Kyushu's hidden hot spring “Hokkein Onsen Sanso” Hiking in the Kuju mountain range with misty ice flowers

Hiking to the Kuju mountain range, the highest peak on the Kyushu mainland, over the frozen Miike pond with foggy ice flowers in bloom. At night, enjoy a hot spring to heal your cold body. The walking distance is less than 10 km per day. Although it is a winter mountain, it is located in mild Kyushu at an altitude of less than 1,800 m, so you can walk with chain spikes or light crampons. The round trip to Osaka is by night ferry, Sunflower, a newly built ship in 2023 with a beautiful interior and single rooms with private space where you can get a comfortable sleep. The Kuju Mountain Range, also known as the “Roof of Kyushu,” is a series of 1,700-meter-high mountains. Nakadake, the highest peak in the mountain range, is also the highest peak in Kyushu. In winter, the strong northerly winds create fog and clouds that collide with each other, creating a beautiful ridge line that looks like ice flowers blooming on the trees. Miike, located directly below Nakadake, becomes covered with ice during the coldest season, creating a “natural skating rink on the mountain” that is very popular. Many climbers climb the Kuju mountain range in winter for the chance to walk on the ice on this natural skating rink. The accommodation is Hokkein Onsen Sanso, the highest hot spring in Kyushu and one of the most hidden hot springs in Kyushu, which can only be reached after a 2-hour walk. (Soap and shampoo are not allowed.) If you wish, you can choose to extend your stay at the Kamenoi Hotel, Beppu's best hot spring hotel. The hotel boasts the highest hotel in Beppu, and upper-level rooms offer a panoramic view of Beppu city. You can enjoy a buffet dinner and breakfast featuring seasonal products and local cuisine unique to Beppu, as well as Beppu's famous “jigoku-mushi” (steamed food cooked in hell) dishes. The next day, enjoy Beppu Jigoku Meguri and hot spring sweets, and return to Osaka by plane or Shinkansen. *Participation fee +23,000 yen for Beppu Extension Plan. Participation fee: 55,000 yen Payment: Collected on the ferry (cash, paypay) Included in the fee: Mountain lodge (1 night with 2 meals), round-trip ferry, highway bus, guide, and insurance. Not included: meals (except hut), entrance fee for sightseeing Minimum number of participants: 10 The ferry is a partitioned private bed both ways. Hokkein Onsen Sanso is a shared cabin. You can take a bath in the hot spring, but shampoo is not allowed. You can refill your water. If the number of participants does not reach 10 by the end of December, the tour will be cancelled. The Beppu Onsen Hotel accommodations are for 4 to 6 persons per room with half board. The return trip will be by plane or Shinkansen, arriving back in Osaka around 19:00.