA. We saw SAKURA JIMA's blowing its steam. I thought it was a low cloud formation.
It was a great day trip today.
I found out that from our hotel, there is an entire DIY "walk tour" to trace all the historic buildings and people of KAGOSHIMA area, especially my favorite SAIGO DON. Sadly, even though I found out in the evening after returning from the SAND ONSEN while walking down the street near the hotel that there are tons of historic streets, shrines, all around. I could have done these if I had timed the departure from the Beppu area tour much earlier. So I missed my mission #3 on my what-to-see in KYUSHU. I did a short 45 min walk around of the hotel surrounding the next morning to visit SAIGO DON's memorial garden about 1/8 mile down the street. That's about it, and we had to return to the hotel for breakfast, then, pack, and head back up to HAKATA (north), stopping at KUMAMOTO Castle on the way.
Be sure to take the funny picture. And visit the gift shop back inside.
A tour direction sign of the area clearly tells you what's in the neighborhood.
Got to see the KOI in the pond where SAIGO DON's statue is.
I think he looked more handsome when he was wearing the hakama.
So, if you are travelling in KAGOSHIMA, look for the Walking Tour guide pamphlet in the hotel lobby. It will tell you the streets to go and buses to take.
This one was not open at 7 am.
And Don't forget to look up and check out the signs.
Right next to our Hotel FUKIAGESO is this huge shrine.
Time to head out to KUMAMOTO Castle back up north.
Hotel FUKIAGESO to the left (they need to shampoo the carpet.) Otherwise, the location is great. Parking lot is very small. Only allow 12 cars? and you need to pay the fee to park.
By-the-way, if you rent a car in Kyushu, be sure to get the prepaid TOLL card or like in California - FASTrack. I can't believe how many times we had to pay for the toll going around from north to eastcoast to south, then, back north through westcoast.
A commute traffic jam.
Heading to KUMAMOTO. Here we go.
I finally figured out why it was taking so long to get to our destination. They only drive 80km/hr!
They have many tunnels. Do Not Fall Asleep!!
This is another story...
Turn on the "Privacy" music.
Woooo... grilled CHIKUWA like... a "corn dog"?
Found a great map at the rest stop. This map is better than the ones I find on the Internet. It got all the sight seeing destinations of the area. Why can't they have it online just like this one?!!! This is so much more easy to know where I want to go.(I am so visual.)
I want to go pick chestnuts, go boat riding, go eat tangerines... missed them all...
There's thevplace growing mandarins and the MELONs... crossing crabs!? Undistinguishable Forever Fire!?
Finally found the famous SATSUMA IMO my friend bought - only one?!! I would have bought 10!
Almost there to see KUMAMOTO Castle.
KUMAMOTO to the right.
There's thevplace growing mandarins and the MELONs... crossing crabs!? Undistinguishable Forever Fire!? 
(to be continued)
