The Legend of Kyushu Ensen: Immersed in Myth

Surrounded by the ocean, Jiuzhou is a natural and rich land with its spectacular mountainous characteristics. Its fertile soil and subtropical climate make it rich in nature’s gifts, and the volcano brings a lot to Onsen. In Japan, hot springs have long been respected for their healing properties, and Kyushu (that is believed to be the land where the gods first landed on Earth) is home to many people with mysterious origin stories.

Travel through the legendary hot springs of Kyushu and immerse yourself in the stories of miraculous healing and sacred encounters.

Unzen Onsen: Blessed by the Goddess of Four (Nagasaki Prefecture)

Unzen Onsen is a historic hot spring town located in the Unzen-Amakusa National Park and has mineral-rich, highly acidic water that is considered antibacterial and beautifying. In this quaint area, you can also find unexpunged Jigoku, or the Hell without boiling – a geothermal area filled with steam and boiling springs. The water gushing out of the air, the rolling steam and a faint but vivid scent of sulfur creates a creepy and otherworldly landscape.

Located within Unzen Jigoku is the Onsen Shrine, also known as Shimengu. The shrine has a long and mysterious history. According to legend, more than 1,000 years ago, monk Gyoki followed Unzen’s towering volcanic smoke plumes to their source. There he encounters a glowing snake that turns into a tetrahedral goddess and claims to be the guardian god of Kyushu. Since then, this sacred being called “Four-sideds”.

Quoting the Four-faced God even appears in kojikiThis is the oldest record in Japanese history, and several smaller shrines commemorating this sacred protector scattered in the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki. Although when immersed in Unzen’s sulfuric acid spring, you may feel the presence of celestial bodies.

Tsuetate Onsen: Kobo Daishi’s miraculous crutches (Kumanmo County)

In the valley of Oguni town you will find Tsuetate Onsen, a hot spring town divided by a river where steam rises from the earth. In the bustling entertainment area and luxurious travel destinations of Startime, it almost feels like this, a bag of history that is impeccably preserved.

The waters of Tsuetate Onsen are very hot, bubbling at 100 degrees Celsius surfaces before cooling to the comfort temperatures of many spas in the area. Because they contain high levels, they think the bather feels soft and energetic.

The name “tsuetate” comes from two Chinese characters, meaning “employee” and “stand”. The name is believed to be awarded by the legendary monk Kobo Daishi, who visited the town of Anson during his usual period. As a legend, the waters of Tsuetate Onsen are so uplifting that monks branch and radiate out of them after immersing in the wooden staff in the spring. Kobo Daishi was so impressed by the water that he wrote a poem that declared that those visiting Tsuetate Onsen would no longer require any form of walking assistance.

Beppu Onsen: Repairing the Healing God’s Spring (OITA County)

OITA’s Beppu has about 3,000 hot spring sources, accounting for one-tenth of all Onsen vents in the country and the most hot spring waters in all Japanese. It consists of eight Ornson regions – Beppu Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Myoban Onsen, Kankaiji Onsen, Hamawaki Onsen, Kamegawa Onsen, Horita Onsen, Horita Onsen and Shibaseki Onsen – each has its own unique culture. Kamegawa, for example, is known for its warm sand baths, while Kannawa stands out for its use of herbal steam.

Beppu is full of legends besides its famous waters. Of course, its hot springs play a significant role. The water of Beppu Onsen is said to be used by the Heading God Sukunahikona and Okuninushi of Sukunahikona and Okuninushi, one of Shinto’s central deities and the original ruler of the earth’s world. When Sukunahikona fainted due to illness, the two gods were visiting Iyo-No-Kuni (Modern Ehime Prefecture Shikoku). Okuninushi travels through the water from the sea and reaches Beppu Onsen to map its healing waters. Sukunahikona fell off in these healing springs and achieved miraculous recovery.

Beppu’s outstanding reputation as a treatment center has been throughout his age. It is believed that during the Kamakura period it was intended to heal the warriors of the Otomo family and was written by Neo-Confucian Scholar and Botanist Kaibara Ekken during the Edo period. When visiting Beppu, visitors can find themselves in a silky spring that rejuvenates the gods and warriors.

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