Kagoshima
I'm definitely doing this report out of order, but we had a really great day here.
Up until now, we hadn't spent very much. Japan (outside of Tokyo) is quite affordable. So, instead of a DIY day as we had planned, we booked onboard a pricey shore excursion to Chiran and Ibusuki sand baths.
We started with the sand bath. On the drive, the guide explained how it works. First you are issued a kimono, a bath towel and a small towel. In the changeroom, you take everything off, have a shower, and put on your kimono. The guide was very clear -- "left over top of right!!". She said we westerners always do it the other way, and that is WRONG! Then you slip into flipflops and walk to the burying location. It is right on the beach, with a cover. The guide made us all laugh when she said "husbands and wives will be buried together". Actually she was quite funny throughout. There we stood in the blustery wind wearing nothing but a kimono waiting our turn. We were all holding our kimonos closed against the wind! --didn't want to see anything on our fellow passengers that might make things awkward back on the ship! It was nice the guide got permission to go through to this point with her phone so that she could take a picture of each of us there waiting, which she subsequently sent to us. Finally Chris and I were called over. We laid down on a patch of sand that had a little bit of a hill for a pillow. This is where the small towel is used. They artfully wrap it around your head to keep sand off your head. You are buried in your kimono. I admit as they first started shovelling sand onto me, I had a little panic attack. I think it was primal - a human shouldn't be buried until their end, lol. I pulled myself together and allowed the weight and heat of the sand to sink into me. It is recommended to not spend more than ten minutes buried and there was a clock visible. It was very, very hot. I had to poke my toes out to cool a bit. I was hoping for extreme relaxation with the sound of the waves there, but unfortunately there was construction in the area and we could hear (and feel) a jackhammer. After ten minutes, I started getting up in the manner the guide had taught us (sideways, not straight up, and don't brush yourself off or you could throw sand into someone's eyes). Once up, it was back to the changeroom for a shower, and if you chose, the public bath (onsen, and divided by sex). I didn't realize how much time I had left, so I didn't go into the onsen, which is unfortunate.
This particular sand bath and onsen was busy entirely with Japanese, which was nice. We saw children who looked about eight or nine lining up to be buried, and a couple that looked about ninety. And I find it interesting that Japanese are so conservative in many ways but in the changeroom the women were walking around completely naked, talking to each other, doing hair and makeup. Chris said the Japanese men were the same, just walking around without any concern to their nakedness.
By the way, they flood each area of sand frequently with boiling hot water to sanitize.
I'd love to go back again, because i think that now I understand the etiquette I would enjoy the experience so much more.
After an included lunch of Japanese hotpot, we were off to Chiran.
Chiran is a beautiful area of historic homes and gardens, with several gardens open to the public. Absolutely gorgeous! It was raining lightly, but that just made the greens glow. The perfection of a Japanese garden is really something to behold.
I'd definitely recommend this excursion, if you can get it on a sale.
