Walking Fukuoka History Apr 14 - Beppu Town

Yes, we are back in Japan again. This time we went to Fukuoka region - the far west of Japan - inspired by the trip of Zhengjia and Jenny. Something I like about this journey - it is shorter flight time to Fukuoka, not the 9 hours or longer flight time. 

My wife loves the donut in Japan - Mister Donut. And without fail, we saw it and munched it haha. I still rem the green coloured taste of the drink too, and it was our first snack in Japan Fukuoka.  We were heading to Beppu town - a town of steamy hot springs and onsens. I read that there were steam coming out from holes underground, and this made me wary not to step on any manholes or drains ~ in case they gave way ~ haha. I read about eating onsen eggs and watch TV shows on them before with my mum. So, we would feast on them. 

We didn't manage to check in our luggage at the hostel though. They only man the reception at certain hours and though the door was opened, I felt uneasy putting our stuff there. Not very friendly leh. As usual, my resourceful wife suggested to use the lockers at Beppu Station. Hmm.. no doubt, she was smart. And lucky we didn't have BIG bags.  After storing the bags in the lockers (Opp is public toilets), we went to makan our first official meal in Beppu and then off to Jigoku (Hell Valley).  There were many "Hells" in Beppu Town with most of the famous ones in Kannawa.  And we were going to have a private onsen this time too at the Hyotan Hot Spring. (I have asked the hostel to book for me, so they are quite customer-friendly on this request).  This "Hyotan Hot Spring" has been awarded 3-star michelin - wow - though they mentioned in their website they were uncertain how they were assessed! 

I told my wife we would be focusing on a few Jigoku only.  One blue one and one white one.  It was interesting but touristy for Jigokus.  We saw the boiling eggs from onsen and off we bought 5 eggs (they came in a pack so can't choose 1 or 2 eggs). They have a small makan place for you to eat the eggs - too bad they didn't provide soy sauce or pepper. The egg yokes were quite tender and nice but after stuffing 4 of them in our tummies. We kept one to feast elsewhere. 

The foot onsens are quite popular here at Beppu. Almost in the two Jigokus and places of interest you can see the foot onsens - they are FOC too! We did our foot onsen-ing at the two Jigokus and they were hot. My feet looked suntan and red after each foot onsen-ing. On our way to Hyotan Hot Spring, we passed by another public foot onsen - a circular resting shed and of cos, we foot onsen-ing again haha.  I guess my feet have never enjoyed such luxury before in one day. 


We didn't try the onsen steaming cooking though as we thought it was not very special. Haha, we did however drink the saltish onsen water. It tasted like swimming pool water of lower concentration of minerals though. 

I wonder where did my wife take this interesting guide on onsen. Frankly, she thinks that I am quite an onsen expert already. For every trip, I would go to public bath without fail. This onsen habit has been part of me whenever I am in Japan. She is shy of cos, and she didn't like public bathing.  

I told her I would teach her how to onsen during our private onsen in Hyotan. It would be like the "Japan Hour" type of onsen-ing with privacy. Looking forward to it, and with milk that my wife would buy.  We were early at Hyotan after getting lost trying to find the place - somehow we planned to go early so that we won't miss the booking time if we were lost haha. While waiting, my wife's eyes sparkled when she saw the vending machine - milk! She told me she would buy to drink after our onsen.  For me, my eyes sparked at the restaurant and we would makan there after onsen. Sometimes, I wonder whether it is the milk or onsen meals that pull us to onsen or the other way round. 

We "so like" onsen.