At the next day of the event, I and my friends went to Noboribetsu  by using a gorgeous bus served by Cool star corp. It took for about 90 min to go to Noboribetsu area from Sapporo by bus.

Our tour started from 9:30 at Shin Sapporo.

1.Let’s riding a buggy at Noboribetsu Off-road Park( 11:15)

2.Genghis Khan pan (13:00)

3.Noboribetsu hot spring (Noboribetsu Grand Hotel) (14:00)

I only have this photo at the grand hotel… Many kinds of caramel are popular in Hokkaido as a souvenir. Let’s try Genghis Khan caramel,,, That’s too stink!!

4.Oyu Numagawa Natural footbath(大湯沼川天然足湯）(15:00)

It was first time for me to take natural footbath and I was so relaxed. At the upstream of Numagawa footbath, we can take a bath, my friend said so.  Of course swim ware is needed.

5.Lake Kuttara in Shikotsu Toya National park (16:00)

It was first time to ride a buggy. Fantatic!  The water quality of Noboribetsu hot spring is the best to make skin smooth. There are many places to visit in Noboribetsu area. In addition to information above, people can visit to Bear park, Jigokudani and more. I am not good at drinking alcohol but I drunk blue beer a lot during this tour.

This Blue Beer is called “Ryu-hyo Draft”.

More travel info about Noboribetsu : http://noboribetsuspa.dip.jp/nobo/e/spot-info.aspx

bamboo groves in that its location is in the center of Izu peninsula. It was actually developed but

remained the atmosphere of the traditional hot spring resort. I visited there on earyl May 2008

without any information. Traveling without any information is most of times very fun because

everything showed up is quite new experience. At this time, I and my wife didn’t have a map and we just

went there by a train from Atam like “play it by ear”. It took 50 min from Atami. Going to Shuzenji from

Tokyo by a local train not Shinkansen, it takes about 150 min or more. (about 100 min by Shinkansen)

What are so special in Shuzen ji hot springs are…

1. Shuzen ji Temple opened by Kukai (Kobo daishi) in 807 in Shingon sect.(Now Soto Zen sect)
2. Value:Hot springs in this area was selected one of 100 best hot springs (日本100名湯)
3. Food: Buckwheat noodle (Soba) /Wasabi / Black rice (cake or dumpling)
4. Famous: Many authors loved this area such as Masuji Ibuse, Soseki Natsume or Yasunari Kawabata
5. Easy access to the Cycle sports center, Izu Mito sea paradise(means kids also can be fun)

Walking to the center of Shuzen ji hot springs from Shuzenji station took 30 min on foot (1.5mile).
People can take a bus but we choose walking. During walking from a station,

we found some Soba shops which looked very crowded. [Nanaban(な々番)] and [Dokko soba Ohto（独鈷そば大戸)] are famous.
Fresh Wasabi must make visitors surprised and please make some noise when you eat soba. I want you to try Black rice cake. its texture is muy interesante!!
I posted many points with locations,photos and info on Japan hopper,
so please explore by using the tag “shuzenji“. Those photos are some of them.

[Access] Bus #1 from Shuzen ji Station to Shuzen ji Hot spring area
Tokyo-[60min(Shinkansen)]- Mishima-[33min(Izu Hakone railway)]
- Shuzenji station - Bus(10min)- Shuzen ji

Torii gate is decorated in New Year celebration style.

This is the normal style :>

More information here (Japanese, but with many images)

Access

From Hakata Station (Fukuoka) , 2 hours to Nagasaki station by JR express train, transfer to Shimabara Tetsudo with another half an hour to Chijiwa, Unzen.
Let me note that Unzen is a wonderful Onsen (hot spring) spot with rich food culture and beautiful scenery, surrounded by sea and mountains.

*I appreciate Tanaka-san in Unzen City, for providing me these photes and information.

Several stations from Nagasaki Station (JR) by Shimabara Line, you’ll arrive at Unzen-Shimabara area.

Obama onsen (hotspring) near Unzen is `Sea side hotspring’ with the hottest hotspring of 100 degree centigrade, and plenty of hotspring, 15,000 tons of hotspring per day !

On the sea hotspring.

The best way to enjoy Obama Onsen is to stay Ryokan(Japanese inn) attached to hotspring, for couple of days.

Syunyoukan Ryokan, Retro Japanese style.

This is also old Japanese style, Kunisaki Ryokan.

There are several more, most have ocean view!
(You can also enjoy beautiful sunset.)

Obama Champon noodle, full of seafood.
Soup is made of hotspring water.

Beautiful scenery of Tachibana gulf.

World largest Torii (Shinto Shrine’s gate) in Chijiwa.