ADVENTURES IN KYUSHU ISLAND OF JAPAN - ONSEN SPA WONDERS Part 1 of 4

 I had a great time exploring KYUSHU, Japan.  5 days trip from Tokyo to Hakata, Kyushu.  Riding NOZOMI - the fastest bullet train in Japan.  From HAKATA, northern Kyushu, we rented a card and circled the island.  The two places we left out is NAGASAKI, and SAGA, the two southwest part of Kyushu.  We drove down south via east coast route to Beppu, OITA, MIYAZAKI, KAGOSHIMA, IBUSUKI, KUMAMOTO, and back to HAKATA and FUKUOKA.  I wished I had taken a two week vacation time to visit this lush Green Volcano with ONSEN steam / natural bath resort.  

It was supposed to be a coordinated vacation planning between myself and a friend in Japan.  It was challenging to coordinate the bookings and trying to purchase special tour package deals - Only to find out the special deal is offered only to the foreigner and not to the nationals.  The total vacation outcome was bit pricey at the end as nothing was booked until several weeks before the trip.  There were many trip blogs I read about not needing to reserve rental cars ahead or hotels ahead (for our October trip) as they will be easily booked on the day of, but trust me, do it ahead.  

This mid-October trip turned out to be the most comfortable trips for us.  In 2019, when we visited Tokyo main land and near by prefectures at end of August, beginning of September, it was a sweltering humid hot weather.  Elsewhere there were threat of Typhoon and making a day trip impossible.  The weather in mid-October in Kyushu this year was just nice warm spring.  A forecast of fine weather for the entire week of our visit.  I wore short sleeves T-shirt and almost wanted to wear shorts.  The hooded sweat jacket came handy for the chilly morning and during the long flight across the Pacific.  

AIRPORT - The flight from Sacramento went through Seattle, Washington, then, to HANEDA airport, Japan, east of Tokyo.   I just did not like the backward hassle of bus transport from the domestic to the international terminals at the LAX.  But then, what took me by surprise is the transport from Haneda airport to Tokyo train station.  After arriving Haneda airport, after exiting the immigration check point, I looked for the SAKURA mobile counter to receive my SAKURA wi-fi unit.   I was expecting to ride EXPress train from Haneda to Tokyo station using my Shinkansen - Japan rail pass I just finished exchanging at the JR Green Window counter.  Finding out that from Haneda, we need to take the MONORAIL and switch to different ones at mid station, then, get off  to switch to regular subway trains to Tokyo train station.  I was given a small slip of paper with station and terminal IDs to switch the train, but it was challenging to maneuver your way through the mesmerized densely crowded train stations with luggage.

Regardless of the fact that JR is getting rid of Japan Rail Pass for the foreigners and minimizing JR "Green Window" station offices, automated Shinkansen KIOSK completed my seat reservation on a selected schedule and printed out the ticket - after 10 tries with many people lined up behind... patiently waiting to eagerly process their reservation - while I try to "understand" KIOSK's direction and their LINGO on what each button actually meant,   After one success, the subsequent reservation was quick and painless.  Better than Green Window experiences I had during 2019 trip as the KIOSK is 24x7?? and available first thing in the morning without having to wait for the JR Green Window office to open at 8:30 am or 9 or 10 in some stations.

So, here is my photo journal for my Japan trip 2023 October - 5 days trip to KYUSHU, Japan.  Then, spending two days with my classmates for Class Reunion that included dinner party at famous Szechwan Restaurant (late Iron Chef Ken Ichi Chin's) and spending over night trip with my classmates to Isawa Onsen, Shinko Hotel, Yamanashi Ken.  Then, a single day Shinkansen day trip just riding it from Tokyo to Nagoya,with a fantastic view of Mt. Fuji.  Riding Shinkansen after a short walk around Nagoya train station and returned from Nagoya to Kyoto, then, back to Tokyo.  

Arriving Tokyo train station from HANEDA aiport.  Take a picture of the sign, so I can go back to the Haneda airport the opposite way on departure day.  

Finally arrived at Tokyo Train Station that is also called JR Station.  Take a good photo of each exit to help you navigate in and out of the train sstation and to get on a train at the correct terminal entrance.

This is exterior of the train station.

Taxi or bus waiting area.

My first night in Tokyo at SUMISHO HOTEL.  Taxi from Tokyo station - about 2200 yen.

Petite space efficient room.

Wished they have Luggage Rack.

 

Loved the Deep and short bath tub.  I prefer this type than the ones I have in my California home. 

Didn't venture out.  Tired from the flight and from the train ride.  Went downstair to enjoy the dinner at the hotel's restaurant for a simple meal.

Saturday, 10/21/23 at Tokyo Train Station - YAESU CENTRAL ENTRANCE to board SHINKANSEN NOZOMI to KYUSHU.  Tokyo Train Station is huge.  So, learn which GATE is best for your trip or to meet up with your friend.

There was an interesting Exhibit going on that morning.  Some of the main prefecture's train stations iare large metropolis of its own.  It has grocery stores, restaurants, retails, pharmacy, etc., you name it.  What you are looking for is possibly easily found without getting out of the train station. 

Press the icon menu bar at the bottom of the screen for English reservation process.

 

There it is our train schedule NOZOMI is listed in yellow highlight, terminal 17.

We are onboard NOZOMI to HAKATA, KYUSHU, JAPAN

After 5 hours+, we are arriving HAKATA soon.

The sign and announcer will clearly tell you which side of the door you will be exiting.  *If you are carrying a backpack, be sure to hand carry it or carry in front of you, instead of the back to avoid bumping it into other passengers who are not 'aware' or used to be around large American size backpack to avoid it and may run into it. 

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs... Take a moment to read to exit from the closest stairway or escalator.  Surprisingly all the Escalators everywhere were running contrarily to 2019.  Saturday, 10/21/23's night hotel at Quintessa Hotel.  A nice short walk across from the train station,  This is the hotel - that unfortunately due to our late booking, it only a bunkbed room available.  It was a great fun for me to sleep in the bunkbed.  My friend on the contrary was totally felt !@#$. Alas, I felt... "I warned you....to book early...".

We did not make it to YATAI that evening.  We decided to check it out on the way back after the trip.

 

After walking around trying to find a way to Canal City, etc., we end up somewhere to eat.

I thought it was Teriyaki chicken, then, I found out in HAKATA  area, they are famous for TERIYAKI Chicken Skins.  I personally could not eat it, but I tasted one though.

They also have grilled farmed horse salt yaki.

 

On our adventure to find DONKOBUNE in YANAGAWA, Fukuoka area.  A river cruise on a boat through feudal clan's home.  We were very lucky that day.  We were the last four customers and the rower  is happy to take us around and sang for us through out the charming sunset evening with half moon on the rise.

We almost missed it, as it did not have an expected large store front.  It was at the end of this building facing the river - actually it's a MOAT surrounded by original 400 years old walls of the castle.

Very serene.

Here he comes.

Normal load is about 26 people, he explains.

We were very lucky.  He is willing to take just two guests... and we got two more guests at the last min.  That is really nice.  They said no matter what, we got there 10 min before the closing time, and that is good enough.  The round trip tour takes about 40 min, and they still took us around. 

 

Some bridges are just high enough for us to pass through.  One of them required us to duck our head.

 

During the cruise, the rower would tell the history of area, moat, each bridge we pass, and sing for us. And also explained what Japanese loves Kit Kat Chocolate bar.  Because it is a play in the words with its pronunciation in Japanese 'English', it is called KI' TO' KA'TSU that means Win For Sure; Must Win. There are so many different flavored Kit Kat chocolate bars in Japan than anywhere else.

These rocks are the original 400 years old.  The moat/river is emptied and cleaned according to schedule.

It was very late after the cruise.  We didn't get to eat the famous UNAGI dinner in the area.

Everywhere there were lines.  (Noticed the luggages are checked and left at the entrance.)

The line snakes around 4 times to get in SHIN SHIN.  It must be good... we line up and waited patiently.  I ate the cold noodle style Green Onion RAMEN.

 

Lucky, the Toyota rental car has a car for rent.  Need to locate the Toyota Rental Card office...  Do make early reservation for rental car.  It is not true that you can rent car anytime as mentioned in some other blogs, YouTube, or tour sites in busy city.  We almost did not have one.  I would not have a problem, as my original intention was to trave throughout Kyushu with SHINKANSEN with my JR Rail pass.  But the rental car travel would reach certain destination "easier" and saves travel time unless you are with a tour group or Car for Hire Private Tour.

HAKATA train station is very large.  They are getting ready for Christmas holiday also.

Everywhere you turn around, people are enjoying time around the train stations. or shopping malls.

On our down to Beppu the next day.

There are many many many tunnels and tolls that you drive through while driving in KYUSHU.  Make sure to carry cashes.  Some are short and there were few that are miles long.

 

Everywhere you look in Kyushu, you will see puff of steam cloud forming here and there.  Natural underground steam.  

 We finally arrived to Beppu's one of 7 Hells of BEPPU hydrothermal formations.

These steam can be as hot at 40C to 100C, etc.

In the old days when the tourism or rush of tourists were not so 'crowded', the store owner said they did demonstrate and or cooked eggs over the hot spring.  But, there are way too many tourists to handle.  They steam cook them indoor.

Plants from Amazon love the hot natural spring water.

Beppu Train station is right across from our hotel.

Beppu Seawave Hotel

 

At local seafood restaurant right next to the train station.

    

This is my best dinner I ever enjoyed.

Breakfast Buffet all you can eat at the Beppu Seawave Hotel.  This is where I decided to taste the NATTO and I have been eating it since.  Every morning I eat a tablespoon of it with meal or at lunch.

 

Visiting the next groups of 7 Hells of BEPPU hydrothermal formations.

102C PH of 7.4

Free sample drinking of Natural Spring - Be aware, it is 80C.

The KAMADO Hell's temp is 100C temp

KAMADO - the Giant Pot

The Gift Shop

More pic of KAMADO Giant Pot

Friendship City with Taiwan

This one has mud hell formation

 

Goblin Rock formation

Time for snacking. Local famous meat bun and boiled egg by hell spring.   Surprisingly the white of the egg is soooo tender, it is incredible that I am eating an egg.

The egg white is brown.

Arrived at Crocodile Hell Pit.

They love the hot natural spring 

Hell of White Pond

Forest Pond Hell

The Geyser - every 30 to 40 minutes and crowd patiently sits on the arena and waits.

This is the seventh of the 7 Hells of Natural Spring Wonders.  And I have completed Stamping at each Hell I visited.

Here it comes!

On our way to our next destination KAGOSHIMA.  Passing through MIYAZAKI to head to KAGOSHIMA.   I was hoping to visit 7 Hells of BEPPU in half day, but it took us a day and a half that included foot bath and at a relaxing pace. We enjoyed it a lot.  I think it is very educational.  I compare it to visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park in Lassen National Forest, California.  It has geologic formation and Hydrothermal activities that are important to be aware of.  Although I am not a scientist, I like to be aware of any changes it might display over the years that maybe indicating earth activities... maybe??  ha, ha...

 

Although I missed visiting ASO mountain and Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki, we left with great hopeful thoughts for the next adventure in Kagoshima area.  It's a long drive down from Beppu to Kagoshima.

Will continue onto Part 2 of 4.