Kagoshima

About Kagoshima
Kagoshima is the southernmost city on the island of Kyushu. It offers mild weather, swaying palm trees and one of Japan's most active volcanoes, Sakurajima.

Cosy downtown and a volcano on the horizon
The city's downtown area exudes charm, with cosy pedestrian streets filled with shops and restaurants. To get around the city, you can use the local trams or sightseeing loop buses. Sakurajima is Kagoshima's landmark. It is an active volcano, and there is constantly smoke billowing up from the crater, just as there are often small eruptions. Sakurajima is located on a peninsula in Kagoshima Bay and is best reached by ferry from Kagoshima Port. You have to keep a distance of at least 2 km from the volcano’s craters, but there are several observation sites around the peninsula with good distance. You can get around the peninsula by bus or by renting a car or bicycle.

Other attractions in Kagoshima
Another must-see is the beautiful Senganen Garden, located by the coast. The garden is home to streams, bamboo forests and shrines, and dates back to 1658. It was founded by the rich Shimazu Clan, one of the most powerful samurai clans in the country. In the middle of the garden is Iso Residence, where the interior is preserved as when the house was inhabited back in the 1890s. You can only enter the building by purchasing a tour. While in Kagoshima, remember to taste the city's speciality, kurobuta, a local species of Berkshire pig.

NOTE: Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes, and this means that, from time to time, restrictions are placed on how close you can be if too much smoke or gas is in the air. We ask for your understanding regarding this.