Ibusuki Hot Sand Bath

The Ibusuki hot springs are perhaps the most unique in the world because “bathers” are buried in sand rather than take in the waters. Guests are given light Japanese robes -- “yukata” -- then lie in a shallow pit prepared by workers and are buried up to their necks in the black volcanic sand of Yunohama Beach. The heat and weight of the sand have a refreshing cleansing effect on the body, and the “bath” is highly valued as a beauty treatment for the skin. After fifteen minutes in the sand, guests may then bathe in a regular hot springs. Near Ibusuki is Mt. Kaimon, which is said to resemble a smaller Mt. Fuji, Lake Ikeda -- Kyushu's largest lake -- and Flower Park Kagoshima, which has 2,400 different species of flowers.

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