Waking up early to go to a very old traditional onsen in the neighbourhood near Beppu Guest House was one thing we did. We didn't bath in the GH (a small episode that I was locked insides the toilet, trying very very hard to unlock myself). There seems to be a "warning notice" about the lock in the shared toilet - all in Japanese words and I was without phone. Prayed and finally got out after a while. Thank God.
We googled our way to the onsen. It was really very traditional and locals went to onsen before they went to work. I bought a towel (not sure why they issued me a pink towel) and off we went in. The public bathroom usually hangs a blue cloth for gents and pink cloth for ladies. It was very hot and I saw a group of very old tanned uncles soaking in the bath. It looked very hot. For the moment, I looked fair compared to most of them - they were red due to the steamy bath. The pool was really small, like the baby pool in the swimming pool. Without delay, I went on my routine of public bath, bathing and soaking and bathing. HOT. Ouch. After about 20 mins plus, went out to look for my wife. We stayed for a while to cool down with tea. This is really a very traditional bathhouse.
We had our cute chicken pie for breakfast and got on with our journey to the Beppu Train Station to Hakata. Beppu Town is the typical old town - peaceful and quiet and a place for relaxation. I like old quiet town.
It was interesting that the trains arriving at Beppu sounding a very cute lullaby "Beppu Beppu Beppu....". For a while, I imitated the lullaby and gonna miss Beppu while anticipating what's would be in store for us in Hakata.
Hakata - It took us about 2 hours+ to reach Hakata from Beppu, can't rem exactly. We checked in at our favourite Route Inn hotel and as they have specific check-in time, we went around Hakata shopping centre. There, my wife, started to measure her buy in terms of handkerchiefs. Yup, each handkerchief cost 500YEN. It is interesting how she likes japanese handkerchief. She can spend most of the time on them. Of cos, we dun forget the japanese umbrellas. I can't rem when she started collecting the handkerchiefs. At times, I wonder why we need so many handkerchiefs haha.
We went for evening walk by taking the 100YEN bus. Hakata operates a 100YEN bus which brings u to places within city area. It's economical and saves walking time. We planned to go "Canal City" and we wanted to try local Yatai. Our first stop was a temple - looked quite old as well. There was a very gigantic display and my wife helped to pose in the photo to show the contrast. I noticed that my wife got very interested in looking at the wishes the locals put on string. We saw them a few times and she was interested. I believe it is knowing and trying to understand the culture of the people in the country that we visit.
We saw people (likely they knocked off from work) streaming slowly into the temple for prayers. One thing that I rem from visiting japanese temple is the sand that they put on the temple ground. Something different from the grounds when you visit other temples.
Off we went off and walking through a long stretch of shopping arcades. Made me remember the ones in Hokkaido. I like to hold my wife's hand while we strolled down the arcades. She recently said we have been holding hands even after x years of marriage.
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.
