Visitors from Czech Republic

Seven Czechs, one big family and their friend, visited Beppu on April 15 under the most difficult situation for Japan. An unprecedented earthquake and tsunami had attacked Japan one month before they arrived. They had various negative news on Japan's disaster through media and, of course, hesitated to come to Japan for a while. They were scared of radioactivity occurred by Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.

After a couple of week consideration, they reached to a thoughtful conclusion. Yes. They finally decided to visit Japan thinking that their visit to Japan would help Japan and encourage Japanese people to recover in a small way. We really appreciate it.

From Prague, the capitol of Czech Republic, they flied to Osaka instead of Tokyo. Then, they made trip to Okinawa, Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Fukuoka. During their stay in Fukuoka, they visited Beppu for one day trip.


Mr. Kuni Kumamoto, a member of Beppu Friendly Guide Club, met them at JR Beppu station in the morning and guided them to Myoban Hot Spring, Kannawa Jigoku area, Chinoike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku and Beppu Beach Sand Bath by local bus throughout the itinerary. Their lunch at Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa gave them unique experience cooking traditional jigokumushi cuisine by themselves.

They left Beppu by JR Sonic express train to Fukuoka in the evening. According to Ms. Petra, the leader of this party, they would fly to Sapporo from Fukuoka, then return to Czech via Osaka.

Kuni, the tour guide for them, reported FTIO that the most impressed thing they met through this Beppu excursion was Okamotoya's Jigokumushi Pudding.

We hope they would have a wonderful trip in Japan and back home safely. Their thoughtful visit to Japan would be very much appreciated.(KK for TG)

Floriculture Research Institute

You can see Phalaenopsis orchids and other plants in the big greenhouse at Floriculture Research Institute run by Oita Prefecture. Hot spring steam is utilized as its heating system.

It has also beautiful botanic gardens filled with various kinds of trees and flowers. The cherry tree in the above picture is a good example. It has yellowish green petals, which is a kind of rare. It can be seen until the end of April.

The exhibition greenhouse and gardens are open to the public for free from 9:00 to 16:00 daily.

Oita Floriculture Research Institute is located in front of Yama Jigoku in Kannawa hot spring area, 20 minutes away from JR Beppu station by local bus. (AW)

Beppu Bamboo Crafts

What do you think these bags are made of?

Yes. It's bamboo.

Beppu bamboo wares are designated as one of Japanese traditional crafts. In old days, some people weave bamboo into baskets for keeping tablewares. Meanwhile, bamboo wares were spread among those who were receiving hot spring treatment in Beppu. Now, bamboo wares are made for gifts, such as bags, plates, and flower vases.

Beppu city traditional bamboo crafts center is 20 minutes away from JR Beppu station by local bus. You can see elaborate bamboo crafts created by many artists in exhibition hall and try to make some simple ones there at a reasonable price.

Information of gift shops and the crafts center is available at FTIO office. (AW)

Kyushu Shinkansen Completed

Kyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima route (260km) connecting JR Hakata (Fukuoka) with Kagoshima Chuou is fully open on March 12, 2011. This high speed railroad which runs through Kyushu from north to south is finally completed taking 38 years since its original planning.

　

Because of the east Japan great earthquake outbroke on the day before, the inauguration of Kyushu Shinkansen was celebrated quietly. By this completion, the fastest trains take only 80 minutes from Hakata to Kagoshima Chuou and three hours and 45 minutes from Shin Osaka to Kagoshima which is 77 minutes shorter than before.

Those tourists who plan to come to Beppu, Oita-pref. after arriving at New Kansai International Arport can take a Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Kumamoto and change the train at Kumamoto. Taking Houhi Line from Kumamoto to Oita via Mt. Aso is quite smart sightseeing route for foreign tourists.

(KK)

Master of "Sunakake"

Beppu City Comprehensive Development Center recognized Ms. Setsuko Imura as the 1st Master of Sunakake. (Suna means sand and kake means covering) The recognition was given to Setsuko on the 22nd day of February, 2011. Setsuko has been working at Beppu Beach Sand Bath, an open air hot spring sand bath located at the center of the sea shore of the beautiful Beppu Bay, since 1996.

Currently, thirteen Sunakake girls are working at two sand baths in Beppu. One is Beppu Beach Sand Bath and the other is Takegawara hot spring (indoor) near JR Beppu station. Setsuko is selected as the first Master of Sunakake not only because of her fifteen year experience but also because of her superb hospitality sprit to her guests.

In the interview by FTIO, she said, “My job is simply to cover the guest with beach sand warmed by natural hot spring water. But I love this job and am fully responsible for it. My guests come to Beppu from far and wide including many foreign countries. I really appreciate it. To express my sincere gratitude to them, I always try to put sand tenderly on guest’s legs, arms and whole body using not only a shovel but also my hands and fingers to fill any tiny gaps between all the parts of the body and sand.”

Comment by a guest;

My first experience of sand bath was really pleasant and comfortable!!! The view from there with the Bay of Beppu direct front is also wonderful! It was interesting to see other guests lying down fully covered by sand. They looked very relaxed and happy. Above all, I was so moved by the sunakake girls who kept smiling to guests while working quite hard. Their skill to cover the sand thoroughly and evenly over guests’ bodies is excellent!

Thank you!!!

Core of the hospitality of the international tourist city Beppu, is “relaxation” and “healing”. At Beppu Beach Sand Bath, you can experience both of them. We strongly recommend you to visit there while you stay in Beppu.

Brief sketch of Beppu Beach Sand Bath;

- Location・・・Sea shore center of the Bay of Beppu

- Access・・・　15 minutes by Kamenoi bus #26 from JR Beppu station

                      20 minutes by Kamenoi bus #16 from Kannawa

- Nearest Bus Stop・・・Rokusho-en

- Business hour・・・8:30 - 18:00 (March through October)

                             9:00 – 17:00 (November through February)

                             Closed ; 4th Thursday every month

- Fee・・・ 1,000 yen (Cash only)

- TEL・・・0977-66-5737

(KK)

FTIO Board Members

Profiles of the board members (as of April, 2011)

Fusho Yamamoto, Chairperson

 -One of founders of Beppu SOS Club, the former FTIO
 -Current Job: President of Futaba Printing Company
 -Motto: For the foreign toursits, for the city of Beppu
 -Hobby: Photography
 -My Good Point:Unselfish & free from avarice
 -Year Joined FTIO: 1986




Mr. Hidejiro Miyatake, General Manager

  -Current Job: Arbitrator

 -Former Job: Fulltime auditor of Oita Mirai Shinkin Bank

 -Motto: To have great presence in the shade.

 -Hobby: Listening to classical music Watching movies on DVD ---"Kim Novak, a gorgeous movie actress, is all-time classic for me."

 -My Good Point: Not to advertise myself. ---"It all should be left in the hands of others how to evaluate me."

 -Year Joined FTIO: February, 2005



 Mrs. Kyoko Inazumi, Asst. General Manager

 -Current Job: House wife

 -Former Job: English teacher of a jr. high school

 -Motto: Que sera sera.

  (Whatever will be, will be.)

 -Hobby:

  Tabel tennis Reading books Watching movies

 -My Good Point:To try to be active everyday to avoid being idle by my nature.
 -Year Joined FTIO: April, 2002

Mr. Kuni Kumamoto, Asst. General Manager

 -Current Job: Tourism Advisor (Freelancer)
 -Former Job: 35 year experience in a Japanese travel agency
 -Motto: Love God and neighbors
 -Hobby: Singing in chorus Playing golf Listening and singing gospel songs and country music Reading books Watching MLB games on TV
 -My Good Point: Fairness
 -Year Joined FTIO: August, 2007

Hana-no-yu(Hot Spring in the Green House)

This unique hot spring is run by a local florist. This hot spring has eight private baths with tropical plants and flowers inside located at the edge of Kannawa hot spring area. (Take bus No.2 both from Beppu station and Kannawa) They offer good price(500 yen per person) on weekdays daytime from 10:00 to 17:00. Regular price is 1500 yen per room for weekends and after 17:00 on weekdays. Out of eight private baths, four are with natural rock tubs and the other four are with smoothly cut stones. Each one of them has a name of flower, such as Rose, Sunflower, Lily, etc. Choose your favorite one.

Since they started their business last April as an annex of the florist, all the baths are still looking new. And surrounded by green plants and colorful flowers, your body and soul will be really refreshed. Actually, this hot spring has been built in one of two big green houses owned by the florist. Hot spring with tropical plants and flowers; what a good conbination!

"Yu-no-hana"; when the high temperature hot spring water cool down, the elements of hot spring water are crystallized and sink to the bottom of the bath or draft in the bath tub.  (KK)