March 30, 2011 - Luxury in Japan on a Budget
Kyushu is a wonderful alternative to Tokyo travel during Japan's time of crisis or anytime for that matter. It will help build the economy for future travel to Tokyo and its surrounding areas.
In Nagasaki there is Nagasaki Peace Park and museum, there is a large shopping mall at the same train stop for the Nagasaki museum with great food and shopping. I
n the Hario area of Sasebo there is Huistenbosch Dutch theme park. During the spring they boast a wide variety of beautiful tulips surrounding the park as well as inside the park. Inside the park there is a Pinnoccio's Italian food restaurant that is wonderful! There is also a lovely boat tour around the park or you can rent bicycles and cruise around the park.
From Huistenbosch park you can take a park bus to Bio Park which is in between a zoo and wild animal park. This will not disappoint you. It is set on a hillside, so you must be fit enough to walk the terrain. If you are, you're in luck! You start out your adventure here by going in through a building with flowers, plants and in the springtime it is filled with butterflies. You venture out of the building into a park filled with wild animals like hippos, rhinos and many others. Towards the end of the park you can feed and touch the lemurs and tiny monkeys. Beware! They are not potty trained and you feed them little live worms. They will jump on you to get to the food. You can also feed wild racoons through a glass enclosure. Bio Park is a place to remember and I strongly advise adding it to your travel list.
In between Huistenbosch and Nagasaki you can find Nanatsugami caves and across the street from the caves is a hotel and up on the hill above the hotel is a lovely shrine with a large golden statue as well as a rock maze and beautiful statues, a temple bell and water filled ponds throughout the shrine.
Another wonderful drive from Huistenbosch is Isonoura Park. It is up in the mountains of Nagasaki Prefecture bordering Sasebo. In the park they have a 5km hiking trail around the lake, romantic swan boats to rent, cabins for rent around the lake, fishin boats and swans swimming on this picturesque beauty of a lake. Back on the train...
This next adventure is on the same train line as Nagasaki peace park on the Seaside Liner. Exit seaside liner at Haikii station and take a taxi to Paradise Garden Spa. Up the line in Haiki you will find a fantastic spa and onsen Hotel and conference center. It is great for a day trip, business meetings or a long relaxing stay. On the 2nd floor is the day spa where you can get a massage, facial or skin treatments. I highly recommend the head spa if you have never had one before! On the third floor you can get a shiatsu massage and visit the onsen. Remember do not wear your shoes on the carpet area. There are lockers for your shoes just opposite the staff counter on the 2nd floor. You purchase tickets for the onsen services from the machines at the staff counter. Give your ticket to the staff and they will give you a towel and locker key for your clothing. (make sure you purchase a ticket that includes a towel) The onsen area boasts showers, skin products,combs, hair dryers, hair products, and wonderful onsen tubs. When you first go inside there is a locker room and restroom. Here is where you remove all clothing (tattoos are ok at this onsen), there is no need to drape yourself with the towel. You then walk through a double door area and directly ahead is a fall and pool of water with a laddle to rinse your body off before going into the shared tubs. There is a reclining jet tub with single recliners, a tub with jets coming from the bottom, a long sulfer tub with a window overlooking the city and an outside tub. After your soak and massage there are showers with stools to sit on and wash your hair and skin. All the products you need are available for your use. After your spa treatments and onsen soak there are vending machines for drinks and snacks, a quiet room (tatami) for you to just relax and have peace and quiet as well as many restaurants for you to chose from. You can make this an all day relaxation experience of a luxury spa for just a couple hundred dollars if you plan it right and take your time.
Also from the Haiki station you can take a taxi to Haiki Daiso, this is a hundred yen shop and in the same parking lot you will find a grocery store with a lovely bakery, a tea shop where you can purchase tea, outside the grocery store you will find a yakiniku stand where you can buy meat grilled on sticks. Also in the same lot you will find a large recycle shop(thrift store) where you can purchase old kimonos, porcelain and antiques.
On up the line to Sasebo station. It is a short walk to Nimitz Park. Just outside of the park on the train side there is a water way and bridge. The waterside is lined with cherry trees and it's a beautiful site when they are in bloom. You can swing on over to the park and go inside the USO and grab a hot dog, a snack and a cool drink and enjoy the airconditioning inside for a break. Just outside the Sasebo train station there is a large shopping arcade called Kyomachi. There are many shops and restaurnts where you can buy just about anything. One interesting place many people don't know about is the area across route 35 from the Kyomachi shopping center. If you venture across the street you will find little restaurants tucked away in the old bomb shelter tunnels where they serve local favorites. If you are looking for a great steak house I would recommend the Steak Salon. Ask any American you see walking around and they will likely know where it is as this is a large US military community.
If you are adventurous and have a car or a lot of money for a taxi I STRONGLY recommend going to Rarami (Laramie) restaurant in Saza-Cho. They serve Hirado-Gyu Chateaubriand steak for around $50 per person as well as fresh seafood. It is a "dont-miss" must! Sorry, I don't remember which weekdays they are closed. Now, onto Arita... Located on route 35 there is the Kyushu Ceramics Museum where you can see lovely porcelain. Just off route 35 is the museum of the most famous porcelain artist in the world, Kakiemon. The Kakiemon Museum is small, yet sheds light onto what westerners view as Kakiemon and what it really is. If you know Kakiemon it is an important historical and informational stop. Along route 35 you will find many porcelain studios and shops. So, if you are on a big dollar trip or a dime budget there is something for everyone!
If you keep following route 35 to Saga and if cherry blossoms are your target then you must go to the Nabeshima clan lords land and shrine-park area. The park is called Mifune Yama and It is a must see! It has a lake and mountainside filled with cherry blossom covered paths that go on for miles. It is one of the most beautiful sites in Kyushu and unseen by most foreigners. There is also a hotel just before this land area where you can take a tour of the gardens and Chinese museum. This is a great photo spot and there is a church up on the hill with the foreground filled with cherry trees. See hotel names and more information below. Japan is an adventure and you should visit with that in mind. There are no addresses in the country-side, but in the 4 years I lived there I never got lost and the locals are more than happy to help you find your destinations. I was never disappointed by any adventures I dared to take. So, enjoy Sasebo, Nagasaki and Kyushu and all its champagne luxury on a beer budget and you won't be disappointed either!
Now open!!! Sasebo's Shinning Sea Aquarium is now open!!! They have lovely shops, a park, restaurants and the famous Sasebo burger!!! As well as Yummy spicy penne pasta at Pinnoccio's!!!
Helpful links and information:
http://english.huistenbosch.co.jp/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4400.html
http://www.biopark.co.jp/en/index.html
http://www.sasebo99.com/english/99shima/index.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1023552-d1065886-Reviews-Takeo_Century_Hotel-Takeo_Saga_Prefecture_Kyushu_Okinawa.html
Please recommend people to visit Mifuneyama Kanko Hotel and Takeo Century Hotel. When I was an elementary school children, we used to go on an excursion to Mifuneyama park full of flowers all through the year. After each excursion we enjoyed taking a bath at Takeo Hot Spa, whose dragon gate is famous. Mifuneyama park used to be Nabeshima clan lord's villa.
Takeo Onesen, Takeo/Ureshino, Sa1. The land of the Nabeshima clan lord's villa is Mifuneyama Kanko Hotel
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1023552-d1065882-Reviews-Mifuneyama_Kanko_Hotel-Takeo_Saga_Prefecture_Kyushu_Okinawa.html
Takeo Century Hotel is a 5-minute drive from the station, this resort hotel is equipped with hot springs. The staff makes guests feel welcome with attentive service. [Access] From Takeo-Onsen Station on the JR Sasebo Line: Take the JR Bus bound for Ureshino Onsen and get off at Kareki-no-To. The hotel is less than a minute walk from the bus stop.
Also in Sasebo try a day trip to the Ishidake Zoo and Botanical Garden or take off in a pirate ship and tour 99 Islands.
Enjoy your Kyushu vacation!
