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IBUSUKI |
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South of Kagoshima, the great claw of the Satsuma Peninsula extends
into the East China Sea, to culminate in a perfect, cone-shaped mountain
and a clutch of onsen resorts. The most famous of these is Ibusuki ,
whose trademark is a piping-hot, open-air sand bath on Surigahama beach.
The town also has a certain subtropical appeal, with average annual
temperatures of 19°C, but its prime attraction is as a base for the
surrounding region. Dominating the landscape, Kaimon-dake 's volcanic
cone makes a good hike and a perfect backdrop for the flower gardens of
nearby Nagasaki-bana , the peninsula's most southerly point. Heading
north, the road skirts a large crater lake, Ikeda-ko , then climbs to
join the Ibusuki Skyline - a dramatic ridge road - before dropping down
to Chiran . The centre of this small town contains a strip of
beautifully preserved samurai houses, each with a diminutive traditional
garden, but it's perhaps best known as the air-base from which kamikaze
suicide pilots took off during the closing days of World War II.
The easiest and quickest way to reach Ibusuki is by JR train or Toppy
jetfoil from Kagoshima - both offer good views across Kagoshima Bay to
Sakurajima and the Sata Peninsula. Jetfoils also operate between
Yakushima and Ibusuki.
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