WithTravel

Kagoshima city, Southern Kyushu

Kagoshima is a city in Kyushu, which was initially known as Satsuma. Small enough to have that friendly vibe and be enjoyably walkable but large enough to have decent transportation, great food and a variety of activities on offer. You can see the active Sakurajima from nearly every part of Kagoshima, but Shiroyama Park and Sengan-en are two of the prettiest viewing spots. The volcano is fantastic to set foot on and is an essential place to visit- if it’s safe! Whether you like getting out in nature, on the water, or getting excellent local food and drink into you, you will be rewarded with a choice in Kagoshima.

Volcano views, traditional gardens and ancient forests

Kagoshima’s horizon is dominated by the active volcano Sakurajima, but the friendly locals don’t let the occasional ash-dusting of their city darken their spirits. Rich volcanic soil supports some of Japan’s best agriculture, and the region is famous for its cuisine (Satsuma Ryori). Sengan-en is a landscaped garden established over 400 years ago by a powerful local clan. It incorporates all the usual Japanese garden elements and makes excellent use of the ‘borrowed scenery’ concept of Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay. Yakushima is a 2-3 hour ferry ride from Kagoshima for a UNESCO-level adventure. This world heritage subtropical island is a natural hiking paradise, with thousand-year-old cedar forests and misty mountains.

Kagoshima off the beaten path

Take the 15-minute ferry ride to the lush volcanic peninsula, Sakurajima. There are semi-frequent bus services that will take you to many of the volcano’s sights, or car hire is also an option. If you have time and conditions permit, hiking is a beautiful way to enjoy the rich, verdant volcanic environment. There are many spectacular examples of ongoing volcanic activity on the island and natural hot springs dotted around; be sure to indulge in a soak in the hot springs foot bath near the ferry terminal (free). Sakurajima is an active volcano, so check the hazard advisory on the Japan Meteorological Agency website before your planned trip.

No items found.

Curated by Adventure Designer

This is some text inside of a div block.

Request Your Personalised Travel Guide

Our Promises

People Focused & Local

We believe the people we meet on our journey make or break our experience, and that is why the itineraries our travel experts design contain moments of meaningful interaction with local communities. We want you to have a glimpse of the heart & spirit of the destination.

Immersive Itineraries

Our Adventure Planners are not mainstream tour operators. They know their destinations inside and out - simply because they lived there and experienced it like a local! They will show you the hidden gems that give you a 360 experience that will leave you with a wow feeling.

Ethically Operated

More than anything, we care about ensuring that our trips are ethical and respectful to local communities as well as the environment. We take the responsibility to positively impact local communities and protect livelihoods. Our Travel Planners partner up and support small local businesses directly to insure that your money is making the biggest impact.