Don’t just sit around in the terminal waiting area — head to Kagoshima Airport for a “free foot bath” before your flight!

Reported and photographed by Yang Xiaorou in Kagoshima

Always arrive at the airport super early out of fear of missing your flight, check in your luggage, then end up just sitting in the terminal bored because you don’t want to browse the duty-free shops? Not anymore. At Kagoshima Airport, you can unwind with a free foot bath before boarding, washing away travel fatigue and heading home feeling relaxed and happy.

▲ Kagoshima Airport’s natural foot bath is located outside the domestic terminal, just a 2-minute walk from the international terminal.

▲ Many travelers enjoy the free natural foot bath.

Kagoshima Airport’s “natural hot spring foot bath” is located outside the domestic terminal. Its design is inspired by the local tourist attraction “Sakurajima,” with water flowing from a “volcanic crater.” The carbonated alkaline spring water, with a temperature of about 40°C, has slightly alkaline properties that help soften the skin. Many passengers stop by to enjoy it when entering or leaving the country. It's especially popular as a rest spot during the cold winter months.

▲ There’s also a hand bath next to the natural foot bath where travelers can soak their hands — the weakly alkaline carbonate spring leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.

Aside from the foot bath, there’s also a dedicated “hand bath” nearby for warming your hands. Whether you have cold hands and feet, feel tired, or just don’t want to take off your shoes, you can enjoy the warmth of soaking them in hot spring water. After soaking, your hands will feel silky smooth too!

▲ The natural foot bath also offers paid commemorative towels for sale for travelers who didn’t bring their own.

In addition, passengers who didn’t bring towels for drying their hands or feet can purchase adorable Kagoshima Airport-printed hand towels for 200 yen (JPY), so you don’t have to awkwardly drip water all over the floor. After soaking, travelers can also head to the domestic terminal lobby to try the famous Kirishima tea, warming up from the inside out, then depart the country feeling relaxed, comfortable, and at ease.

▲ % Spinal cord? At the information desk in the terminal, there are staff members ready to answer questions. /