Satsuma Denshokan is a cultural facility dedicated to broadly and deeply conveying the history and culture of Satsuma (Kagoshima Prefecture). The museum displays about 380 items from a collection of 3,000 Satsuma artworks amassed by its proprietors over two generations. Visitors can view Satsuma-yaki ceramics produced in Kagoshima Prefecture, as well as Chinese ceramics that have a significant connection with Japan.
Satsuma-yaki is a renowned type of ceramics from Kagoshima Prefecture. Its origins trace back about 500 years to when Korean potters, who came to Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598, began creating ceramics. Satsuma-yaki gained high acclaim at the 1867 Paris Exposition and became known by the nickname "SATSUMA." In 2002, Satsuma-yaki was designated a Traditional Craft Product of Japan by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ibusuki Shrine is a historic shrine founded in 706. Within the shrine grounds, there are eight massive camphor trees over 1,100 years old, planted in 874. The surrounding area also features clusters of large trees, including a 500-year-old ginkgo tree and hackberry trees, creating a dense forest. This unique concentration of large trees in one location is rare in Kagoshima Prefecture, and the shrine's forest has been designated as a natural monument by Kagoshima Prefecture.
The shrine building was constructed in 1847 by the then-lord of the Satsuma domain. The chozubachi (hand-washing basin) is said to have been donated in the same year by Zusho Hirosato, a notable figure who led financial reforms in the Satsuma domain. After restoring the domain's finances, Zusho donated chozubachi to various shrines and temples. Among these, the chozubachi donated to Ibusuki Shrine is the largest and is still in use today, adorned with seasonal flowers and cherished by visitors.
Chiringashima is a beautiful uninhabited island with a circumference of about 3 kilometers, located in Kagoshima Bay. From March to October, during the low tides of spring and neap tides, a sand pathway about 800 meters long appears, allowing visitors to walk across to the island.
Chiringashima is also known as the "island of matchmaking" because the sand pathway connecting the island to the mainland disappears and reappears, symbolizing the connection between people. It is said that if couples, families, or friends cross the sand path to the island together, their bonds will deepen, and their future happiness will be assured. Along the sand pathway, visitors can find shells that form a heart shape when paired together. These shells are not from currently living mollusks but are fossils from thousands of years ago, symbolizing eternal bonds.
The island is equipped with walking trails and observation decks, allowing visitors to explore its scenic interior. At "Chirin's Bell," which is said to bring happiness when rung, visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the sand path connecting the island to the mainland, along with panoramic views of Mt. Uomidake and the Ibusuki cityscape.
Ibusuki Onsen is an onsen located in Ibusuki City, situated in the southeastern part of the Satsuma Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu. Ibusuki Onsen is a general term for the onsens that gush out from the coastal to the plain areas. The onsen area is divided into Surigahama, Minato, Yunosato, Yajigayu, Yanagida, Nigatsuden, and other districts. Originally, it referred to the eight onsens around JR Ibusuki Station, JR Nigatsuden Station, and JR Miyagahama Station. However, the range has now expanded, and it includes several onsens scattered throughout Ibusuki City, such as Yamakawa Onsen and Unagi Onsen, which are collectively referred to as Ibusuki Onsen.
From around 1926 to 1945, four out of the eight onsens that made up Ibusuki Onsen ceased to be used due to a decrease in the amount of water gushing out. However, Ibusuki City boasts over a thousand abundant onsens, and new onsen facilities continue to emerge. Ibusuki Onsen offers a variety of onsens, ranging from historic old ones to new ones, providing a rich diversity of onsen experiences.
Get to know Ibusuki Onsen
Area guide
Ibusuki Onsen has a unique onsen culture that differs from other onsens in Japan. One of the unique features is the sand bath onsen (sunamushi onsen). In this type of onsen, you bury your body in sand heated by naturally gushing onsens from the coast. For about 300 years, people have been using the sand bath onsen at Ibusuki Onsen for therapeutic purposes, such as recovery from fatigue and illness.
Surigahama Coast and Yamakawa Fushime Coast are areas where you can experience the rare natural sand bath onsen, which is unique even on a global scale. At one corner of Surigahama Coast, there is the largest sand bath onsen facility in Ibusuki, which includes a large public bath and a rest area. During the low tide of a spring tide, you can bathe at the water's edge, while on high tide days or in bad weather, you can enjoy the sand bath in a covered area.
Yamakawa Fushime Coast features a natural sand bath onsen that utilizes the geothermal heat of Fushime Onsen. You can refresh both your body and mind while being enveloped by the warm sand and the sound of the waves, with a view of Mount Kaimon. After sweating in the sand bath onsen, soaking in a regular onsen is especially delightful. The onsen facilities along Yamakawa Fushime Coast are popular for their open-air baths, which are perfect for day trips.
At Ibusuki Onsen, footbaths are installed in various places, such as the plaza in front of JR Ibusuki Station, exchange facilities, and hotels. There are a wide variety of footbaths available, including hand baths and sand footbaths. The presence of sand footbaths is a unique feature of Ibusuki Onsen, renowned for its sand bath onsen.
The second unique feature is the natural "sume" stove at Unagi Onsen. Unagi Onsen is an onsen area located in a village on the shores of Lake Unagi. In the village, there are stoves called "sume" that use the steam from the onsens, which emit white vapor.
The "sume" is used in the daily lives of the local people. At Unagi Onsen, there are "sume" stoves set up for tourists, where visitors can bring vegetables and eggs to experience steam cooking.
There are several public bathhouses scattered throughout Ibusuki City. One notable bathhouse is Nigatsuden Onsen's "Tonosama-yu," established in 1831 by the Shimazu family, who governed the Satsuma domain during the Edo period(1603~1868). The original bathtubs and tiles from that time are still preserved. Other unique onsens include "Ibusuki Motoyu Onsen," said to be the origin of Ibusuki Onsen, and "Hananoyu," a family onsen with cottage-style facilities that opened in 2021. These diverse onsens offer a variety of concepts and atmospheres. The unique onsen culture and the distinctive public bathhouses are part of the charm. There are also day-trip onsen facilities available for visitors.
※ The open-air bath at the onsen facility "Healthy Land" along Yamakawa Fushime Coast will be closed from June 1, 2024, to the end of April 2025 (planned) for major renovation work.
※ The sand bath onsen "Sayuri" at Yamakawa Fushime Coast is currently closed. It is scheduled to reopen during the 2024 fiscal year.
※ The information provided may not be the most up-to-date. Please make sure to confirm the details yourself before visiting.
Access
The nearest station to Ibusuki Onsen is JR Ibusuki Station. If you are traveling by Shinkansen, take it to Kagoshima-Chuo Station and transfer to the JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line, getting off at JR Ibusuki Station. If you are traveling by airplane, take a bus from Kagoshima Airport to Ibusuki Onsen. The bus ride takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
From Hokkaido
<Airplane and Bus> New Chitose Airport → Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station (about 5 hours and 25 minutes) Since there are no direct flights from New Chitose Airport to Kagoshima Airport, you will need to transfer flights.
From Tokyo
<Airplane and Bus> Haneda Airport → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station (about 3 hours and 20 minutes)
<Train> Tokyo Station → <Shinkansen> → Kagoshima-Chuo Station→< JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line>→JR Ibusuki Station (about 7 hours and 40 minutes)
From Nagoya
<Airplane and Bus> Chubu Centrair International Airport → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station(about 3 hours)
<Train> Nagoya Station → <Shinkansen> → Kagoshima-Chuo Station→< JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line>→JR Ibusuki Station (about 6 hours and 30 minutes)
From Osaka
<Airplane and Bus> Kansai International Airport → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station (about 3 hours) Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station (about 3 hours)
<Train> Shin-Osaka Station → <Shinkansen> → Kagoshima-Chuo Station→< JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line>→JR Ibusuki Station (about 4 hours and 50 minutes)
From Fukuoka
<Airplane and Bus> Fukuoka Airport → Kagoshima Airport→<bus>→Ibusuki Station (about 2 hours and 40 minutes)
<Train> Hakata Station → <Shinkansen> → Kagoshima-Chuo Station→< JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line>→JR Ibusuki Station (about 2 hours and 30 minutes)
Water quality
At Ibusuki Onsen, you can enjoy the world's rare natural sand bath onsen. In a sand bath onsen, you bury your body from the neck down in the sand. The sand used in the sand bath onsen is infused with onsen water that wells up along the coast. The onsens on the coast have a temperature of around 80°C (176°F), and the temperature of the sand is typically around 50°C (122°F).
The onsen water at Ibusuki Onsen is of the sodium chloride type. It is effective for conditions such as neuralgia, rheumatism, lower back pain, frozen shoulder, knee joint pain, post-stroke paralysis, fractures, cold sensitivity, menopausal disorders, and other diseases accompanied by pain, stiffness, or cold sensitivity. The effects of the sand bath onsen are said to be 3 to 4 times more beneficial than those of a regular onsen bath. Additionally, the onsen water contains a high amount of metasilicic acid, which is a moisturizing ingredient. The iron sand contained in the sand enhances the moisturizing effect of the onsen, promoting beautiful skin.
How to Bathe in a Sand Bath Onsen
1. Rent a yukata (light cotton robe). 2. Change into the special yukata. 3. At the sand bath area, lie down on your back on the sand. Have sand poured over your body and stay buried for about 10 to 15 minutes. 4. Remove the yukata and wash off the sand in the shower or bath area.
Since you lie down to enter the sand bath onsen, blood can easily return to the heart. The pressure from the weight of the sand infused with onsen water increases the amount of blood pumped out from the heart. This helps to eliminate waste products from the body and wash out inflammatory and pain-causing substances. In just 10 minutes of bathing in a sand bath onsen, the detoxification effect is so powerful that dark, sluggish blood can turn a vibrant red.
When you are enveloped in the warm sand, sweat flows out from your entire body. The sand bath onsen has a greater sweating effect than typical onsens, allowing you to relax while eliminating waste products from your body. It is effective for overall beauty and weight loss. After improving your blood circulation by bathing in the sand bath onsen, soaking in a regular onsen enhances the beneficial effects of the onsen.
History
Ibusuki Onsen was historically known as "Yubushuku," meaning "a lodging with abundant onsens." An inscription on a stone monument at Komyozenji Temple, dating back to 1543, bears the characters "Yubushuku." From the inscription on this monument, it is evident that Ibusuki was already known as an onsen town by that time.
In 1549, the missionary Francisco Xavier landed in Kagoshima, bringing Christianity to Japan. Three years before Xavier's arrival, a Portuguese ship captain and merchant named Jorge Álvares visited Yamakawa, the southernmost point of the Satsuma Peninsula, for preliminary research. At Xavier's request, Álvares wrote a report on Japan. In his report, Álvares mentioned, "Yamakawa has onsens, and at low tide on the coast, many people dig holes and lie down to bathe for about two hours in the morning and evening." This is likely a reference to the sand bath onsen.
It is unclear when Ibusuki Onsen was first established, but it is believed that therapeutic bathing in the sand bath onsen began around 1703. A geography book of Kagoshima, compiled in 1843, describes the therapeutic use of the sand bath onsen and its high efficacy.
Nigatsuden Onsen's Tonosama-yu was established in 1831 by the Shimazu family, who governed the Satsuma domain. It was used as an onsen villa. During the Edo period (1603–1868), domains (han) were territories ruled by daimyos (feudal lords), and Kagoshima Prefecture was known as Satsuma at that time.
Saigo Takamori was a key figure who helped bring an end to the Edo period, which lasted about 260 years, and contributed to the establishment of the Meiji government, ushering in the Meiji era (1868–1912). Saigo Takamori was fond of Unagi Onsen and is said to have visited it numerous times.
In 1874, Saigo Takamori stayed at Unagi Onsen for about a month with 13 dogs. When it was time to leave, Saigo offered to give one of the dogs to the host as a token of gratitude, but the host declined, saying they were afraid of dogs. Instead, Saigo took off his shirt and gave it to the host as a gift. This shirt has been preserved as a family heirloom to this day.
Before the Meiji era, only naturally gushing onsens were used. However, large-scale developments were carried out everywhere to utilize the springs for agricultural water. As a result, there was a period when the onsen sources became depleted. Around 1957, excavation surveys conducted to prevent the depletion of the sources discovered new layers of onsens gushing from 200 to 300 meters underground. Subsequently, the development of Ibusuki Onsen progressed, with modern hotels being built, leading to its rapid growth.
During the honeymoon boom that began in 1960, Ibusuki Onsen became a popular destination for newlyweds. At a time when overseas travel was not common, Ibusuki Onsen captured the hearts of many honeymooners, attracting numerous visitors to its sand bath onsen. With its tropical atmosphere created by the phoenix and palm trees along the coast, Ibusuki Onsen became a bustling tourist spot in the 1960s, earning the nickname "Hawaii of the Orient."]
In 1985, a study by the Kagoshima University School of Medicine scientifically clarified the benefits of the sand bath. In 2011, the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen made access to Ibusuki Onsen even more convenient.
With the medical benefits of the sand bath onsen scientifically clarified and improved transportation, more people are incorporating sand baths into their beauty and health routines each year. Additionally, many couples who visited Ibusuki Onsen for their honeymoon often return to this memorable place. Children and grandchildren who hear their parents' or grandparents' stories about Ibusuki Onsen also develop an interest and visit the onsen. For beauty, relaxation, and creating memories, Ibusuki Onsen continues to be beloved by many people across different eras and generations.
Attractions
Satsuma Denshokan
Satsuma Denshokan is a cultural facility dedicated to broadly and deeply conveying the history and culture of Satsuma (Kagoshima Prefecture). The museum displays about 380 items from a collection of 3,000 Satsuma artworks amassed by its proprietors over two generations. Visitors can view Satsuma-yaki ceramics produced in Kagoshima Prefecture, as well as Chinese ceramics that have a significant connection with Japan.
Satsuma-yaki is a renowned type of ceramics from Kagoshima Prefecture. Its origins trace back about 500 years to when Korean potters, who came to Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598, began creating ceramics. Satsuma-yaki gained high acclaim at the 1867 Paris Exposition and became known by the nickname "SATSUMA." In 2002, Satsuma-yaki was designated a Traditional Craft Product of Japan by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ibusuki Shrine
Ibusuki Shrine is a historic shrine founded in 706. Within the shrine grounds, there are eight massive camphor trees over 1,100 years old, planted in 874. The surrounding area also features clusters of large trees, including a 500-year-old ginkgo tree and hackberry trees, creating a dense forest. This unique concentration of large trees in one location is rare in Kagoshima Prefecture, and the shrine's forest has been designated as a natural monument by Kagoshima Prefecture.
The shrine building was constructed in 1847 by the then-lord of the Satsuma domain. The chozubachi (hand-washing basin) is said to have been donated in the same year by Zusho Hirosato, a notable figure who led financial reforms in the Satsuma domain. After restoring the domain's finances, Zusho donated chozubachi to various shrines and temples. Among these, the chozubachi donated to Ibusuki Shrine is the largest and is still in use today, adorned with seasonal flowers and cherished by visitors.
Chiringashima
Chiringashima is a beautiful uninhabited island with a circumference of about 3 kilometers, located in Kagoshima Bay. From March to October, during the low tides of spring and neap tides, a sand pathway about 800 meters long appears, allowing visitors to walk across to the island.
Chiringashima is also known as the "island of matchmaking" because the sand pathway connecting the island to the mainland disappears and reappears, symbolizing the connection between people. It is said that if couples, families, or friends cross the sand path to the island together, their bonds will deepen, and their future happiness will be assured. Along the sand pathway, visitors can find shells that form a heart shape when paired together. These shells are not from currently living mollusks but are fossils from thousands of years ago, symbolizing eternal bonds.
The island is equipped with walking trails and observation decks, allowing visitors to explore its scenic interior. At "Chirin's Bell," which is said to bring happiness when rung, visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the sand path connecting the island to the mainland, along with panoramic views of Mt. Uomidake and the Ibusuki cityscape.
