Onsen for Shy Travelers: My experience of Sand Bath thermal hot spring Spa in Ibusuki Kyushu

In October 2016, I traveled to Japan using the 14-day Japan Rail Pass. While I was traveling in southern Kyushu 九州, I took the opportunity for a day trip from Kagoshima 鹿児島 to Ibusuki 指宿 for their famous Natural Sand Bath Spa 砂蒸し温泉 on the beach. I am dedicating this special Onsen day trip experience to some travelers who are shy and have concerns about the traditional naked hot spring in Japan.

Wagyu in Japan 2016 - Japanese Beef Feast beyond Kobe Beef in Kobe

In October 2016, I traveled to Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu using the 14-day Japan Rail JR pass. With extensive research and a sense of spontaneity, my friends/cousin and I were able to enjoy some of the best Wagyu during our trip. I am dedicating this blog post to the amazing less well-known name brand regional Wagyu experiences I had during my Shinkansen bullet train trip in 2016.

Luxurious Akita Yuri/Ugo Wagyu Yakiniku Japanese beef BBQ plate

Project Shinkansen 2016 - All Over Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu Japan Rail JR Pass Itinerary

In October 2016, I traveled to Japan using the 14-day Japan Rail Pass. I did extensive trip planning for visiting off-the-beaten-path and less-traveled-by places because it was my third long trip using the Japan Rail JR Pass. In summary, I traveled from Hokkaido 北海道 , Northeast 東北 region near Akita 秋田, Kanazawa 金沢, Kyushu 九州 Kagoshima 鹿児島, and onto Hakata 博多/Fukuoka 福岡 area; then I slowed down in Kansai 関西 area to make day trips from Osaka 大阪.

Hayabusa Shinkansen bullet train. Tokyo to Hokkaido

I was fortunate that my cousin and my high school buddy were able to join different parts of the journey. Having more than one person in the group, we were able to enjoy many more different varieties of cuisine and visit nicer authentic traditional restaurants.

Japan Domestic Ferry Experience - Shikoku Yawatahama to Kyushu Beppu

In 2015, I traveled to Japan using the JR pass. While I was traveling through Shikoku 四国　Yawatahama 八幡浜 to Kyushu 九州 Beppu 別府, I took the Uwajima-Unyu 宇和島運輸 ferry to go across the Seto 瀬戸 inland sea. I have dedicated this article for my experience of taking Japanese domestic ferry while traveling in Japan.

Japanese Domestic Ferry across Seto Inland Sea

The origin of Ippudo Ramen: Quest for world's first Hakata Ippudo restaurant

In November 2015, I traveled solo to Japan using the Japan Rail JR Pass. While I was touring in Hakata/Fukuoka of northern Kyushu, I decided to pay a tribute to the very first franchise restaurant of the most popular ramen  chain in the world: Ippudo Ramen, 一風堂

Original taste at the origin of Ippudo Ramen franchise restaurant in Fukuoka Japan