Shimabara

Shortly after arriving here we ventured to Shimabara. This area is known for it's bubbling "hells" and onsens. Onsens are super hot baths where the Japanese go to relax. Most are in country areas and connected to ryokans or traditional inns. You go into the bath naked after having showered. At some places you can reserve a private bath, but most are merely separate for men and women. We occasioned a private onsen during our last tour here and I can tell you that it was incredibly hot. So hot in fact that I had to turn on a cold water faucet for a while before I could get in. Merely dipping my foot in the water for a few seconds made it turn a bright red.

Back to Shimabara now. We headed down there to walk about the bubbling "hells" which are the holes where the hot water is bubbling from the earth. There are spots where they lower egg baskets into the ground so they can actually cook from all the steam. It's very beautiful down there.