Saraku Sand Bath Hall: Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture

The Saraku sand baths in Kagoshima prefecture one of those activities that if you get the opportunity to try, you must take it with both hands.  It's one of those experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life, and although it may be uncomfortable, or you may be unwilling at first, there is absolutely no regret after experiencing the power of mother nature, and it’s infused benefits that you will feel from the sands volcanic activity.

It’s quite a simple process, you are given a Yukata, which is a summer kimono, you put that on over your undergarments, you walk down to the beach, the friendly staff tell you where to lie down, and they gently cover you with volcanic sand which impacts its warmth and resulting health benefits within minutes. It doesn’t take too long for the heat to build up and what this does in fact is get the blood circulating around the body to remove toxins to start sweating out the waste products that are causing issues in relation to inflammation and arthritis and other health issues.

Once you have finished, normally between 15 to 20 minutes, you walk back up to the change rooms take a shower and then have the opportunity to soak in the Onsen (hot volcanic baths)  to again receive more medicinal benefits. You will have a modesty towel to cover yourselves somewhat, but you know what they say when in Rome do what the Romans do and for all intents and purposes, no one is looking at you. It’s just we are not used to public bathing in western culture.

If the public bathing is an absolute no, we do have the opportunity to ask for private showers, but we will have to use an excuse that it’s for religious if not medical reasons. All I can say is this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and your body will thank you for hours if not days afterwards  it’s an experience the Japanese take for granted but for us international tourist it’s an incredible experience in a win-win situation for everyone. 

Please check out the Saraku Sand Bath Hall here on a map below:

Please click on these pictures below to enlarge:

Welcome to Ibusuki

Seperate bathing of course

The beach scene in March

This is a centuries old health experience

Views are also spectacular

Off they go!

WOW!

How was it?

Loved it!

All smiles

Please click on these videos below to see more about the Saraku Sand Baths of Kagoshima:

2025- A new beginning

Firstly, I would like to wish all my previous and future clients a Happy New Year and of course a healthy and prosperous 2025. I am sure this year will be a busy but challenging one for us all.

I am going onto my 14th year as a Tour Guide and Shore Excursion specialist. I will never forget my first tour in 2011 with the Limanski party of 8.  Of course there were a lot of nerves and trepidation but the excitement was palpable with a new business venture just starting to come to fruition.

Over the years, obviously I have refined my skills, introduced many new tour offerings and expanded into many new regions around Japan as the demand for guides and bespoke/ customized experiences has become the norm.  However I realize that that a one man operation was not going to be able to satisfy the constant requests and consistent demand. Therefore I am extremely happy to announce a partnership to expand and improve on the quality and scope of operations by introducing a new alliance to provide touring services throughout Kyushu and Western Japan.

Dion and Jon are fellow expats from Canada and the USA respectively, who like me have lived in Japan for over 20 years, currently work in the University system  and are raising children in this wonderful country called the Land of the Rising Sun. Never did I think that I would find someone who could match my level of energy and passion to showcase Japan and its specific regions to the world but I was wrong.  These 2 do that and much more and I can truthfully say I would trust them with my life and my kids as well.

Our combined website is called Private Tours Japan and you can click on this link to see more about us and our shared philosophy.

https://www.privatetoursjapan.net/

One of our goals is to be able to fulfill a customers request at all times whether large or small. It could be a short 5 or 6 hour day tour or multiple Shore Excursions with multiple port calls allover Japan.  With this partnership, we will be more flexible to help match and provide excellent touring solutions to an eager and demanding public.

These are the regions that we are specializing in at present:

1) Kyushu: Focusing on the main ports of Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Beppu, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.

 

2) Shikoku: Focusing on the Port of Kochi 3) Western and Central Japan: With a focus on ports south of Tokyo such as Hiroshima, Himeji, Tottori, Osaka, Kobe, Shimizu and Yokohama.

   

 The other amazing news is that my daughter Elisa will be joining me in the tour business.  She is 18 years old now, perfectly bilingual, has passed the highest level of language proficiency in Japan and working towards getting her professional translator license.

She will soon be graduating from High School and heading to Tokyo to study International Business at the prestigious Sophia University. In order to support herself thru University she will be conducting city walking tours and private chauffeured day tours in Tokyo as well as shore excursions out of the Yokohama International Cruise Terminal from April 2025.

My daughter

In the meantime to boost her skills she is providing various walking tours in Fukuoka City specializing in shopping, culture, history and gourmet experiences. If you would like to know more about her services please contact me or her directly at the following email address:

elisadestinylefebvre@gmail.com

Also, you can see her profile here on her TripAdvisor account:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g14127491-d32653099-Fukuoka_City_Walking_and_Public_Transport_Tour-Chuo_Fukuoka_Fukuoka_Prefecture_K.html

I am sure you will find that she shares many strong attributes like her father but with her unique perspective of being raised as a dual citizen and bilingual to boot, I am sure she will be able to share many insights into what it means to be Japanese and Australian alike.

Yanagawa Canal Punting: Yanagawa City- Fukuoka Prefecture

There is an attraction in Fukuoka that everyone has to try! Not only is it a culturally unique attraction to this region of Japan, but the areas nature as well as the atmosphere of the experience is one that isn’t meant to be missed.

The punting canals of Yanagawa City are really popular right now and for good reason. The oarsmen will delight you with their actions, their personalities and of course their singing. Its an activity to sit back, listen and take in all of their magic. The fact that they will do this is 4 languages is also incredible. Of course they speak Japanese and English but also Chinese and Korean to cover their main tourist base. Not only will you have a great time transversing the water canals of this very old regional power dominated by the Tachibana clan in the 17th and 18th century, but you’ll be able to enjoy all the ancillary benefits as well.

There is the renown Unagi, freshwater eel, that is served piping hot every day and is extremely delicious. The delicacy goes back centuries and may I say that it is probably one of my most favorite seafood dishes these days. However this delicacy comes at a cost so it is a dish that people savor for special occasions as a result of the price and the amount of people that are trying to find a table. If eel is not your thing, then there are many other food options as well, but it must be said that is one of the most highly sought after seafood meals of the region and of the entire country of Japan

After lunch as we wander around the quaint and pictures streets that see many incredible shops selling all different types of traditional arts and crafts. We will be able to visit the Lords residence and inspect the inner workings of how this clan of people ruled and dominated this land for centuries. The gardens are also on display and are so incredible and picturesque that you will take 100 photos or more, especially during spring and autumn where the colors are so vibrant.

Please check the Yanagawa region here on a map below:

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Please click on the videos below to see more about the Yanagawa experience: