Team T International 2.0: Bathing in Beppu (Kyushu Japan’s Southern West Island)

We spent two nights and a day in the relatively small town of Beppu, a town well known throughout it the Japanese archipelgo for its traditional baths (Onsen) Aside from a few dips in our baths in our hotel, we also visited a sand bath. When I heard sandbath, I thought of what chickens and chinchillas enjoy, but it’s very different and very relaxing.
Upon arrival we were greeted by incredibly happy middle aged Japanese women and given special robes (Yucata) different colors and patterns for men and women along with the only instruction, “no under wear.” We changed into our robes and made the our way outside behind the main building. The sand pit for lack of a better word, reminded me of a garden where humans were the seeds and attendants the groundskeepers. The black sand was volcanic and raked smooth, with tendrils of steam wafting up from the inky earth. We were lead to our plots (I’m sticking with the garden analogy) where we handed over our camera and were told to lay down and rest our heads on a wooden pillow, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. Immediately our yellow robed gardeners began to shovel steamy sand onto us until we were covered up to our necks. The weight and warmth smothered us like moist, microwaved blankets making us truly relaxed. We had great views of the ocean and were warm and dry thanks to a roof over our heads despite the cold rain. Before we knew it our half hour was up and we retreated to our dressing rooms for a soak in the healing mineral waters of the baths.