Japanese February 23, 2003: Fire belt
A grand view of Unzen Hell opened my eye in the morning. Just in front of the room window is the core of the volcanic activities. Last night the site was covered with thick mist and I couldn't see anything at all.
The hot spa of the hotel is on the right and we could see around the Hell from the observation deck.
	After taking a morning bathing, we enjoyed Japanese style breakfast. A set of beautiful Hina Doll welcomes the guest at the entrance of the dinning room.
Taking breakfast in Yukata kimono was very nice. The dishes were very good as well. Home made tofu was very impressive.
We walked around the Hell after breakfast. The monument reads Unzen Spa dates back its origin to 701 A.D., opened by a priest called Gyouki. In 1934, Unzen was nominated the first national park in Japan.
	The Hell is warm enough to walk around on the promenade.
Steams are everywhere.
	A TV drama monument stands in the Hell.
Hot Spring shrine stands in the corner of the Hell. One of the oldest inn started two hundred years ago.
	Unzen is on route 57 which runs Oita area as well. We will back to Oita 200 Km away by bus.
We left the hotel.
	The number of the passenger was only six in a large sightseeing bus. Unzen Golf course is the first public course in Japan opened in 1913.
We came down to Shimabara City and took a short rest at a souvenir shop. Volcano Fugen is visible from here if it is fine. The volcanic activities continued for five years, the exhibition tells the tragedy of the day.
	Mizunashi River, literally "waterless river" was the passage of the lava flow.
Route 57 runs on the sea from Shimabara to Kumamoto City. Beautiful hill of Mayuyama (eyebrow) contains the possibility of another eruption.
	Seagulls follow the boar all the way to Kumamoto.
Kumamoto port We got on the bus again.
	Kumamoto railroad station. Passengers got off and get in here.
We bought lunch boxes here.
	Kumamoto Castle was built by Kiyomasa Kato, a feudal lord in war era of Japan. The castle is one of three beautiful castle together with Nagoya and Osaka. I would add it Himeji castle, however.
The bus drops in Aso volcano. The highland of Aso is still in winter.
	Aso ropeway terminal is in the cloud as well.
The gondola was filled with foreign visitors, probably from Asian countries.
	The observation point was in the cloud.
The volcano releases harmful gas around and the watchman alerted the visitors to evacuate immediately. The choking gas drives of the visitors back.
	Snow remains on the volcanic slope.
It was very sorry that we couldn't enjoy the volcano which is still in winter on the top. After a while, we came down to the familiar area. Mt. Yufu welcomes us in the home. We were invited to the commemorative lecture meeting of senior net Isahaya and enjoyed the "Fire Belt" on our way back to Oita.
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