September 2, 2025

 

Marti Eicholz

 

Cruising from Jeju, South Korea to Kagoshima, Japan involves sailing across the Korea Strait, a journey of moderate length between the two islands. In Kagoshima, the Odyssey docks at its port on Kyushu Island, a city characterized by the iconic, active Sakurajima volcano and a lively waterfront. While docking, we experience local welcome greetings, with an early morning face to face immigration queue.

Kagoshima, at the southern tip of Japan's Kyushu Island, is known as the "Naples of the East" with a dramatic volcanic backdrop, warm, pleasant climate, and palm-lined streets like Naples, Italy.

Kagoshima features a mix of unique natural beauty, including volcanic landscapes and tropical islands like Yakushima with its ancient cedar forests, and a rich history as the former Satsuma Domain under the Shimazu clan.

Yakushima is a lush, mountainous island and a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Japan, renowned for its ancient, moss-covered rainforests of thousand-year-old Yakusugi cedars. It experiences exceptionally high rainfall, earning it the nickname "the rainy island" and fueling its diverse ecosystems and numerous waterfalls. Beyond the forests, Yakushima offers beautiful beaches, important sea turtle nesting grounds, and rich marine life, making it ideal for hiking, diving, and enjoying nature.

The region is known for its famous landmark, the active stratovolcano Sakurajima, often coating the city in ash. Marvel at the mighty Sakurajima Volcano and enjoy a vegan lunch by the volcano.

Visiting the awe-inspiring Sakurajima, one of Kyushu’s most active volcanoes, involves a ferry ride for panoramic views, exploring lava fields and possibly observing the active volcano launching large plumes of ash into the sky, a powerful and unique sight from a safe distance, and experiencing a vegan lunch cruise featuring local plant-based cuisine like curry soup made with regional produce. Visit viewpoints like Yunohira Observatory for close-up crater views, hike coastal trails, walk through the barren beauty of the lava fields to feel the volcanic energy and imagine past eruptions, or experience traditional Sakurajima-yaki pottery and participate in a pottery-making session to create your own piece using volcanic ash into its crafting.

And yes, on arrival, we observed the mighty Sakurajima launch plumes of ash high into the sky.

Visit Sengan-en Garden and step into a world of tranquility, an expansive garden with beautiful scenery and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Sengan-en garden masterfully uses the technique of "borrowed scenery" to incorporate the natural beauty of Kinko Bay as a large “pond” and the active volcano Sakurajima as a majestic “artificial hill” into its landscape. Recognized for its historical significance as a Shimazu clan estate and site of early modernization, its diverse cultural elements including Chinese influences and a unique cat shrine, and its status as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Chiran Samurai District in Kagoshima is a well-preserved area highlighting a rare glimpse into the lives of samurai from 250 years ago, their residences and gardens, often called "Little Kyoto." This 700-meter (2297 feet) historical atmosphere features imposing stone walls and meticulously trimmed hedges, creating an authentic setting free from modern elements like power lines or parked cars. Explore seven distinct gardens, including the five karesansui (dry gardens) designed to resemble landscapes with rocks and sand, and two with ponds and sculpted shrubs. The district is perfect for a leisurely walk, with a mix of historic residences, gardens, and nearby restaurants and cafes housed in traditional architecture.

Kagoshima is also celebrated for its agricultural products, a leading producer of high-quality beef, pork, sweet potatoes, and yellowtail. The region’s unique cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood, juicy, tender, and flavorful pork, sweet potatoes, and featuring signature dishes like Satsuma-age (fried fishcake) and Kibinago (silver herring sashimi).

Kagoshima wagyu, premium beef, is renowned for its exceptional tenderness, rich umami flavor, and exquisite, creamy marbling due to meticulous feeding and breeding practices in a pristine environment with lush pastures and clean water. The beef boasts a mild, rich taste and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Enjoy a bowl of Kagoshima ramen, a hearty, rich in flavor noodle dish with pork as its star ingredient.

The free foot spa is the Sakurajima Nagisa Foot Bath Park, a 100-meter-long (328 feet) footbath using natural, volcanically heated hot spring water, located in a public park across from the Sakurajima Visitor Center. You can relax your feet while enjoying views of Kagoshima cityscape, Mount Sakurajima, the harbor, and passing ferries, making it a popular spot to unwind after exploring the area.

Take a sand bath in Ibusuki Onsen. An Ibusuki sand bath involves changing into a provided lightweight cotton yukata robe. You are led to a shallow depression in the beach sand. An attendant shovels warm, black volcanic sand over you, covering your entire body up to your neck. The sand, heated by underground hot spring water, provides a unique form of thermotherapy. For about 10–15 minutes, you lie still while the warm, heavy sand provides a unique form of thermotherapy, causing you to sweat and promoting detoxification, improved circulation, and a feeling of relaxation. After your session, you are uncovered, and you can rinse the sand off in showers or a regular hot spring bath. The volcanic sand exfoliates the skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

The Shiroyama Observatory in Kagoshima offers a spectacular panoramic, 360-degree view of the city, Kinko Bay, and the active volcano Sakurajima, a natural spectacle. Located on a hill, covered with lush forest, creating a tranquil environment for “forest bathing,” and is rich in local plant and insect life. It was once a castle site, the observatory is renowned for its stunning daytime views and a beautiful, illuminated cityscape against nighttime’s dark sky. The park surrounding the observatory also features refreshing walking nature trails and numerous historical sites, including the cave where Saigo Takamori spent his final days before the Satsuma Rebellion.

Visit Kirishima Jingu. Kirishima Jingu is a sacred Shinto shrine located in Kirishima and holds deep cultural and historical significance in the region. Visiting Kirishima Jingu involves experiencing a tranquil, forested atmosphere, passing through impressive torii gates, and admiring the vibrant, vermillion-colored architecture of the main shrine buildings. The shrine offers a spiritual and serene atmosphere. Check out the nearby mask museum, which features various masks from around Japan and the world. Enjoy a scenic walk to the observation deck for views, find tranquility, amidst nature, and see the ancient eight-hundred-year-old sacred pine tree.

Kagoshima is a unique blend of vibrant nature and lively urban life with an old-fashion charm, while still providing modern comforts.

The presence of Sakurajima is awe-inspiring. This constantly active volcano creates a sense of the earth breathing, making one feel small yet part of something powerful and primal.