Jigoku Meguri

Today we went on the “Hell” Tour in Beppu. The “Hell” Tour is so called because there are nine hot springs in Beppu that consist of boiling mud. I listed the info about the 2300+ hot springs in Beppu yesterday but apparently touring the plain vanilla hot springs is not a big tourist attraction. Of course some of them are located in people’s private homes so it is not as though you could get to them. If you had a hot spring at your house would you invite a slew of tourists in? I am guessing not.

Anyway the “Hell” Tour (or Jigoku Meguri) is a big tourist attraction in Beppu which is otherwise a bit out of the way. The word “jigoku” takes its meaning, “burning hell” from the ancient Buddhist sutras. Writer and Buddhist priest Kon Toukou, winner of the Naoki Award (the what?) in 1957, said, “Human beings need to experience hell in this life at least once, to empty themselves of their superfluous accumulations, to reflect on their past conduct, and to contemplate the path ahead. For this important purpose, I highly recommend a visit to Beppu, to witness the many aspects of hell. Only those who have been through hell and lived to recount the experience, are worthy to be called real human beings.” To which my rude American response is, “Dude, it is just some bubbling, steaming mud. Get real. You want to experience hell? Try 12 hours in an airplane. Imagine not being able to get off for all eternity.” Still the “Hell” Tour was pretty cool. It doesn’t hurt that the jigoku are located in picturesque surroundings (see photos). Beppu itself is a beautiful city along the shoreline surrounded by green, tree covered mountains. The jigoku themselves are located in lovely gardens.

Following the jigoku meguri we took the bullet train to Kyoto. This was coming full circle for Nancy and me as we had previously taken the bullet train from Kyoto to Hakata and now we took the train from Hakata to Kyoto. Gotta say I love the bullet train. Hope I live to see the completion of the one us much maligned California voters approved. Aside from the fact that I would be going to (ugh) LA I would rather do it at 150 miles per hour on a train while working on my laptop and being served snacks by a cute young Japanese woman (well in California she would probably be a cute young Hispanic woman but I am not fussy when it comes to cute young women) rather than behind the wheel of a car.

Point of fact I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of a car again. Or get a decent California Zinfandel (note to California wineries: the French and Australians have cornered the Japanese market, opportunity knocks). Or hear some good old American rock ‘n’ roll. Much as I have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) this trip I am ready to return home. Rag tag bunch that you may be we miss all of you. See you soon.

Photos: (Copy and paste if link won't work.)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23858&id=1680191390&l=4224b1d469