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.

Ritz Carlton- Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

One of the things that I have to do as a guide is to recommend places of interest, whether they be attractions, restaurants and of course accommodations.  It is very hard to do this if you have not visited these locations and experienced them for yourself.

I have stayed in Ritz Carlton hotels around the world but when the Fukuoka Ritz Carlton opened in June 2023 it was absolutely on my wish list of places to stay.  However one of the customs and standards of practise in Japan is that anything new always commands a higher price and a certain level of attention above and beyond what is expected in the west.

As a result yours truly had to wait approx. a year to enjoy the fruits of ones labors and at the same time feel comfortable partaking in a stay that is on average way above the normal circumstances of pricing.  

May I say that the stay was incredible. I know now why so many friends, associates and customers of Tour Nagasaki had complimented the Ritz Carlton Fukuoka to such a high standard. The check in, the rooms, the ambience, the interior design, the gourmet experiences, the views, the hospitality, the facilities and the spacious rooms just keeps making this stay better and better.

I will recommend this hotel from now on in a heart beat especially for Marriott Bonvoy members and those who want to experience 5 star exquisite luxury and comfort in downtown Fukuoka City.

Check out the Fukuoka Ritz Carlton on this map below:

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Lobby

Elevator Entrance

My room

Bathroom

Very spacious

Incredible views

Huge beds

Ritz Carlton robe

Tea anyone

Champagne on ice

Japanese asthetics

Japanese artistic 

Entrance

I will be back

The building

Restaurant at night

Please click on these videos below to see more of the Fukuoka Ritz Carlton: