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Published: October 22nd 2007
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Im sitting in my hostel having a nice cold beer (I may have a slight drinking problem) after a fabulous day at Beppu.
I arrived yesterday in Fukuoka after a 5 hour Shinkansen trip which I survived even with the annoying child kicking the back of my seat the whole way.
I knew before arriving that there was not a great deal to see here which suited me fine as I just wanted to venture to this part of Japan, relax and do some shopping at the super cool Canal City!! I also wanted to go to Beppu to get a look at Jigoku, the hell spring.
Upon arriving I headed to Ohori Park and just kicked back on the edge of the pond with my book. The park was very beautiful with a very large and very stunning pond in the middle. The weather was perfect a great way to spend a waste away a few hours. While I was there I went and took some reflective moments in the peaceful and tranquil Japanese Garden.
After a few hours I tore myself away from the calm pond and made my way to Momochi. I wanted to see the Fukuoka Tower
as it is covered in 8,000 two-way mirrors and is surrounded by some very modern building. The Tower was unusal and the way the sun reflexed of the mirrors was pretty. I was more excited to sea the beach at Momochi Seaside Park. I had to ask myself like a crazy person if I was still in Jpan as it didn't look like a place that belonged in the Japan I have seen so far. It was very modern and bustling with people walking their dogs, playing beach vollyball, drinking coffee, children paddling in the shallow water and a couple getting married. Among the cafes and shops there was a sweet looking chapel and an amazing looking hotel just for wedding. I decided to join the people drinking coffee at the outdoor cafe, I figured I had't relaxed enough at the pond!!! All in all my day was shall I say the word again relaxing!!! There wasnt a temple or shrine insight.
I was up early and eager to get to Beppu I was so pumped to see the Jigoku, eight hell springs. I had seen many pictures on other peoples blogs and was keen to see then first
hand. The train to Beppu from Fukuoka took 2 hours and was pissed off as it started to rain, not what I wanted. But it happens!!
The Jigoku Springs were amazing and all different. I have never seen anything like it before. As the bus pulled out of the station heading towards the springs I could see stam rising throughout the town. There was steam risng out of the ground betwen people's houses it was so strange.
I meet 2 very lovely Japanese people at the bus stop who I spent the day exploring the hell springs with, which was lovely and interesting as they could translate the Japanese signs for me and explain each hot spring to me. Hiro said that the term hell was given to this part of the land as in 713 the people tried to build on the land but everything they planted died and hense the name hell. There were alot of old photos displayed and in the past the land was all barren and now it is all green and lush.
My favourite hot spring was Umi, this is one of the most famous. The spring itself is a magical blue resembling he
ocean. It is 20 metres deep and emerged 1200 years ago after a volcanic explosion. The water tempertaure was 100 degress and there was so such steam rising that you could see the water. It was very mystical. My next favourite was Oniishibozu which is large and small of hot grey mud boiling up. The mud looked very inviting and smooth if it wasn't 100 degrees you would want to smear it all over your naked body!!
During the day I got to relaxing with my feet in 41 degree foot springs, it sounds like it wold be unpleasent due to the temperature but in fact it was extremely relaxing and soothing.
I want go into detail about all the ht springs you can just check out the photos.
I had a delicious early dinner with Hiro and Kennis before we headed back to Fukuoka another long train ride and to think that tomorrow I have to go on another 5 hour train.
Tomorrow will be moring spent shopping at Canal city.
The canal city was extremely modern and was a shoppers paradise. The canal surrounded oneside of the bottom of the shopping complex and it was filled with floating
plastic pumpkins, Japanese people are right into Halloween. I did a spot of shopping walked back along the river to the station before heading on my long Shimkansen ride home. I had a great 3 days away but it is always nice to get home to your own city.
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TravelQueen
Marissa Nakos
fukuoka
Wow, cool! That canal shopping area doesn't really look like Japan. All the hot springs must have been amazing to see and feel and worth the long trip!