SUN MALL ICHIBANCHO shopping street | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

I first saw sand bathing on a Japanese travel show on TV and thought it looked like such an unusual experience. Although it was hard to imagine what it would feel like, I kept quietly hoping that I would get the chance to try it myself someday. I finally planned a trip to southern Kyushu this time, and after looking into it, I realized that if you’re not driving, you really have to carefully calculate the bus transfer times. Unfortunately, the well-known Saraku that I had planned to visit was closed that day, so I ended up going to another place.

All I can say is that this was definitely a very special experience in my life. I lay down in a steaming pile of naturally heated sand while an older man shoveled sand over me one scoop at a time. Listening to the waves crashing nearby, with the warm, heavy pressure covering my entire body, I felt a strange sense of tranquility, as if I were in another world. I couldn’t stay in for very long because of the high temperature, but I still can’t forget how completely relaxed and comfortable it made me feel. To finish things off in true local style, you have to have a bottle of ice-cold milk. That’s what made my first sand bath experience perfect and authentic.

On previous trips to Japan, I often saw this ice pop with the funny face on the packaging at convenience stores and supermarkets. I thought it was pretty amusing at the time, but later found out that it’s actually a long-standing brand beloved throughout Japan.

On this trip to Japan, I walked all the way back into town after visiting Takachiho Shrine. I was drenched in sweat from walking under the blazing sun and desperately wanted a refreshing ice pop to cool down. When I reached a small grocery store and spotted that familiar funny face in the freezer, I immediately grabbed a soda-flavored one without hesitation and sat right outside the store to enjoy it. The moment I bit into it, its lightly sweet, cooling flavor, like the Ramune soda I drank as a child, instantly revived me when I was about to pass out from the heat. Looking at the quiet street in front of me, I suddenly had the strange feeling that this was what everyday life was like for the main character in a Japanese TV drama. After returning to Taiwan, I still sometimes find myself taking an extra look when I pass the freezer at a convenience store, hoping to once again find this wonderful memory that brings a smile to my face.

After taking the ferry from Kagoshima Port, you can see the dark lava rock formations left behind by volcanic eruptions along the way. On the way to the visitor center, I unexpectedly passed a convenience store. The large, dark volcanic rocks created a striking contrast with the modern store, immediately giving me a sense of the clash between the remnants of past eruptions and modern life. After arriving at the Sakurajima Visitor Center, the exhibits and videos gave me an in-depth look at the harrowing history of past volcanic eruptions and a deeper understanding of how local residents have lived alongside this active volcano for generations. It really had a powerful impact on me.

After visiting the center, Sakurajima Yogan Nagisa Park, which has a free footbath, is just a few steps away. I soaked my feet in the warm water while quietly watching the sun set over the sea. The impact of the volcanic eruption video I had just seen at the visitor center still echoed in my mind, in contrast with the peaceful ocean view before me. The way nature’s grandeur and tranquility came together felt truly unreal, yet unforgettable.