Japan, Oita’s Nature and Hot Springs

Spring of Kyushu in the southern Japan. In a driver’s hair, who sped along the Beppu-shore road on a red convertible, at the tip of the JR Kyushu sonic train that runs through Kuju plateau, and in the ear-hair of a Takasaki young monkey, Spring was present.

Spring in north was splendid. Beppu’s green sea and blue sky shined brightly, and pink Japanese apricot flowers bloomed to full color.

Hatchiman Shrine’s Wusa temple was filled with fresh verdure. Cherry blossoms opened up pink flower leaves to display the coming of spring. On holiday, the temple was crowded with people, who came on spring picnics bringing wishes. World Cup stadium, `Big Eye`, which overlooks 2002 World Cup’s southernmost venue city Oita and Beppu bay, is also filled with people. In this season’s first match (J-League minor, Oita Trinita-Yamagata) that took place on last Saturday, even elementary school children came on bicycles to watch.

Oita is a city of sea and mountain, hot springs and golf. Visitors make their first steps from Beppu. The first place that Mr. Abe Masuo (Oita tourism office) led to was Takegawara spa. 123 year-old wooden building had a sand-massage room that uses hot spring water (42˚C). Lying in hot sand heated by the hot spring water for 10 minutes, the massage effect was so great that the entire body heated up to open pores and let out sweat.

The next visited place was the lower hill of Mt. Ouki that is shaped like a fan. Mr. Abe asked. ¡°What would be Japan’s 100 sceneries desired to be left in the 21st century?¡° The answer was like this. The first is snow-capped Mt. Fuji, and the third was night-scene of Hakodate (Hokkaido). The second is the one right in front. Water vapor pillars came out in different parts of the city to fill the city’s atmosphere. It was rare scenery that could only be seen in the spa town, Beppu, which has 2,800 hot spring spots.

Next morning, we got on `Tsigoku Meguri` (pilgrimage to hell) that visits 8 unique hot spring ponds. Umi Tsigoku (water temp. 98˚C) of sky-blue water, Yama Tsigoku that spouts out water vapor between rocks, Tchinoike Tsigoku of red water… Boiled eggs (3 for 100 Yen) cooked in Umi Tsigoku’s 98˚C-hot water are a delicacy. 6 are 5 to 15 minutes away by walking, 2 are 10 minutes away by car. Opening is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The number of visitors in Oita exceeds 14 million annually. Various tourism resources are available. The city has flourished mainly on the shore around Beppu bay, and the sea is surrounded by high mountains and plateau. The plateau’s `African Safari` (www.africansafari.co.jp) was an interesting site. When the safari bus finds wild lions, tigers, giraffes, and elephants, the animals gather around the bus for food.

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