We decided to spend the morning at Beppu Onsen (Beppu hot springs).

There were steams everywhere in the town! We understood why it’s called “Hell”. The hotsprings temperature is boiling water of 98 c degrees. You can eat Onsen water boiled eggs or rice cakes there.

There were several Onsens and also several ‘Hell’. It would have been fun to go around all of the hells! We went one of them.

Entrance to one of Beppu’s Hell’s, Kyushu, Japan.

The hell has an amazing turquoise like color and we managed to take a few nice photo’s in between the bouts of steam.

Inside Beppu Hell, Kyushu, Japan.

Beautiful turquoise colour of the hell pool.

Steam everywhere in Beppu.

We went to public onsen as well, it really warmed us up, good Onsen water. Must-go place, Beppu.

One of the original Beppu onsens.

Statue of the man who loved children.

The post Hell of Beppu appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.

We successfully caught the Shinkansen back up to Kumamoto and then caught the Kyushu overland train to go across Kyushu.

This was a beautiful train journey and well recommended. It also offered great views of Mount Aso erupting.

Catching the train from Kumamoto to Beppu, Kyushu, Japan.

We finally arrived at Beppu, the one of the Japanese famous Onsen hotsprings. And after a long train journey we really needed an onsen, any onsen would do. We found a local onsen for 100 Yen, it was a traditional style onsen with lovely hot volcanic water and of course it was very popular.

Outside Beppu train station in Kyushu, Japan.

After that we moved to Oita station, checked into the hotel which was right in front of the train station. We were very hungry by that stage, the Shoutengai was very close to our hotel so we decided that it would be a good option.

We found a lovely looking restaurant that prided itself on its chicken wings, also the 300 Yen beer was an attractive option as well.

The owner was very friendly, in fact everyone in the restaurant was friendly and having a great time to which we joined in. The chicken wings were some of the best we had ever eaten and we were taught the proper technique for stripping the meat off the bones.

Ordering vegetables first in the chicken wing restaurant, Oita, Kyushu, Japan.

On to the main course of chicken wings, Oita, Kyushu, Japan.

Nige was also seduced by the dainama (large beers) and upgraded on his second beer.

This was one of the best nights yet that we had yet experienced on our rail journey and were starting develop a strong affection for Kyushu.

The post Crossing Kyushu to Beppu appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.

Arriving at Izumo from Tokyo on the overnight train “Sunrise Izumo”

Took a bus for about 30 mins to Izumo Taisha Shrine, which is one of the most famous shrines in Japan.

It was very cold in Shimane, unlike Tokyo before we left it was very warm.

It’s said that if you pray at Izumo Taisha, you can meet right people / person, get a right job, right partner, fertile, money and so on …

After leaving Izumo Taisha, we went to famous rock at a beach and one of the old lighthouse in Japan. It’s Hinomisaki lighthouse.

This rock is supposed to have strong spiritual / life essence powers.

One of the largest remaining old lighthouses in Japan

Also there was another shrine basically same Japanese shinto god are worshiped there. The view from the lighthouse is great.

Pretty shrine you have to pass by on the way to the lighthouse.

Then we moved to Tamatsukuri Onsen (hot spring) where we stay a night. Nice hotel (was on promotion and good reasonable price), both hotel and Onsen were very relaxing, gorgeous.

Upper – View from the onsen hotel Middle & Below – Tamatsukuri onsen station

We spent the night in this area in an onsen hotel.

Onsen water makes June’s (probably Nige’s as well) skin fresh and smooth, it’s recommend for women for anti-aging and for everyone for their good health.

The post Izumo Taisha Shrine appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.

 

We arrived ‘Madarao Onsen’. It’s near Madarao ski park too.

The outside bath was outstanding! And there was also a sauna along with an indoor pool. Pity we could not take photos there as other few naked people in there. The photos are from their website.

Though that did not stop one Dad, who made his son stand naked with the snow in the background while taking photo’s from his phone.

Normally tattoo’s are not allowed in the Onsen’s because of the affiliation with Japanese gangs such as Yakuza, but Nige spotted one guy with his back covered in tattoos and noted that no one seemed to bothered by this. June’s thoughts were that this guy could possibly be a junior member of a gang.

Finished the day with Ramen dinner with June’s mother and her friends at June’s mother regular restaurant bar.

The post Nagano Madarao mountain onsen appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.

They visit the Ganshoin temple first which is also the starting point of the hike. And then start the hike.

Unfortunately June was suffering from nasty cough from her cold and she gave up hiking at the first break area. Instead June enjoyed taking photos of beautiful blossoms and things.

Nige and her father carried on hiking. There were few bells for dispersing bears. Be warned the bells are quite loud so you might want to turn your volume down.

At the top you will have oustanding views of Obuse town and the famous Nagano north 5 mountains called ‘Hokushin Gogaku’. June’s father has climbed them all.

The trek took about 3 hours at a leisurely pace.

Afterwards we went to Onsen to relax. And then finished up with Sushi with June’s Mum at the Kappa sushi chain which offers plates of sushi for 100 Yen.
 
 

The post Hiking in Obuse Nagano appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.

Nagano is about 2 hours away from Saitama and 3 hours from Tokyo.
 

Nagano station was completely new after renovation.
 

Lots of delicious Nagano fruit and food.
 

We went to Soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) restaurant in north of Nagano. Soba is speciality food in the region. Delicious!
 

Then we went to our first Onsen (natural hot springs) for the last one year. There was a lot of snow here yet.　
 

You can see superb view from the Onsen as the bath is located outside. Onsen water makes you keep warm after while you hop out, it has serveral good health effects.

The post Japan bus to Nagano appeared first on Nige & June Fun Times.