TUL,
I suppose you suggested that I visit Nagasakibana first in the morning for better photos shots of Mt Kaimon with the sun behind me ?Yes, exactly.
- Would it be easier to take the train from Kagoshima-chuo to Kaimon station and then catch a bus to Nagasakibana, or take the train to Ibusuki and then the bus to Nagasakibana ?No. From Yamakawa to Kaimon, trains are quite limited, so you can not take a good-timing train to Kaimon.
- I read on this site that the sand bath is also available in Healthy Land ?
If so, what is the difference between Healthy Land's and Saraku's sand bath ?
Which is recommended ?Sorry, but I can not answer with confidence. I have experienced both sand baths, but do not remember well. Anyway, I myself do not prefer sand bath rather than normal (or open air) bath :), especially if I do it in hot summer.
Presumably towels and slippers are provided free in both Healthy Land and Saraku ?In Saraku, small towel is 100 yen for rent, and bath towel is 200 yen for rent. If you have towels, you would better bring them with you. As for Healthy land, I remember I brought my towels, therefore they should not be free. Anyway, the most prominent thing about the Healthy Land is its open air bath with the view of Kaimondake. There are two open air bath, one for men and one for women. In odd days, the Kaimon side bath is for women while in even days, it is for men. Note that the open air bath wins three red circle in this site (I guess you should have already noticed).
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4677.html- Is there anywhere in Kagoshima or Ibusuki where I can get a mud bath ?
I read in wikitravel that there are only 3 places in the world for this bath and Kagoshima is one of them.I think it is SakuraSakura Onsen in Kirishima (northern mountain side of Kagoshima prefecture.
http://www.sakura-sakura.jp/I have experienced once, but again I do not prefer it :). This is an open air bath and you can take mud and you can put it on your face or body.
- There is a shopping centre (?) near Yamagawa Port; worth a detour with public transport ?Yamagawa is a small town, and you can expect some fresh fish or vegetables in the "shopping center", but as you are tourist, you can not manage what you get there, I suppose.
Anyway, as a resident of Kagoshima, I thank you very much for your interest in Kagoshima. I think our prefectural governer iŒ§’mŽ–jwill be also pleased. Today is the election day of the prefectural governer, by the way.
