Saraku

Saraku is a day-use bathing facility in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is popular with tourists because it offers Ibusuki’s famous natural sand bath (sunamushi-yu). A sand bath is a sauna-like experience where you lie on the beach and warm sand heated by hot spring sources is poured over your body to warm you deeply—an iconic Kagoshima specialty made possible by geothermal activity. You need a towel to keep sand away from your face; you can bring your own or purchase one there. Yukata are provided for rental. After the sand bath, you can also bathe in the facility’s hot springs. Amenities such as shampoo are available. It’s especially popular for travelers who want to enjoy sand baths easily without bringing much, and it attracts both domestic and international visitors. They also sell foods steamed by hot spring heat, like sweet potatoes and eggs (50 yen), so you can enjoy snacks too. It’s a rare experience—sweating while lying by the seaside—and families often visit. Access: about 3 minutes by car from JR Ibusuki Station, or about 20 minutes on foot.