To Hell(s) and Back!!

We just returned from our very rare 3-day weekend, and this year it was off to Kyuushuu again to meet Christine! I don't know if you guys remember, but it was this EXACT weekend last year that I met Christine in Hiroshima then went down to Fukuoka. This year Lana and I flew down there from Tokyo, and the plane ticket was HALF the price of the shinkansen tickets I bought last year in less than half the time! The railway systems here are CRAZY! I was really excited to be returning to Kyuushuu, first of all it's warmer, secondly Hakata ramen, and more importantly HAKATA RAMEN! Hahaha...

The first day we spent the entire time shopping in Tenjin and Hakata (Fukuoka City). Desi and Christine met us and I got my haircut again at Yasu's, then ate ramen and shopped! The next day it was off to Beppu city in Oita prefecture! :) I apologize in advance for the endless pictures of hot springs that you can barely see behind the steam, steam, and steam! It might be even more overwhelming than the last blog with all the foliage! Can't say I didn't warn you!!


Chris, Me, Yasu, and Lana

How I missed you...

Canal City






Outdoor eateries...the food looked AMAZING but there was a line to get seats :(



Indian food (again)

Korean food (awesome)

Waiting for the limited express to Beppu!


Hand onsen outside the station

Mmmmm...strawberry shortcake mochi


Tengu! You have BIG nostrils!

The oldest onsen in Beppu city!


After the onsen (which by the way was the HOTTEST onsen I've been to-we couldn't even stay in for five minutes!) we were walking back to the guest house when there was this tiny kudamono-ya-san (fruit shop) still open in the alleys. I hardly ever shop at these kind of fruit shops because it's SO expensive, but I was on vacation and felt I would "splurge" on ONE persimmon. ANYWAY, I was about to make my purchase when this loud drunk couple came along side of us and said to the owner "We're drunk, give me all of your fruits!" (In Japanese of course) And we were all thinking, "Gosh what an asshole!" But then the owner started bagging up all the different fruits he had out. So I was thinking, does he think this drunk guy is for real?? The drunk guy looked at the three of us girls and asked us which fruit we wanted because he would buy it for us! And we were like, "Oh no no, it's okay". Then he tells the owner to make a bag for us, so he threw in a 1,600 yen box of Nagano grapes, a 2,000 yen melon, and like 15 tangerines that were about 150 yen/each!! It was the highlight of our night!

Beppu pothole

Breakfast of expensive fruit in our guest house

Oiishii yoooo!

I was in love with the melon. I have ALWAYS wanted to buy a melon here in Japan, because they are so expensive, and they're supposed to be so good! But I could never bring myself to shove out that kind of money on a fruit.

The steam from all the buildings

Oh my gosh the city is on fire!!

Every vent, gutter, crevice coming from the street emits steam! We realized that you can never freeze in this city!

Beppu Hells is made up of 8 different hot springs, each very different, and known for different things. We only made it to 6 of the 8 hells, and it was raining all day, but it was still a lot of fun!





Ewww...big fish.






Ewww...big crocodile.








Natural hot spring water...oiishikunakatta yo (it wasn't so good)


Ashi onsen

Isn't that an amazing color?











Cooking onsen tamago





Ume and goma (black sesame) tofu ice cream!! Surprisingly very great!!

Kyuushuu was fun and short, just like last year. I promised Christine the next time I went back it would be for at least a week! There are still so many places left to be explored, like Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Saga...And hopefully next time I will go back to my roots and try to connect with Grandpa Hiura's side of the family that lives in Fukuoka. I need to seriously work on my Nihongo until that time comes! Sorry if these pictures weren't too interesting. Mata ne!