The Japanese are crazy about onsen (hot springs). We have been thinking about going to some, but hadn't made it yet.
Many of the hot springs are indoor pools, intended mostly for healthful benefits. They are even categorized by the different types of minerals, and the potential benefits. But the indoor pools that we saw seemed awfully smelly and unpleasant. They often separated the sexes also. We wanted something outdoors, and where we could be together.
Boy, did we find the ideal place! Imagine the following: a Shinto shrine was erected at a place of special spiritual feelings, where the hot springs emerge on a small island with an active volcano. The volcano is still steaming. The shrine has been built around a sacred pool, overlooking the ocean. It is beautiful, with the pool constructed of rock and the springs coming out from under a magnificent tree with gnarled roots just up the hill. The pool is right on the edge of the ocean, with a gorgeous view. We arrived in late afternoon, and stayed to watch the sunset from the pool. If that doesn't sound dreamy to you, then you need some serious time off!
Sakurajima is an island just out from Kagoshima, at the southern end of Kyushu. Put more simply, it is about as far west and south as you can get in Japan by train. Yes, you guessed it --we figured that would be the warmest spot we could get to!
The weather worked out great. It was rainy on the train ride down and the ride back, but beautiful while we were there!
