おじゃったもんせ　旬の鹿児島へ-観光地やイベント、温泉、旅館・ホテルに至るまで、鹿児島の観光情報満載です。

------------Mr.Hyatt's comment------------

Ibusuki

The Ibusuki area is one of the most popular stops for all visitors to Kagoshima prefecture. Located at the south-eastern tip of the Satsuma peninsula, Ibusuki’s coastline stretches around the Satsuma peninsula from southern Kinko Bay to the East China Sea, providing it with spectacular ocean views.

The beaches of Ibusuki typically have dark sand, ranging in color from a dark brown to the characteristic black, strewn with volcanic stones and surmounted by romantic cliff sides. One of the most scenic and adventuresome beaches is connected to Chiringa Island (Chiringa-shima). During low tide, a narrow strip of land connects the island to the coast. The island is beautifully forested with black pine surrounded by a tranquil beach and shimmering tide pools. It is believed that the island gets its name from a Japanese onomatopoeia “chirin-chirin”, which resembles the sound of the trees rustling in the ocean breeze.

Ibusuki’s biggest attraction is its internationally prized hot sand spas (Sunamushi onsen). These beach-side spas, with their steaming sands and warm waves, soothe visitor’s nerves and create a perfect alternative to the traditional mineral bath spas. Patrons are given a thin summer robe (yukata) to wear. The courteous staff then prepares a place in the sand for the guest to lie down; a towel is wrapped around the person’s head to prevent sand from sticking to the hair, and finally the guest is buried from neck to toes in the therapeutic sands. An average experience lasts 10-20 minutes, followed by a cool shower and a light meal.

Travel inland and you’ll find Mount Kaimon (Kaimon dake) famous for its resemblance to Mount Fuji. So much so, in fact, that it is alternately known as “Fuji of Kyushu”, “Fuji of Satsuma”, and even “Little Fuji”. It rises 924 meters above sea level. Also like Mount Fuji, Mount Kaimon is a volcanic mountain now almost completely dormant. Its last eruption occurred in the year 885. Nearby Mount Kaimon is the volcanic Lake Ikeda. Undoubtedly the most famous resident of Lake Ikeda is Japan’s own sea monster “Ishi” and his court of truly giant freshwater eels. Equally popular for travelers is a leisurely drive past the fields bursting with bright yellow rape blossoms which erupt across the landscape from late winter to early spring. The seeds of these vibrant blossoms are pressed to make rapeseed cooking oil, commonly called canola oil.