Kagoshima Tour Featuring Katsuo Ramen & Sand Bath Experience

Embark on a Kagoshima adventure in Ibusuki, exploring its food and culture. Tour a katsuobushi factory, shop at a roadside station, unwind in a Kagoshima sand bath, visit a distinctive public cooking area, and savor a delicious regional lunch, including renowned katsuo ramen.

Ibusuki is a picturesque coastal city in the Satsuma Peninsula of Kagoshima Prefecture. Renowned for its unique black-sand beaches, therapeutic sand baths, and captivating natural landscapes, Ibusuki offers visitors a distinct and relaxing escape.

Itinerary:

Meet at Ibusuki Station

Visit a katsuobushi (dried bonito (bonito flakes) factory

Visit and buy vegetables at a roadside station (michi no eki)

Experience a warm sand bath (sunamushi)

Cook vegetables and eggs using geothermal steam at a public cooking area (sume ryori)

Enjoy lunch (nagashi somen or katsuobushi ramen)

Transfer back to Ibusuki Station

Our first stop is a katsuobushi factory, where you’ll go behind the scenes of the production process (processing, cleaning, freezing, drying, smoking, fermenting, and drying). Katsuobushi is dried and fermented skipjack tuna, a fundamental ingredient in washoku (Japanese cuisine). After this, visit a charming roadside station (michi no eki) to pick up local produce and goodies that’ll come in handy at a later stop during this experience.

Next, head to one of Ibusuki’s top claims to fame; natural hot sand baths! Ibusuki has the only natural sand baths worldwide, making it a popular destination for domestic and overseas travelers seeking rejuvenation. Relax and unwind as you’re buried in warm sand that has healing properties. From here, it’s time to phone in that produce you picked up earlier today!

Visit a geothermal steam cooking area, where you’ll play chef as you steam the produce you picked up at the roadside station. With your appetite activated, move on to the day's final stop; lunch at a nagashi somen noodle or katsuobushi ramen restaurant.