Kagoshima

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu, featuring a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 19.2°C. The prefecture is blessed with an abundance of nature, including Yakushima, the first World Natural Heritage site registered in Japan, as well as Tanegashima famous for Tanegashima Space Center, and the islands of Amami, where an abundance of coral reefs and rare animals and plants can be observed, while Sakurajima and Kirishima also feature an abundance of nature. Kagoshima is linked with major cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka by air, while there is a diversity of other modes of transportation available, including shinkansen bullet trains and ships. JR railway lines extend from Kagoshima-chuo Station, making the location convenient for transfers within the prefecture.

Kagoshima City, the prefectural capital city, has adopted “Sakurajima”, the active volcano that towers before the city, as its symbol. The volcano has been repeatedly erupting on a small scale even to this day, with the image of the mountain continuing to fume fascinating visitors. Sakurajima and the urban area of Kagoshima City are connected by ferry, with the ride requiring only 15 minutes. Visitors can tour around the island, stopping at visitor centers, michinoeki roadside stations, ashiyukoen foot spa parks and observation decks. Picturesque scenery from the lookouts, as well as the onsen spa are available for the pleasure of visitors on the island, while “Sakurajima Daikon” raddish and “Sakurajima Komikan” mandarins make great gifts.

Visitors who wish to fully enjoy remote islands are invited to visit “Yakushima”, the very first UNESCO registered world heritage site in Japan. The symbol of the island is the ancient “Jomon Sugi Cedar”, considered to be 7,200 years old. Furthermore, the Amami Islands are a treasure trove of nature surrounded by the sea and a diverse range of corals, holding subtropical plants and such rare animals as the Amami rabbit (Pentaiagus furnessi). The location is suitable for enjoying a variety of marine sports as well.

There is an abundance of tourist sites to visit on Kagoshima, including sites at sea, in the mountains, and onsen spas, but the “food” brought by the beautiful ocean is another essential aspect to a journey. The classic dish made with the “blue spat”, which is caught from the sea in the vicinity of Kagoshima Prefecture, is “kibizashi” skewered fish with vinegared miso. Fish caught in coastal waters is prepared as minced fish and deep fried with rapeseed oil to make “satsumaage”, which matches exceptionally well with shochu liquor, a local specialty. There are also other superb masterpieces that simply must be tasted, such as “torimeshi”, made with white boiled rice topped with chicken and other ingredients, on which chicken stock soup is poured. Kagoshima is also the birthplace of shaved ice called “Shirokuma” (polar bear) topped with fruits and is famous nationwide in Japan as well. Sampling the original taste at the birthplace of a dish is also a pleasure of traveling.

There are many historical sites and tourist facilities within the prefecture, including the bronze statue of Saigo Takamori, who is known to have rendered distinguished service during Meiji Restoration. We invite you to take a historical stroll in Kagoshima. Visitors can visit various tourist sites in town by taking the nostalgic tram.