2008年12月4日木曜日

HOT SPRINGS in NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is famous for hot springs in Oceania, and there are lots of hot springs because there are lots of volcanoes. In north Island, Rotorua which has strong smell of sulfur and Te Aroha which has sticky hot water and skin enhancement are famous places. In south Island, Hanmer is most famous. It is 40 or 41 degrees. It seems that the Maori knew the medical benefits of hot springs and took it. Today, people use the hot springs for sports or exercises. In addition, hot spring’s swim pools are very popular now and they are main facilities.

Japan is known as a good place for hot springs all over the world. Beppu in Oita has 8 springs and it has been since 8th century. Kusatsu in Gunma has 6 springs and it has been since 2th century. Hakone in Kanagawa has 20 springs and it has been since 8th century. They are famous and old. Japanese hot springs are old, so there are many legends and myths. Japanese take hot spring as a sightseeing and pleasure. In Japan, pelting water, footbath, bedrock bath and eggs boiled in hot spring water are also popular.