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A city facing the smoking volcano Sakurajima across the bay, about 15 minutes away by ferry. Come for the Shimadzu family's garden, the history of the Meiji Restoration, and black pork and shochu.
"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.
A volcano that still sends up smoke. Near the port are a visitor center and a long foot bath looking out over the sea.
about 2 hrFreePartly step-free
Ferry · About 50 min from Kagoshima-Chuo ・ Tram to Suizokukan-guchi, walk to the ferry terminal, then about 15 minutes by boat ・ 3.1km from here
The Shimadzu lords' villa garden, with Sakurajima as its hill and the bay as its pond. The Shuseikan next door is a World Heritage site.
about 2 hrPaid entryPartly step-free
Bus · About 40 min from Kagoshima-Chuo ・ City View or other buses to Sengan-en-mae ・ 2.2km from here
A lookout facing the city, the bay and Sakurajima beyond. It was also the site of the last battle of the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.
about 30 minFreePartly step-free
Bus · About 30 min from Kagoshima-Chuo ・ City View bus to Shiroyama ・ 1.4km from here
An observatory partway up Sakurajima. You look up at the rugged slopes close by, and back across the bay to Kagoshima city.
about 30 minFreeWheelchair & stroller friendly
Bus · About 100 min from Kagoshima-Chuo ・ About 30 minutes by Island View bus from Sakurajima Port ・ 6.4km from here
A statue of Saigo Takamori in uniform. The nearby castle ruins have a huge rebuilt gate and the Reimeikan history museum.
about 30 minFree
Tram · About 20 min from Kagoshima-Chuo ・ Tram to Tenmonkan-dori, then about 7 minutes on foot ・ 1.1km from here
“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.
Sakurajima puffing smoke across the blue waters of Kinko Bay TANAKA Juuyoh (talk) (CC BY 3.0) / Sakurajima's rugged peaks seen from Yunohira Observatory Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert (CC BY 4.0) / Pines and lawns of Sengan-en garden below the hills STA3816 (CC BY-SA 3.0) / Kagoshima city and Sakurajima from the Shiroyama Observatory Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Entrance to the Hondori arcade in Tenmonkan そらみみ (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Kinko Bay and Kagoshima city seen from Yunohira Observatory Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert (CC BY 4.0) / The bronze statue of Saigo Takamori above green shrubs Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert (CC BY 4.0). Cropped and resized.
Places you can drop by on foot after leaving the station. Times are estimates.
An aquarium next to the Sakurajima ferry terminal, with a big tank where a whale shark swims.
A park preserving stone arch bridges that spanned the Kotsuki River from the 1840s, moved here after a flood. You can walk across them.
Sights are this site's picks, not a popularity ranking.
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ClassicsHidden gems
Times assume a 9:00 start. Travel times are estimated from distance and vary with waiting and crowds.
Leave 9:00 → until about 15:47 (about 7 hr)
about 8 min on foot
about 23 min on foot
about 6 min on foot
about 20 min by transport
about 20 min by transport
A one-day City View pass is handy. Finish with dinner in Tenmonkan.
Plan this routeLeave 9:00 → until about 14:30 (about 5.5 hr)
about 25 min by transport
about 15 min by transport
about 20 min by transport
Ash can fall depending on the wind. A hat and glasses are useful.
Plan this routeWinter is warm (9–11°C on average). June is extremely wet (about 570 mm). October–November is often sunny and great for views of Sakurajima.
Point at a month to see its temperature and precipitation.
Temperature (line: average; band: low to high)
Precipitation (mm)
Typical seasons
Cherry blossoms (Kotsuki River)
Ohara Festival
Swimming (Iso Beach)
Autumn leaves (Kirishima)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (℃) | 13.1 | 14.6 | 17.5 | 21.8 | 25.5 | 27.5 | 31.9 | 32.7 | 30.2 | 25.8 | 20.6 | 15.3 |
| Avg (℃) | 8.7 | 9.9 | 12.8 | 17.1 | 21 | 24 | 28.1 | 28.8 | 26.3 | 21.6 | 16.2 | 10.9 |
| Low (℃) | 4.9 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 12.9 | 17.3 | 21.3 | 25.3 | 26 | 23.2 | 18 | 12.2 | 6.9 |
| Rain (mm) | 78.3 | 112.7 | 161 | 194.9 | 205.2 | 570 | 365.1 | 224.3 | 222.9 | 104.6 | 102.5 | 93.2 |
Temperature and precipitation are Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020, Kagoshima). Seasons are typical timings and can shift by a week or two each year. JMA data
Kagoshima City Tram
From Kagoshima-Chuo Ekimae to Tenmonkan-dori, Suizokukan-guchi and Kagoshima Ekimae: the downtown area and near the Sakurajima ferry terminal.
Kagoshima City View bus
A sightseeing bus from Kagoshima-Chuo Station to the Museum of the Meiji Restoration, the Saigo statue, Shiroyama and Sengan-en. A one-day pass is sold.
Sakurajima Ferry
About 15 minutes from Kagoshima Port to Sakurajima Port. Boats are frequent and need no reservation. The terminal is about 5 minutes on foot from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop.
Sakurajima Island View bus
A sightseeing bus from Sakurajima Port that loops past the visitor center and Yunohira Observatory in about 1 hour.
Airport bus
About 40 minutes from Kagoshima Airport to Kagoshima-Chuo Station, then on to Tenmonkan.
From Shin-Osaka
2 transfers
Times and fares (one adult) are estimates for a 9:00 a.m. departure. Tap a card to compare options for your own date and needs.