This was where we took the bus number 9 to Kannawa.
Soon, we were on the bus. It was a short ride uphill and in a short 15mins, we arrived at Kannawa. We plan to do the walking tour - the historical route as per the walking map.
Kannawa is a hot spring resort town and tourist spot where many hells (jigoku), hot springs, mushiyu (steam onsen) and jigoku mushi are found. There are still many old toji ryokan inns for hot spring therapy here. But the one place that I was most interested was the Yukemuri observatory or Yukemuri Tenboudai 別府湯けむり展望台. Since it is near to Kannawa, we thought we might as well visit Kannawa area too. Did intensive research before planning this route witht he help of google maps and the various beppu bus websites.
This was the Kannawa 鉄輪 bus stop
Kananwa Onsen
Shot taken when facing the main road
First stop was Jigoku Mushi (cooking by using the onsen steam) and Beppu Foreign Tourist Information Centre. Walking map can be obtained from here.
Going downslope ideyu-zaka, a clean and pretty street. On the right is a free foot bath and foot steam bath.
Temple/Shrine along the way
Map showing various places of interest in Kannawa
Further down the slope
Onsenzan Efukuji Temple
Kannawa Mushiyu - this is a steam onsen, similiar to the sauna except the source of the steam is from hot spring.
Onsenzan Efukuji Temple in the background
Shibuno-yu, 烫の汤 , another onsen.
Remains of old mushiyu
Statue of monk Ippen, who turned Kannawa into a hot spring resort
Remains of washing Place - this means shower room. Guess it was a direct translation from Japanese.
En route to Miharashizaka Viewing Slope - nice view
View taken from Miharashizaka Viewing Slope - look at the amount of smoke - Simply stunning and awesome!
The slope connects to the main road, a stop away from Kannawa bus stop. From here, we took a stroll to Kifunejo Castle 贵船城. After a short walk, we reached the entrance to the castle - 貴船城入口, キフネジョウイリグチ, Kifunejo Iriguchi and 大观苑.
It was a up slope but there were breathtaking views to behold. View of Beppu city and Beppu Bay against the mountains
大观苑
Kifunejo Castle 贵船城.
Next, we took a walk downslope to Beppu vista hot spring steam observatory or Yukemuri Tenboudai 別府湯けむり展望台 to see the rising onsen steam from the many houses. There are signs on the road to show the way.
Interesting signboard
Nearby the Beppu Vista Hot Spring Steam
There is a bus stop called Utopia that is very near to the observation platform. Bus frequency is 2x a day, one in the early morning, one at 3pm or 4pm depending on the bus company. This bus route serves mainly the school nearby. As the bus will only come in an hour's time, we decided to walk down to the bus stop 湯の川口 ユノカワグチ Yunokawaguchi along Kyushu Odan Road. Buses from this stop will go back to Beppu Station. It was a 10-15mins walks downslope to Kyusu Odan Road. View taken from bus stop.
The bus came punctually as per the timetable printed at the bus stop and in a short while, we were back at JR Beppu Station. We went to look for the Beppu Station market but could not find it. Not sure if it was still there or being replaced by some other shops. I wanted to try the Dangojiru so went to inquire at the information centre where the nearest one was. They directed me to a restaurant at B-passage. So, both of us finally got a taste of what Dangojiru was. Quite tasty but anything hot and soupy worked for me!It costed 690yen.
Itinerary :
Day 1 - Overnight Flight to Fukuoka, Kyushu via SQ
Day 2 – Fukuoka福岡Airport to Hakata Station博多駅 via airport shuttle bus/subway - > Deposit luggage at Hotel Active! -> Buy and book JR passes/tickets -> Limited Express Sonic reserved Train ride to Kokura小倉-> Transfer to JR Kaogoshima to Mojiko 門司港 駅 Kitakyushu -> Mojiko Retro Train Shiokaze-go (観光トロッコ列車 「潮風号」) -> Mekari Park via Mekari Spectacular Landscape Busめかり絶景バス-> Meraki second observation deck 和布刈第二展望台-> Kanmon Pedestrian Undersea Tunnel ナナオすくらっぷ 関門トンネル人道 to Honshu Main Island, Shimonoseki下関-> Sanden Bus to Karato Area -> Kanmon Steamboat/Ferry to Mojiko -> Mojiko Retro Town -> Mojiko Retro Observation Room -> Old Customs Building , 旧門司税関 -> Blue Wing Moji Bridge, ブルーウイングもじ -> Baked curry (yakikare 焼きカ) lunch at Ant Bee-> Kitakyushu Commerative Library of internation Friendship, 国際友好記念図書館 -> Mojiko Hotel -> Port House, 港ハウス -> Minato House -> Kaiyo Plaza -> Old OSK Line Building, 旧大阪商船-> Old Mitsui Club , 旧門司三井倶楽部 -> Check in to Hotel Active! Review -> Shinkansen to Kumamoto 熊本Night scene around Kumamoto Station -> Tram ride to Karashimacho Shopping Street 辛島町 Shimotori (下通り) -> Dinner -> Christmas Deco at Hakata
Day 3 - Breakfast -> Shinkansen to Kumamoto -> Around Kumamoto Station -> Train ride to Aso via local train JR Hohi line -> Around Aso station阿蘇駅 -> Bus ride to Aso West station -> Ropeway to Mt Aso阿蘇山/ crater of Mt. Nakadake, Aso -> Bento Lunch -> Bus to Kurokawa 黒川 -> Review of Iyashi no Sato Kiyashikiいやしの里 樹やしき -> Private Roten-buro Outdoor Onsen -> Kaiseki Dinner
Day 4 – Onsen -> Breakfast -> Hut/Teahouse by the river -> Kurokawa town -> Bus Ride to Yufuin 湯布院- > Lunch at Hidamari Shokudo -> Yufin Shopping Street , Yufumi Doori (由布見通り -> B speak Roll -> Yunotsubo Kaidou (湯の坪街道) -> Drop luggage at やわらぎの郷やどや -> Lake Kinrinko金鱗湖-> Kinsho Croquette, (金賞コロッケ)-> Check in to Yawaraginosato Yadoyaやわらぎの郷やどや(Review) -> Yufuin Station -> Lake Kinrinko金鱗湖 at late evening -> Dinner at ぶんご亭 -> Private Indoor & Outdoor Roten-buro Onsen - 露天-やわらぎの湯 -> public onsen
Day 5 - Private Onsen at 中の湯 -> Breakfast -> Yufunin Shopping Street -> Train ride Yufu ゆふ to Beppu別府-> Beppu Station -> En route to Hotel Aileホテルエール-> Deposit luggage -> Takegawa Onsen 竹瓦温泉-> Lunch at Youme shopping centre basement -> Kannawa鉄輪-> Kifunejo Castle 贵船城-> Yukemuri Tenboudai 別府湯けむり展望台-> Check in Hotel Aile ホテルエール(Review) -> Onsen -> Dinner
Day 6 – Sunrise -> Onsen -> Breakfast -> Train ride to Oita大分 on Limited express Sonic -> Around Oita Station大分 -> Train ride on JR Kyudai to Yufuin -> Train ride on Yufu no Mori (ゆふいんの森, The Forest of Yufuin to Hakata -> Check in Hotel Active! -> Train ride to Futsukaichi 二日市-> Walk to Nishitestsu Murasaki Station 紫駅-> Train ride to Nishitestsu Futsukaichi Station 西鉄二日市駅- > Transfer to Dazaifu Station大宰府駅- > Autumn Leaves at Komyozenji Temple at Dazaifu光明禅寺@太宰府 -> Dinner at Ippodu Ramen 一风堂拉面
Day 7 - Breakfast at Hotel Active! -> JR HAKATA CITY Tsubame-No-Mori Hiroba (Roof Garden) -> Gion Area祇園 - > 龙宫寺 Ryuguji Temple -> Shofukuji Temple (聖福寺, Shōfukuj ) -> Kushida Temple櫛田寺院-> Kami Kawabata Shopping Alley香美川端 -> Shintendo 新天町-> Ohori Park 大濠公園, Ōhori-kōen - > Fukuoka Castle Ruins 福岡城, Fukuokajō -> Late Lunch at Yayoiken Gionヤーよい轩-> JR HAKATA CITY Tsubame-No-Mori Hiroba (Roof Garden) -> Tenjin 天神Shopping ->Dinner at Ippodu Ramen Shopping at JR Hakata Station
Day 8 - Breakfast - > Morning flight Home Sweet Home
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